By Kyle Fengler, co-owner of Loaves & Fishes:

Found by Walking

I would say speaking of Tokyo, there's this place called Butagumi, which is a tonkatsu place, and they are absolutely incredible. We were just walking down the street when we found it. We decided there's so much information available that you can really get analysis paralysis trying to use Google Maps to parse out local places or top 10 lists.

Sometimes it's really nice to just walk out of your hotel, take a street, walk around that neighborhood, see what there is, talk to some people and get a more boots-on-the-ground feel for what's going on.

Classic Simplicity

It's very classic, very old-fashioned. You go in, you pay for just whatever the meat is, and your rice and cabbage come along with that for free, depending on how much you eat. Drinks are cold, food is hot, and it's a really, really good experience.

The Month-Long Journey

I went there with my brother during our restaurant's January closure. For two years, we closed the restaurant for four weeks in January while the inn stays open, so I try to use that time for traveling when I have more free time. My brother and I spent the whole month between Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo.

Why Discovery Beats Research

Sometimes the best travel experiences come from rejecting the endless research and just walking. Kyle's approach of leaving the hotel and exploring neighborhoods on foot led to finding Butagumi - the kind of authentic, classic tonkatsu experience that guidebooks often miss but locals treasure.

Contact

Butagami

About

This card was written by Kyle Fengler. Kyle represents the new generation of his family's storied Hamptons culinary empire, which includes Loaves and Fishes Food Store, Loaves and Fishes Cookshop, and the Bridgehampton Inn & Restaurant. 

A Hamptons native with a Parsons School of Design education, Kyle pivoted from graphic design to hospitality, bringing a designer's eye and mixologist's palate to the family businesses. 

Lead-in Image

@nishiazabu_butagumi / Instagram