is a Japanese sandwich which made from Japanese-style cutlet (mainly tonkatsu) between slices of bread, and there are many variations.
The price and quantity of it are reasonable, so it is also served as a hassle-free snack or bento (e.g.,Tokyo Station ekiben,[1] Haneda Airport [2]).
Katsu-sando was invented in 1935 by, the landlady of a tonkatsu restaurant "" in Ueno, Tokyo, who was inspired by ham sandwich, and was officially called "かつサンド" (not "カツサンド").[3] At the time of its invention, Isen was frequented by geishas of a hanamachi, so Isen made it with special ordered small breads to prevent their lipstick from coming off, and Isen was famous for its tender cutlet made with carefully pounded meat which could be cut with chopsticks.
A typically katsu-sando made from tonkatsu between Japanese milk bread and served cut into rectangular or triangular pieces. Tonkatsu sauce is used as a seasoning, and sometimes karashi is also used. The bread may be toasted. Julienned cabbage is often placed on between slices of the bread along with tonkatsu.
In Tokyo, of Maisen (a restaurant in Omotesandō) and [4] of (a restaurant in Akihabara) are well known, and these are sometimes featured as for elevision programs and movie shoots. "hirekatsu-sando" of Maisen made from pork fillet cutlet and "mankatsu-sando" of Mansei made from pork loin cutlet.
Katsu-sando is sometimes eaten the night before an important exam or competition like other Japanese cutlet dishes.[5] This is because "katsu" is a homophone of the verb, meaning "to win" or "to be victorious".
There are many types of katsu-sandos, including those which use bread other than Japanese milk bread, those which use cutlet other than tonkatsu such as gyū-katsu or chicken katsu, those which use different seasonings, and those which use vegetables, and there are also differences depending on the region.
In Aomori Prefecture, katsu-sando is known as a sandwich which made from chicken katsu between .[6]
In Nagoya and its suburbs, is sold in many places, and katsu-sando made with worcestershire sauce is sometimes called .
In the Kansai region, katsu-sando is often made with gyū-katsu, and it using tonkatsu is sometimes called . In addition, which use as a seasoning is also sold.
In Indiana of the United States, there is a pork tenderloin sandwich which made from pork fillet cutlet between bun.
Katsu-sando made with round buns are also sold in hamburger restaurants in Japan, and in addition to tonkatsu, it also use chicken katsu, menchi-katsu, and .