In Japanese, “fuku” means “good luck” or “good fortune.” It was indeed fortunate when TOMOSTYLE founder and friend Tomo Kurokawa continued a guided tour of her favorite Japanese restaurants in Los Angeles. This was Stop #2 for me and Street Gourmet LA founder Bill Esparza, following a successful foray to Kiriko with Tomo. Torafuku is a restaurant she’s familiar with from her home “town” of Tokyo. Torafuku restaurateur Tetsuya Harikawa now owns a branch in the shadow of the Westside Pavilion, which debuted in 2004 in West Los Angeles. The restaurant is perhaps best known for their rice dishes, but they offer a number of comforting alternatives, including Tonkatsu ($12).

The thick-cut Kurobuta pork cutlet appeared on a metal rack, shrouded in a thick, crispy sheathe of deep-fried panko (Japanese breadcrumbs), which locked in the premium pig’s natural juices. Each porcine plate appears with a savory dipping sauce that resembles motor oil but tastes much better, involving a blend of soy sauce, sugar and a host of other ingredients. On the side, we received a shredded salad topped with tangy dressing, a nice complement to a hearty dish.

Dose of Vitamin P spotlights my favorite pork dish from the previous week.