Solo lunch mazesoba at level 3 spice, Seokchon: Matsumi

Matsumi, a mazesoba and tonkatsu specialist near Seokchon Gobun Station

It's a tonkatsu / mazesoba restaurant located right on the street by Seokchon Gobun Station Exit 4. Being so close to the subway station, it's super easy to get to by public transit.

A recommended spot for solo lunch at a Songpa tonkatsu place. Hours 11:30 ~ 15:00 Break time 15:00 ~ 17:00 Last order 20:30

An interior that works for solo diners and group gatherings alike

It's a spacious, comfortable interior. Plenty of room for company dinners, group gatherings of all kinds — no shortage of space here. Since it's a place with lunchtime waits, you'd probably want to ask about group reservations, right?

A recommended spot for solo lunch at a Songpa tonkatsu place — customers keep coming in throughout the day. Walk in and the owner greets you kindly, with the AC blasting so you can enjoy your meal comfortably. There's a bar table too, so it's a good spot for solo dining — perfect for a quick bite during a busy time, right?

Just seeing the candy and hair tie you get to take home after the meal, you can feel the owner's thoughtfulness. These little things are nothing much, but they really land, haha.

There's a Naver receipt review event that gets you a cool highball as a service item, so definitely do it and claim yours. Enjoy a cold bottle of Asahi Dry beer while you wait, and your order comes out pretty quickly.

Spicy cheddar tonkatsu — how spicy is level 2, really?

Crispy tonkatsu fried Matsumi's own way, topped with rich cheddar cheese and their special spicy sauce — a fantastic combo. You can tell at a glance they don't skimp on ingredients, haha. It comes piled with cheddar cheese so you really get that cheesy flavor, and the cabbage comes generously too.

Matsumi, the mazesoba specialist near Seokchon Gobun. Honestly, at most tonkatsu places the cabbage portion is so tiny you end up asking for a refill mid-meal, but here they give you plenty from the start, which made me feel rich, haha.

A bowl of rice and miso soybean paste soup round it out into a full meal with nothing missing. Spice level is adjustable up to level 3 — I ordered at level 2, and honestly it was fairly spicy. Eating the crispy-battered tonkatsu with the cheddar as-is is a genuinely delicious bite.

Matsumi, the mazesoba specialist near Seokchon Gobun. The cabbage paired well, and the tonkatsu sauce was tasty too. The miso soybean paste soup especially surprised me — it cut through the greasiness of the fried food while being seasoned just right.

The mazesoba set — tonkatsu included in one go

Matsumi, the mazesoba specialist near Seokchon Gobun. This menu lets you enjoy mazesoba and crispy tonkatsu together at once. A set menu combo with mazesoba and tonkatsu served together — extreme value for money. A bowl of rice comes too, so I'd guess most women won't finish it all. The portions are generous enough to leave you stuffed, haha.

Don't underestimate the tonkatsu just because it comes as part of a set — the quality is solid. Definitely a place that knows how to fry well, with barely any oil smell. The batter stayed crispy while the meat was cooked just right. Soft and crunchy — delicious.

A Jamsil tonkatsu date by Seokchon Lake. Pairing it with the tonkatsu sauce on the table works well, or dipping it in the mazesoba sauce is good too.

Level 3 spice, egg yolk mixed in — the signature dish

The dish that surprised me most was, of course, the signature. The mazesoba's flavor depth is incredible. The mala spice can be adjusted up to level 3, and it's the style where you pop the egg yolk and mix it into the sauce — recommended for anyone who loves bibim-myeon (spicy mixed noodles).

A Jamsil tonkatsu date by Seokchon Lake. It's definitely a bold, punchy flavor that satisfied from the very first bite. The noodles had great chewiness too, and the sauce's seasoning was just right. The sauce itself is delicious — that's what makes it so appealing.

A Jamsil tonkatsu date by Seokchon Lake, a tasty meal near Seokchon Gobun Station. It's a mazesoba and tonkatsu specialist with great public transit access, and a good vibe for solo lunch too. If you want to really enjoy a proper sauce, I'd recommend the mazesoba; if you want a crowd-pleaser with no downsides, go for the tonkatsu.

Side dish: 2 pieces of vegetable croquette

Matsumi, a tasty lunch spot near Seokchon Gobun Station. The main dish portions were so huge I was already full, but the batter was delicious. There's a croquette you can order as a side — how could I just skip past that, haha? Ordered just 2 pieces to try. The side dish comes with plenty of cabbage too, they really don't skimp on ingredients.

Rice dunked in the leftover sauce; the seaweed vinegar is optional

The reason mazesoba is so good is really the sauce, and it would feel like a waste to just eat the noodles and stop — I think that's why they give you a bowl of rice too.

Matsumi, a tasty lunch spot near Seokchon Gobun Station. Once you're moderately full, adding the seaweed vinegar gives a whole different flavor, but personally I preferred it plain. Fish out the noodles, dump the rice in — it felt just like eating mapo tofu, and I enjoyed it so much.

The empty bowl of truth

Matsumi, a tasty lunch spot near Seokchon Gobun Station. By the time I cleared it, I was already stuffed, haha. Still can't get over the shock of that mazesoba. Generous ingredients and big portions make it a satisfying meal for anyone. The owner is kind too, so I'll probably be back whenever I get a craving for mazesoba!