In Japanese, “fuku” means “good luck” or “good fortune,” and it was indeed fortunate when TOMOSTYLE founder and friend Tomo Kurokawa continued her guided tour of L.A.’s best Japanese restaurants. This was Stop #2 for me, Tomo and Street Gourmet LA founder Bill Esparza, following a successful foray to Kiriko. Torafuku is a restaurant she’s familiar with from her home “town” of Tokyo, and Tetsuya Harikawa now owns a branch in the shadow of the Westside Pavilion, which debuted in 2004. Torafuku 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, which locked in the premium pig’s natural juices. It appears with a savory dipping sauce that resembles motor oil but tastes much better, involving 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.