For history & culture, Maisen (Aoyama) is hit or miss.
Comfort-food Tokyo at its best — golden, crunchy katsu with shredded cabbage and rice in a cheerful, accessible setting. A reliable, mid-range crowd-pleaser.
Serving tonkatsu since 1965; the Aoyama main branch occupies a converted former public bathhouse, with the upstairs dining room in the old changing room. · trulytokyo.com
Signature is the kurobuta (black/Berkshire pork) katsu; the meat is tenderized by patting before breading and uses house-baked breadcrumbs. · tinyurbankitchen.com