Seokchon Lake tonkatsu lunch with Mom: mixed katsu set at Matsumi

Lunch with Mom near Seokchon Lake: why Matsumi?

Matsumi Seokchon Lake Main Branch is a Japanese restaurant near Seokchon Lake serving Japanese-style tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) and a range of other katsu dishes. My mom and I finally had schedules that matched, so we went out for lunch together. I was craving a crispy cutlet that day, so I searched for a good Jamsil tonkatsu place near Seokchon Lake.

That's how I found Matsumi Seokchon Lake Main Branch. I was curious because it serves Japanese-style tonkatsu and lots of other katsu dishes, and after visiting, I'd say it's a solid choice for a lunch~

What's the atmosphere at Matsumi Seokchon Lake Main Branch like?

An atmosphere that recalls a restaurant in a Japanese alley

The exterior already felt like something from Japan. It's a bit different from the usual tonkatsu place, so it catches your eye even as you walk past.

Inside, it had that clean yet cozy feel typical of Japanese restaurants. I went with my mom, and it wasn't too casual or stiffly formal, so it was comfortable for a meal.

Seating for solo diners and family meals alike

From solo meals to family dinners

The seating inside was varied too. There are counter seats (dacchi-seok) for people dining alone, plus 2-person and 4-person tables, so you can pick whatever suits your group size.

Lots of people eat alone these days, and with the counter seats this looked fine for a solo visit. There were two of us, so we sat at a table, and it was nice to take our time over lunch chatting about this and that.

So I thought it suits all kinds of situations, from a solo meal to meeting a friend or having a family dinner.

Is the spicy cheddar tonkatsu too greasy?

Matsumi's signature "spicy cheddar tonkatsu"

What we ordered at Matsumi that day was the spicy cheddar tonkatsu and the mixed katsu set. Since there were two of us, we got one of each to share. The spicy cheddar tonkatsu caught my eye first, just from how it looked.

Cheddar cheese sits on top of the crispy fried cutlet, and a spicy kick is added too, so it felt clearly different from an ordinary pork cutlet. Cheese can easily get heavy, but the spiciness balanced it out, so it was less overwhelming than I expected.

The crunch of the cutlet blended with the soft cheese, and every bite had a rich, nutty flavor.

What comes in the mixed katsu set?

If you want to try a bit of everything: the "mixed katsu set"

I liked that Matsumi's mixed katsu set lets you enjoy several kinds of katsu and fried dishes at once. Besides the tonkatsu, it came with fried shrimp, a croquette and more, so it was fun to share them one by one.

The tonkatsu in particular had a crispy coating with fairly tender meat inside, so the texture was nice. If there are two of you, ordering one single dish and the mixed katsu set to share, like I did, seems like a good idea.

Being able to taste several flavors rather than just one dish left me more satisfied~

Lunch near Seokchon Lake: where to park?

A lunch spot near Seokchon Lake

Matsumi is close to Seokchon Lake, so it's nice for a stroll around the area before or after eating. It worked well for us, meeting up after a long time for lunch with my mom, and the atmosphere would also be easy for meeting a friend in Jamsil.

If you're hunting for tonkatsu at lunchtime, it's a good one to keep in mind among Jamsil tonkatsu candidates. If you're driving, use the nearby Seokchon Gobun public parking lot. We used the public lot close to Seokchon Gobun Station that day too.

The most memorable dish: spicy cheddar tonkatsu

A special meal with an added kick of spice

Personally, the most memorable dish at Matsumi that day was the spicy cheddar tonkatsu. With cheese on a pork cutlet, I thought it might feel a little heavy at first, but the spicy flavor made it surprisingly clean to eat.

I like a plain tonkatsu too, but sometimes I crave something different, and this is a good order for those times. I also liked that sharing with my mom meant we could each try different dishes.

Verdict: who is Matsumi Seokchon Lake Main Branch for?

Maybe because it was a lunch with Mom after finally matching schedules, this meal stuck with me even more. Matsumi Seokchon Lake Main Branch is a Japanese restaurant with a Japanese-style setting and a variety of tonkatsu dishes, and it was easy and comfortable to visit.

The spicy cheddar tonkatsu combines the nutty richness of cheese with a spicy kick, so I think it suits anyone looking for something different from regular tonkatsu. The mixed katsu set lets you taste many items at once, which made it great for sharing as a pair.

If you're looking for Jamsil tonkatsu near Seokchon Lake, a tonkatsu place good for eating solo, or a Jamsil lunch spot for the family, it's a Japanese restaurant worth a visit. Next time I go back, I'd like to try the mazesoba (brothless mixed noodles) I didn't get this time~