Ilwon-dong tonkatsu restaurant with a mixed katsu set: Sioldon Ilwon

"Sioldon, tonkatsu tastier than the real thing in Japan" I visited Sioldon, a brand built on the passion to make tonkatsu that surpasses even the original in Japan.

What makes Sioldon tonkatsu different? 72-hour cross-aged pork

Sioldon says they tested wet aging, dry aging, and brine aging to find the best method, and cross-age the pork for 72 hours before making tonkatsu! I used to think frying pork was just... frying pork, but now I get why the flavor feels so much more refined — it's thanks to the chefs' effort. You can also see menu items like tenderloin katsu, kimchi nabe, and katsu-don in photos.

Where is Sioldon Ilwon Branch? Location, parking and solo seats

It's located near Samsung Seoul Hospital, and parking is available right in front of the restaurant 👍🏻 The place was clean too!! There are separate window seats for solo diners, which was great, and the sofa seats were super comfortable~!

We look after our own guests! Disposable aprons are provided too, so you can eat without worrying about your clothes 🥢

During lunch and dinner peak hours there tends to be a lot of waiting, so order first as soon as you arrive, then write your name on the waitlist⛤

Sioldon menu and prices: which set is the best value?

Sioldon's value set It's already on the kiosk, but I think they wrote it separately for reference! But I was too distracted by the cheese katsu to notice..🫠 I'll try the set next time!! The curry udon also seems like it might be something special..!

The country-of-origin labeling is clearly displayed, and the menu is neatly divided into tonkatsu, rice bowls, udon, and buckwheat noodles. Prices range from ₩8,000 and up! You can also add tenderloin katsu, cheese katsu, and more separately, so it might be nice to order a main and try several sides.

How to eat Sioldon tonkatsu: salt, sauce and order of bites

• Enjoy it plain, with no sauce at all
• Sprinkle on some Himalayan pink salt
• Add a touch of wasabi or wholegrain mustard
• Mix mustard into the tonkatsu sauce and dip

You get a free drink if you take part in the Naver receipt review event, so make sure to join in 💕

Mixed katsu set with sirloin and tenderloin, 15,900 won

Mixed katsu (sirloin, tenderloin) set, ₩15,900 — the first dish we ordered. I was torn between sirloin and tenderloin, so I just ordered the mixed set! When it first arrived it looked kind of cute and modest, but it turned out thick and packed with actual meat rather than just batter, so it was really filling!

It comes with cute diced radish kimchi, sauce, rice, and fried tofu soup — and the soup broth is seriously..👍🏻

Sioldon, a favorite near Samsung Seoul Hospital, says they tested various pork breeds and use the tastiest ones — Dodram Hanpork and Seonjin Pork Hanpork! For brining, instead of regular salt they use nuruk salt (fermented rice salt) to boost the savory flavor. A chef who cares even about the salt — so sweet~!

Doesn't the tenderloin and sirloin just look juicy even from the photo?🥹 They said they worked hard using their own developed batter to get that crispy-outside, juicy-inside texture, and honestly the coating felt different. The moment I took a bite, I thought, ah, this place is really something.

A meticulous Sioldon, careful even about the length of the breadcrumbs The coating is thin but somehow holds the meat firmly together while staying perfectly crispy — the texture was really special! Makes you wonder if the cross-aging is what creates this texture!?

The sirloin was delicious, and the tenderloin was delicious too — it's fried in oil, so how is it this light and clean? It's a specialness you can only understand by trying it yourself.

Cheese katsu set, 12,900 won: cheese that never hardens

Cheese katsu set, ₩12,900. What came out was a truly cheese-packed cheese tonkatsu! First of all, the cabbage salad dressing was totally my type 🔫

The soup broth is amazing 👍🏻 It's full of fried tofu too, so the texture was great, and the rice was fluffy and nice. You can easily finish a whole bowl~!

With most cheese katsu, the cheese usually hardens fast as you eat, but at Sioldon Ilwon Branch the cheese in the cheese katsu doesn't harden! It stays chewy and stretches all the way to the last bite, which makes eating it fun. It has a soft chewiness that pairs really well with the meat — the best cheese katsu I've had recently.

Dab it in sauce, cheese stretching out~🤎 They seem to work hard to keep the oil clean too, since everything tasted really clean! Anyway, the sirloin and tenderloin — totally recommended!!!! I'm planning to come back this weekend to try other menu items. That's my review of Sioldon tonkatsu, a favorite near Samsung Seoul Hospital ◡̎