Creative Riffs on the Katsu Sandwich Craze
Mr. Tuna & Bar Futo | Portland, Maine In Collaboration with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute
Creative Riffs on the Katsu Sandwich Craze
Mr. Tuna & Bar Futo | Portland, Maine In Collaboration with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute
By Katie Ayoub
July 18, 2024
By Katie Ayoub
July 18, 2024
Jordan Rubin
Japan’s iconic katsu sandwich has caught fire in the U.S. thanks to its craveable combination of crispy, soft, savory and sweet. It typically features a thinly sliced, breaded and deep-fried pork cutlet that’s tucked between milk bread slices, garnished with raw cabbage and sauced with tonkatsu. Riffs on the original katsu sando abound, showcasing creative, modern flavor play.
“The Alaska Pollock Katsu Sandwich is a fun take on the classic,” says Jordan Rubin, chef/owner of sushi bar Mr. Tuna and Japanese restaurant Bar Futo. “We used the same technique with this beautiful Alaska pollock by frying the fish, toasting the milk bread, spreading the lime mayo and finishing it off with cabbage and a generous amount of katsu sauce. It’s the perfect combination of textures from the crispy cabbage and flaky fish to the pillowy soft milk bread. The flavors run the gamut of sweet, salty, zesty and acidic.”
About the Author
Katie Ayoub serves as managing editor of Flavor & The Menu and content strategist for the Flavor Experience, an annual conference geared toward chain operators. She is president of Katie Ayoub & Associates, serving up menu trends expertise, content creation and food & beverage consultancy. Based in Chicago, Katie has been working in foodservice publishing for more than 20 years and part of the Flavor team since 2006. [email protected]
