Not fly-by-night flashy but tried and true, the breaded pork cutlet is a protein hero. In Japan, the cutlet is known as katsu (fried cutlet), and the pairing of meat and rice (donburi) is katsudon.
While Todd I Believe I Can Fry (2159 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.) is attracting more attention for bold, saucy fried chicken wings, its katsudon is part of the menu’s delicious, dependable backbone.
This bowl has everything – fluffy white rice; a tender, unctuous pork cutlet dipped in satisfyingly crunchy panko; a broth-like dashi; a bit of mild green onion; and an egg cooked over hard.
Todd’s owner Paphitchaya “May” Liotrakun is herself a fan of the humble dish, which embodies the counter-service restaurant’s name. “Easy to order, easy to eat,” she says, and “symbolizes the ‘todd,’” which, in Thai, means fry. $15.


