Katsu dinner in Ssangam-dong, Gwangju: half-and-half cheese katsu set

Where is Jeongseong Katsu, Cheomdan Branch, and is there parking?

Jeongseong Katsu, Cheomdan Branch (정성카츠 첨단점) is a tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant in Ssangam-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, right across from Cheomdan Hospital. You can use the building's shared parking lot, so it's convenient if you're driving.

I'd been wondering what's good to eat in Cheomdan, Gwangju, and then thought: is there anything that tastes good whenever you eat it, the way tonkatsu does?! That's how I ended up at Jeongseong Katsu. Being across from Cheomdan Hospital, it wasn't hard to find.

• Address: 81-15 Cheomdanjungang-ro 152beon-gil, Units 118 and 119, Ssangam-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, South Korea
• Hours: 10:00–21:00
• Parking: building's shared commercial parking lot

Atmosphere and first impressions

The restaurant is tidy, with generous spacing between tables, and you order at a kiosk. The first thing I noticed as I walked in was how clean it felt. The decor isn't over the top, and the roomy tables made me comfortable the moment I sat down. I also liked that the kiosk let me take my time scanning the menu before choosing.

Even at peak time, tables turn over fast, so it didn't feel like you'd wait long. Kids' high chairs are available too, so it's fine for families with little ones. I went in the evening, and there were really a lot of takeout and delivery customers.

What did I order at Jeongseong Katsu, Cheomdan Branch?

My main was the sweet potato cheese katsu + cheese katsu half-and-half set. The moment I tapped the kiosk, my eyes got busy! There are quite a few kinds of katsu, and it felt like a shame to pick just one, so I decided without any agonizing, since this lets you enjoy two flavors at once. Both are sold as single items too~

On top of that I added a bowl of cold udon, plus 2 pieces of jumbo shrimp tempura and 6 pieces of karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken) as sides. Sitting at the table looking at my order, I wondered, can I really finish all this? But I figured I'd manage somehow, haha.

How did the sweet potato cheese katsu + cheese katsu half-and-half set taste?

The half-and-half is a set meal, so it comes with basic side dishes and hayashi rice sauce (hi-rice). Just look at it, the visuals are killer, right!? The combination with the hayashi sauce went together better than I expected.

Sweet potato cheese katsu: for those who like sweet things

The sweet potato cheese katsu pairs sweet potato with stretchy cheese. Bite into the crispy coating and you get the subtle sweetness of the sweet potato together with the savory richness of the cheese, and I kept reaching for more. I think it suits people who love sweet things especially well.

Cheese katsu: the classic flavor

The cheese katsu feels more classic. The moment thick, rich cheese oozes out of the thickly fried cutlet is the highlight, you could say. Eaten with the katsu sauce, the salty and savory flavors balanced out nicely.

Does the cold udon go well with katsu?

Personally, the cold udon here was more satisfying than I expected. The noodles are chewy, of course, and the clean broth did a great job of refreshing my mouth between bites of rich katsu. I've had a lot of cold udon in a lot of places, but it's been a really long time since I had one where the noodles were well seasoned and the broth was this good!

Jumbo shrimp tempura and karaage sides

The jumbo shrimp tempura I ordered as a side wraps a plump shrimp in a crispy coating, and when you bite in you get that springy shrimp texture. Just note that the head and tail still have their shell~ The karaage was crispy outside and juicy inside. Honestly, karaage tastes equally good wherever you eat it, so I'll skip the extra explanation~

Who is Jeongseong Katsu, Cheomdan Branch good for?

I think Jeongseong Katsu, Cheomdan Branch is a good place for a casual tonkatsu meal. Tables turn over quickly, and there's a wide choice of single items and set meals, so it looked great for a quick lunch! Hot summer is only just starting! Once it gets a bit hotter, I'll have to come back for the cold udon~