There is a new reason for Japanese-food fans to make a stop at SM Megamall.
On September 28, 2026, Japanese tonkatsu specialist Katsuya officially opened its first Philippine branch at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City—bringing its signature katsudon and tonkatsu to Filipino diners for the first time.
And unlike a restaurant that has quietly opened and is waiting for people to notice, Katsuya has already started generating early diner reactions online just days after opening.
For Filipino food hunters, this makes it one of the freshest international restaurant arrivals to put on the October food-trip list.
🇯🇵 Japan's Katsudon Specialist Is Now in the Philippines
Katsuya traces its beginnings to 1998 in Kanagawa, Japan, and has since expanded internationally.
Its Philippine debut is part of a wider overseas expansion strategy, with the company saying it is targeting 50 Philippine locations as it develops the market.
But the reason people are likely to visit is much simpler:
Katsudon.
The restaurant's signature bowl combines a crispy pork cutlet with egg and its original sauce, served over warm rice. Philippine Primer describes the dish as the centerpiece of Katsuya's everyday-dining concept.
It is the kind of Japanese comfort food that does not need a special occasion.
And that may be exactly why Katsuya could find an audience in Metro Manila.
🍚 The Dish to Try First: Katsudon
If you're visiting for the first time, the obvious starting point is Katsuya's signature Katsudon.
The preparation is designed around contrast: crispy breading, tender pork, soft egg, savory sauce, and warm rice.
According to Katsuya's Philippine coverage, the restaurant uses chilled pork rather than frozen pork and specially prepared breadcrumbs for its tonkatsu. Rice preparation is also designed to provide the right balance of firmness and stickiness.
The result is a meal that sounds simple on paper but depends heavily on texture.
And that's where katsudon gets interesting.
The moment the sauce and egg meet the crispy pork, the texture changes. Some parts stay crunchy while others become softer and richer.
It's comfort food—but with enough texture to make every bite interesting.
🔥 What Early Diners Are Saying
Because Katsuya only opened on September 28, it is still too early to call it an established Manila favorite.
But there are already early community reactions.
A September 29 post in r/PHFoodPorn from someone who tried the newly opened SM Megamall branch praised the meat and breading of the katsudon and specifically mentioned the tonkatsu sauce, tempura, Tonjiro soup and Calpis Mango drink. The poster gave the experience a personal 10/10 and said they would return.
That is one diner's opinion, not a representative review average, so it should be treated as an early signal rather than proof that everyone will have the same experience.
Still, the fact that people were already posting about their visits the day after opening shows how quickly the new branch has entered Metro Manila's online food conversation.
💴 How Much Does It Cost?
Unlike many new restaurant openings where pricing is difficult to verify, Katsuya's official opening release provides specific Philippine prices.
As of September 28, 2026, the listed prices include:
- Regular Katsudon — ₱268
- Rosu Katsu Set — ₱368
- Regular Katsu Curry — ₱398
These are the prices stated in the company's opening announcement and may change over time.
For a first visit, the ₱268 katsudon is the most obvious way to experience the restaurant's signature dish without jumping immediately to the larger set meals.
📍 Where Is Katsuya Philippines?
The first Philippine branch is located at:
Katsuya SM Megamall
Space #B1031b, B1031 A-2
SM Megamall
EDSA corner Doña Julia Vargas Avenue
Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
The opening release lists the restaurant at approximately 49.3 tsubo, with 70 seats.
Its listed operating hours are:
10:00 AM–10:00 PM
Last order: 9:30 PM
Because the restaurant is newly opened, checking its official social channels or SM Megamall listings before travelling is still sensible in case operating hours change.
🥢 Why This Opening Is Worth Watching
Katsuya's arrival is interesting beyond one new restaurant.
Metro Manila has become increasingly comfortable with international food brands entering the market, and SM Megamall is once again acting as a launchpad for international dining concepts.
BusinessMirror's September 16 roundup of new food concepts across SM Supermalls specifically identified Katsuya as one of the new international names coming to the Metro, highlighting its Philippine debut and katsudon-focused menu.
Katsuya also arrives with something many new concepts don't have:
a very focused identity.
It isn't trying to serve every Japanese dish imaginable.
It has a clear specialty:
tonkatsu and katsudon.
That makes it easier for diners to know what to expect—and easier for food hunters to decide what to order.
🗺️ Make It Part of an Ortigas Food Trip
If you're coming from Cebu or another Philippine city, Katsuya could easily become one stop in a larger Metro Manila food itinerary.
For locals, it works even more simply.
Head to SM Megamall around lunchtime, try the signature katsudon, explore the mall afterward, then return later for another Japanese craving.
For Japanese-food fans, the first visit is probably less about ordering everything and more about answering one question:
Does Katsuya's version of katsudon live up to the hype surrounding its Philippine debut?
Now Filipino diners finally have the chance to find out.
🧭 Practical Details at a Glance
Restaurant: Katsuya Philippines
Branch: SM Megamall
City: Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila
Opening date: September 28, 2026
Cuisine: Japanese / Tonkatsu / Katsudon
Signature dish: Katsudon
Seats: 70
Listed hours: 10:00 AM–10:00 PM
Last order: 9:30 PM
Katsudon: ₱268
Rosu Katsu Set: ₱368
Katsu Curry: ₱398
Information checked: October 1, 2026.
Final Bite
There are countless Japanese restaurants in Metro Manila.
So why should you care about one more?
Because Katsuya isn't simply another Japanese restaurant opening a branch in a Philippine mall.
This is the brand's first Philippine location, and it arrives with a decades-old specialization in one of Japan's most recognizable comfort-food dishes.
Just three days after opening, Filipino diners were already sharing their first impressions online.
That makes this the perfect time to visit—not months after everyone has already tried it, but while Katsuya Philippines is still brand-new.
If you're looking for a fresh food discovery this October, put SM Megamall on the list.
Order the katsudon.
Grab your chopsticks.
And decide for yourself if Japan's famous pork-cutlet rice bowl deserves a new spot in your Filipino comfort-food rotation.
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