Yongsan donkatsu sets with udon at Onjeong Gyeongyang Sikdang

I went to Yongsan Donkatsu Onjeong Gyeongyang Sikdang, Yongsan branch (용산돈까스온정경양식당 용산점), with my husband on a weekday evening. We sought it out because we both like donkatsu, and I was pleased with the convenient shopping-arcade parking and the set meals that paired donkatsu with noodles.

How do you park and get to the restaurant?

The restaurant is on the first floor of the Richensia Apartment shopping arcade. There is separate parking for the arcade, and the entrance and exit lanes were fairly wide. When I arrived at around 7 p.m. on a weekday evening, there was plenty of parking available.

After parking, you need to use the shopping-arcade elevator rather than the apartment entrance. The arcade entrance I used had a metal door, with two elevators inside. I went up to the first floor and found the Onjeong Gyeongyang Sikdang sign.

On the way to the restaurant, there was a menu board showing photos and prices. It let me look over what to order before going in.

How do you order, and which sets did we choose?

We ordered at a kiosk. The rule was one menu item per person, excluding infants and children. There were quite a few guests with children during my visit, too.

Along with individual dishes, there were udon and buckwheat-noodle sets. I chose the standard Western-style donkatsu udon set, while my husband chose the cheddar cheese donkatsu buckwheat-noodle set. We shared both so we could try the two combinations.

Are there seats for solo diners or families with children?

At around 7 p.m., the restaurant was nearly full, and we took the one remaining two-person table. It was large enough for two set meals. There were also four-person tables, and window bar seating that looked convenient for dining alone.

Disposable aprons and high chairs were available as well. Several families were dining there, and I could keep hearing delivery orders coming in throughout the meal.

What does the restaurant say about its ingredients and oil?

The restaurant stated that it uses a continuous frying system and fries meat prepared that day in oil managed daily. It also said it uses Korean pork and domestic ingredients.

Can you get more rice or side dishes?

A self-service bar on one side of the restaurant had a water dispenser and cups, side dishes, salad, and rice. The rice served with the donkatsu was a little scant, but my husband brought himself more from the self-service bar. Morning rolls also came with the meal, so the overall portion was generous.

How were the Western-style donkatsu udon set's flavor and portion?

The food arrived as I had expected from the menu photos. Each set included one donkatsu cutlet with either udon or buckwheat noodles, making it easy to enjoy several things together.

The standard Western-style donkatsu had crisp-fried meat with a slightly sweet sauce. Once I soaked it well in the sauce, it was moist; it did not feel greasy to my taste, so I finished it cleanly. It reminded me of the Western-style donkatsu I ate as a child.

The udon had a subtle savory flavor from a little red pepper powder. The noodles were springy, and there was plenty of fried tofu and fish cake. I expected a small side portion with the set, but it felt almost like having a full bowl, which was filling. Pepper was available at the self-service bar to add to taste.

Do the cheddar cheese donkatsu and green tangerine cold buckwheat noodles work together?

The cheddar cheese donkatsu had such a generous layer of cheese that it covered and overflowed the cutlet. The soft cheese felt spread on like a sauce, and its nutty, salty flavor went well with the donkatsu. It was a style I had not tried before, and I would like to order it again.

The cheonggyul naengmomil (green tangerine cold buckwheat noodles) served alongside it was cool and clean-tasting. The gentle tang of green tangerine refreshed my palate between bites of the rich cheese donkatsu. The noodles were springy and plentiful, so I was glad we ordered the set.

How were the soup and accompaniments?

The donkatsu and udon alone were filling enough, but I also tried the soup. It contained several large pieces of mushroom, giving it a pleasantly chewy texture.

The side dishes were kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) and danmuji (pickled yellow radish). The salad came with a tangy kiwi dressing.

Why would I want to return?

The convenient parking and generous set portions stood out from this meal. With window bar seating and high chairs, it also seemed worth considering for a solo meal or dining with a child. Next time, I would like to have the cheddar cheese donkatsu again or try the curry donkatsu I did not choose this time.