Date-night tonkatsu near Dunchondong Station: two ebi fry combos, Riae

I'm recommending Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch, a tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) spot in Seongnae-dong, across from Olympic Park's North Gate 2, where you get 20 years of aged-meat juiciness and a crispy coating!

Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch at a glance

• Signature items: premium special loin, filet mignon tenderloin katsu, ebi fry combos
• Ordered today: fillet + ebi fry ₩22,000, premium special loin + ebi fry ₩23,000
• A tonkatsu restaurant that started in 2002 at the Gaepo-dong main branch, with an aging fridge in the shop
• Walk-in waiting via Catchtable registration; tablet ordering and payment at the table
• Parking: in front of the restaurant, or the rear private lot when it's full

Why we picked Riae Premium for an Olympic Park date dinner

I was on an Olympic Park date with my girlfriend one weekend and couldn't decide on dinner. I wanted something clean but filling, and the fact that Riae Premium has been an aged tonkatsu specialist for over 20 years won me over. If you're looking for a good place near Olympic Park, it worked well as a date spot too. 😁

Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch: location and atmosphere

Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch is at 46 Seongnae-ro 18-gil, 1st floor, Unit 1-1, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea, right in front of the crosswalk at Olympic Park's North Gate 2. It's about a 10-minute walk from Exit 3 of Olympic Park Station / Dunchondong Station. By bus, take the 3411 from Jamsil Station and get off at the Yoon's English Class or Olympic Church stop, then walk 1–2 minutes.

• Address: 46 Seongnae-ro 18-gil, 1st floor, Unit 1-1, Gangdong-gu, Seoul
• Subway: about 10 minutes on foot from Olympic Park Station / Dunchondong Station Exit 3
• Bus: take the 3411 from Jamsil Station to the Yoon's English Class or Olympic Church stop, 1–2 minutes on foot
• Location: right in front of the crosswalk at Olympic Park North Gate 2
• Nearby: JYP Entertainment 3 minutes on foot, Korea National Sport University and Gangdong-gu Office 7 minutes on foot
• Hours: daily 11:00–20:00
• Break time: 15:00–16:00
• Last order: 19:30

At night the sign reading "Riae aged meat tonkatsu restaurant" lights up, so it's easy to spot even from the alley. There are waiting chairs out front, and you can see right into the kitchen through the window.

Inside, it's a tidy space with long wooden tables! There are quite a lot of seats, and it's set up so you can eat alone too.

Near the entrance there's an aging fridge packed with meat, which catches your eye as you walk past. I could trust the quality of the meat right away.

Riae Premium menu and prices

The menu at Riae Premium is split into single-cutlet dishes, half-and-half sets with two kinds of katsu on one plate, cold soba sets, and Tokyo spice curry. You can also pick extras separately, like menchi katsu (minced-meat croquette cutlet), an extra strip of tenderloin, or black tiger shrimp.

You order at a kiosk, and the lineup was pretty varied overall.

• Premium special loin (pork loin) + fillet (tenderloin) duo ₩22,000
• Filet mignon tenderloin (fillet) katsu ₩19,000
• Cold soba fillet (tenderloin) set ₩18,500
• Fillet (tenderloin) curry ₩17,500

What we ordered: two ebi fry half-and-half combos

This time we both ordered half-and-half sets that come with shrimp.

• Fillet (tenderloin cutlet) + ebi (2 shrimp) fry ₩22,000
• Premium special loin (pork loin) + ebi (2 shrimp) fry ₩23,000

What comes with a meal at Riae Premium

When you order at Riae Premium, a full spread comes out as standard!

The side dishes are three small bowls, including kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) and pickled chili peppers. The sauces come in a nice variety: salt, wasabi, ponzu sauce, tonkatsu sauce and more.

The doenjang (soybean paste) soup had a really generous amount of meat in it. The cabbage salad came piled high too, so the table felt hearty from the start.

How was the fillet + ebi fry (22,000 won)?

The fillet + ebi fry (₩22,000) at Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch is a half-and-half set with tender aged tenderloin and two big shrimp on one plate. The cross-section of the tenderloin was a soft pink and moist, and the juices flooded out the moment I bit in!

It was tender along the grain, and there was no dryness right down to the last piece.

How was the premium special loin + ebi fry (23,000 won)?

The premium special loin + ebi fry (₩23,000) at Riae Premium is a half-and-half set with thick aged pork loin and two big shrimp.

The special loin has a more definite chew than the tenderloin, and the fat and lean meat are well balanced, so the richer flavor builds the more you chew.

It was crispy and juicy, and my girlfriend savored it one piece at a time!

Jumbo shrimp ebi fry

The ebi fry at Riae Premium comes out fried long, from head to tail, and I was surprised by the size the moment it landed on the table! The coating is crackly like snowflakes and the flesh is plump and springy. Dipped in the tartar sauce that comes with it, it got even richer.

How much two people ate, and the total bill

Two half-and-half sets came to ₩45,000 in total, and with four shrimp it was plenty for two. We got full on the standard portions alone, without refilling the rice, soup or salad.

Before you go to Riae Premium: waiting, parking and hours

Waiting and reservations

If there's a wait at Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch, register your number on the Catchtable device at the entrance and go in when called. Naver and Catchtable reservations are also accepted, so booking ahead on a weekend can cut your waiting time.

Parking

You can park in front of the restaurant, and there's a rear private lot when it's full. You can also use a nearby alternative like the Olympic Park P4 lot (about 370 m away).

Opening hours

It's open daily from 11:00 to 20:00, with a break from 15:00 to 16:00. Last order is at 19:30, so keep that in mind!

Facilities and good to know

There's takeout, delivery, a takeout discount, high chairs and a waiting area, and the entrance is wheelchair accessible. 😁😁 Seating includes standard tables, counter seats for solo diners and group seating (4–20 people). No pets are allowed, and corkage and outside alcohol are not permitted.

Tips for getting the most out of Riae Premium

Aged pork: try the first bite plain

I ate my first bite without any sauce, and the natural juiciness and aroma of the meat came through more clearly. After that, use the sauces however you like!

An after-dinner date walk in Olympic Park

Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch is right in front of the Olympic Park North Gate 2 crosswalk, so after eating we just walked straight into the park. Walking through the park in the cool evening air on a full stomach was a great way to end the date, so I recommend it.

Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch: frequently asked questions

Is there a wait at Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch?

It was around 7 p.m. on a weekend and busy, and after I got seated there was a wait for others. Naver and Catchtable reservations are available, so booking ahead makes it easier.

What's the difference between fillet and special loin?

The fillet pulls apart tenderly along the grain and is full of juice. The special loin has a definite chew and a richer flavor, so pick fillet for a soft texture and special loin for a richer taste.

Is the special loin greasy?

The fat-to-lean ratio is well balanced, so the richness comes through first. If you pair it with the side dishes one at a time, you can finish feeling fresh to the end.

Can you park at Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch?

Yes, there's free parking in front of the restaurant, and a rear private lot when it's full. If space is short, nearby paid lots like the Olympic Park P4 lot, a 5-minute walk away (about 370 m), are handy.

Final thoughts on Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch

This time I tried the half-and-half sets of fillet (tenderloin) and special loin, each with two big shrimp. Since it's premium aged meat managed in the shop itself, the rich juiciness and tender texture were clearly different from the very first bite.

Thanks to the soup full of meat and the hearty spread, the two of us ate very comfortably without any refills. Even on a busy weekend evening the staff were friendly, so we could relax and enjoy the meal.

After eating, the walk into Olympic Park right across the street came naturally, which made it a perfect date course. It really let me feel the appeal of high-quality aged tonkatsu, so I plan to come back to Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch on our next Olympic Park date.