Counter-seat katsu and Terra beer in Jeonpo, Busan: Katsu Kitchen

Why a business trip ended at Katsu Kitchen Premium Jeonpo Main Branch

It was such a satisfying place. Hi, this is Edwood. Last week I went on a business trip to Busan. Of all times, it happened to be record-breakingly hot weather, so I barely made it through all my work sweating buckets. By the time I finished, I felt completely drained, and I started desperately hunting for a delicious meal that could work as a proper reward.

Luckily, my workplace at the time was near Jeonpo-dong, which these days is one of the hottest spots for young people. I stepped slightly away from the flashy, crowded main streets of Jeonpo and started exploring the alleys, hoping to find somewhere a bit quieter, like a hidden hideout.

That's when this place caught my radar — hidden in the deepest corner of the corners of Jeonpo Cafe Street. It was Katsu Kitchen Jeonpo Main Branch, one of the well-known tonkatsu spots in Busan that people in the know already flock to. I was so exhausted that I desperately hoped it would taste good, and in the end, I walked away completely satisfied — the kind of meal that makes you nod in approval. Every single menu item was so well made that there was truly nothing to skip in this place.

Where Katsu Kitchen is and what 5:30pm looks like inside

Honestly, when I first looked at the map, I thought the location was really unusual. It's the kind of tonkatsu restaurant that sits quietly tucked away in a corner of a corner of an alley — the phrase "alley within an alley" fits perfectly. Rather than drawing attention with a flashy sign, the exterior gave off a serious vibe, as if to say only those who know should come.

I walked in around 5:30pm, right after break time ended. Since it was still early evening, I luckily got in without any wait. Once I opened the door, the interior was styled with a cozy, stylish bar counter (dachi seating).

Two other guests had already arrived, and I was struck by how quietly and intently they were focused on their tonkatsu in the calm atmosphere of the restaurant. Unlike the sweltering heat outside, the interior had the AC blasting, keeping it very comfortable and cool.

As I caught my breath, I slowly read through the menu, and decided that after such a tiring business trip, I'd order a bit lavishly today as a reward to myself.

Starting with the signature mixed katsu at Katsu Kitchen Jeonpo Main Branch, I ordered a side of Japanese curry, cold buckwheat noodles, and a bottle of cold Terra beer to wash away that burning thirst. Since the meat is fried fresh after ordering, it took a bit of time to cook, but watching the clean, comfortable open kitchen while waiting made the time fly by enjoyably.

Is the mixed katsu at Katsu Kitchen worth ordering?

After the wait, the main dish I ordered was finally served, neatly plated. The moment I saw the carefully arranged tray, I intuitively understood why this place is praised by so many as a true Busan must-visit.

The basic table setup alone was quite unusual and elaborate. There was premium British Maldon salt in a wide dish to bring out the tonkatsu's flavor to the max, served alongside crisp, clean pickled vegetables and sharp fresh wasabi.

On top of that, there were pickled peppers for a bit of spice and a rich house sauce — a perfect lineup.

On one side of the table, there was a helpful guide on "how to enjoy tonkatsu deliciously" for first-time visitors, so I read through it before the food arrived. Also, a generous bowl of freshly cooked, glossy, fluffy yet soft white rice was served, adding to the sense of a full meal.

Just looking at it, you could practically feel the crispness of the batter, and the juicy meat visible in the cross-section made my mouth water. All the fatigue from the business trip seemed to melt away the moment I saw this beautiful spread.

Cheese, fillet and loin: how the three cutlets compare

I set out to savor this amazing lineup one by one. I'd chosen the generous mixed katsu, which lets you try cheese, fillet, and loin all at once. Following the recommendation in the guide booklet, I picked up the cheese katsu first with my chopsticks, since it's best eaten while hottest to fully enjoy the cheese.

Inside the thin, crispy batter, savory, rich cheese was packed in like it would spill out in a waterfall, and the moment it hit my mouth, its soft flavor took over completely.

Next, I tried the round-looking fillet katsu (tenderloin), which held bright red juices. Without exaggeration, it barely took a few chews before it melted away smoothly between my teeth — an amazing texture.

Finally, I tried the thick loin katsu (sirloin). The harmony between the lean meat's clean flavor and the savory fat layer at the edge was truly gorgeous. For the first bite, I dipped it in just Maldon salt to fully taste the meat's natural flavor, and the saltiness maximized the umami of the meat. Then I added a bit of sharp fresh wasabi and dipped it in the house sauce, which added a sweet-and-salty flavor for a completely different appeal.

Japanese curry, cold buckwheat noodles and a Terra beer

I cut the tonkatsu pieces exactly in half — one side I enjoyed plain with salt or sauce, and the other half I dipped generously into the thick, rich Japanese curry I'd ordered, mixing things up for variety.

The curry itself had such depth of flavor that it was more than enough to mix straight into the rice. Eating fried food continuously can make your mouth feel heavy or greasy, but each time that happened, taking a sip of the icy cold broth from the cold buckwheat noodles (naengmomil) and slurping up the noodles cleaned my palate like magic.

And to top it all off, washing it down with a cold Terra beer felt like nothing short of heaven.

At one point I enjoyed the tonkatsu alone to appreciate its crispness fully, and another time I put wasabi and meat on top of the fluffy white rice like sushi — the whole time, I could truly feel a full, happy contentment filling my body.

Looking around, everyone else seemed just as quietly absorbed in their meals, admiring the deep flavors.

Service at Katsu Kitchen, right down to the free vanilla ice cream

There were two clear reasons I became convinced, from start to finish, that this restaurant truly has nothing to skip. First was the attentive, warm hospitality of the staff and owner, who carefully watched over each guest's needs even while busy. Thanks to their kindness in quietly checking whether any side dishes were running low, even as a solo business traveler, I got to enjoy a comfortable meal that felt like being treated to something special.

The second reason was the surprise dessert timed perfectly for the very end of the meal. They served sweet, soft vanilla ice cream in a pretty little dish as a complimentary treat, giving the perfect finish that felt like it completely cleansed my palate after all the fried food. Going from the beautifully arranged main course, to the attentive service, to the sweet dessert, it felt like I'd been treated to a proper tonkatsu omakase experience.

I was so glad I found this hidden gem to heal the end of an exhausting day with a perfect meal. Even though it's quietly tucked away in a corner of an alley, its flavor and hospitality were as solid and impressive as any large, famous restaurant. This time I visited alone during a business trip and enjoyed my meal at the bar counter like a solitary gourmet, but next time, I strongly want to come back with my loved ones or family to share this happiness together.

Between the coziness of the space, the quality of the food, and the sweet touch of that final dessert, there was truly nothing to complain about — it was a wonderful day. This place is definitely etched deep into my memory, and if I get the chance, I'll absolutely come back — 100% guaranteed.

Katsu Kitchen Premium Jeonpo Main Branch: hours, address and tips

• Visit date: August 2026
• Address: 27-6 Dongseong-ro 25beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea
• Hours: 11:30–21:30
• Card payment accepted
• Signature dishes: Loin katsu / Japanese curry / buckwheat noodles and more