It’s unlikely you would simply stumble upon KatsuCo in Southport. Nestled on Nerang Street, it’s the kind of place you travel for. Your effort, however, is rewarded with a katsu experience unlike any other. Even before the doors have opened for the lunch service, you’ll be greeted with a line of people forming out the front – your first indication that something special lies within. KatsuCo delivers an elevated take on contemporary Japanese cuisine, with chef Louis Seo delving deep into his past experience in fine dining establishments and bustling hotel restaurants. As the name implies, katsu is the hero here. By far, the best way to experience Louis’ katsu creations is with one of the signature sets, which are served with steamed rice, cabbage salad, miso soup, katsu sauce and pink salt. The pièce de résistance is a 350-g pork tomahawk katsu, which is aged for six days, brined until meltingly tender, coated in panko crumb and lightly fried until golden. If you are powerless to resist some gooey melted mozzarella, the cheese katsu is for you, but there is also chicken katsu, tofu katsu and ebi katsu (king prawns with tartare sauce) to tempt your taste buds. While the katsu is the venue’s signature, the menu is rounded out by donburi (rice bowls topped with fresh or grilled salmon or soy-glazed eggplant), udon noodle dishes, sashimi and seasonal specials like steamy ramen in winter. If you’ve got a hankering for katsu, make haste to KatsuCo in Southport. There’s no bookings, so just stroll on in.