Kakogawa Katsumeshi (Beef cutlet over rice with demi-glace-style sauce)
Kakogawa’s beloved local specialty, served with chopsticks

About Kakogawa Katsumeshi (Beef cutlet over rice with demi-glace-style sauce)

Kakogawa Katsumeshi is a local specialty beloved in and around Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture. It was first served in 1947 at a diner near Kakogawa Station, shortly after the end of World War II, and has since become one of the city’s signature dishes. A flattened beef cutlet is topped with a demi-glace-style sauce and served over rice. Eating this Western-style plate of rice and cutlet with chopsticks is part of what makes Katsumeshi distinctive.

Traditionally, Katsumeshi is made with a beef cutlet and demi-glace-style sauce, but variations featuring pork, chicken, or shrimp cutlets have also appeared. Sauce specifically made for Katsumeshi is sold for home use, and the dish is even served in school lunches in Kakogawa City, reflecting how deeply it is rooted in local life.

The sauce is central to the dish. Each restaurant has its own take, with its own balance of sweetness, savory flavor, and richness. Katsumeshi is also popular as a home-cooked dish because it is easy to make.

Served at more than 100 restaurants in Kakogawa City, Katsumeshi is cherished as part of the area’s identity. New offerings such as Katsumeshi burgers have also emerged, allowing the dish to evolve while retaining its local traditions.

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