Seomyeon tonkatsu with a 6-year-old: katsu sando at Katsu Gimseondo

This was supposed to be my one free weekend this month with zero plans, so I wanted to just rest at home! But instead I ended up with an even busier schedule than usual. We spent the morning jumping around at a kids' play café, went home for a nap to fully recharge, and then in the afternoon headed out to Busan Citizens Park.

After playing all day, who wants to cook dinner, right? I asked my daughter what she wanted to eat, and she said, "Mom~ tonkatsu, obviously" haha. So we went to Katsu Gimseondo, a well-known tonkatsu spot in Seomyeon.

Where is Katsu Gimseondo, and what are the hours and parking?

• Address: 16 Seojeon-ro 47beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:30–21:00 (break time 15:00–17:00, last order 20:00)
• Closed every Tuesday
• Parking: 2 spaces beside the restaurant
• No high chair available

It's located near the Busanjin Fire Station. If you're taking public transit, it's close to Exit 7 of Jeonpo Station, and there's space beside the restaurant for two cars to park.

Inside Katsu Gimseondo: seating, and is solo dining okay?

Katsu Gimseondo has a clean wood-tone interior with cozy, soft lighting that gives it a warm, relaxed feel, and the tables are spaced generously so you can eat comfortably.

There's also bar seating, so it wouldn't feel awkward to come alone for a meal. The layout lets you see the kitchen from the neatly arranged space, so you can watch the cooking process — any worries about hygiene or cleanliness can go right out the window!

Every table had pink salt and pepper, chopsticks, napkins, and even wet wipes set out — a thoughtful touch.

What's on the menu at Katsu Gimseondo?

Katsu Gimseondo's menu has a variety of tonkatsu sets along with side dishes, drinks, and alcohol, so there's something for every taste. The menu even includes tips on how to enjoy the tonkatsu at its best.

The Gimseondo set with added tenderloin

The Gimseondo set (김선도 정식) comes with pork loin cutlet, pork tenderloin cutlet, fried shrimp, and a soft-boiled fried egg, served with their special tare sauce. We added extra tenderloin.

The crispy-fried katsu was cut into bite-sized pieces, so you could immediately see the tender texture of both the loin and tenderloin. The salad was fresh as could be, too.

Pop the soft-boiled fried egg and mix it into the rice 🥄

A spoonful of that alongside the katsu is completely moist and satisfying. The combination of the crispy batter and tender meat in the tonkatsu is honestly fantastic 👍

It's delicious dipped in pink salt, too. Add the special tare sauce and the umami explodes for an even better bite.

The tonkatsu keeps its crispy texture while melting in your mouth at the same time? Wow... I was genuinely surprised that tonkatsu could be this crispy and this tender at once.

Katsu sando with mulberry jam: how did the six-year-old like it?

Katsu Gimseondo's katsu sando is a tonkatsu sandwich, served with mulberry jam on the side for a different kind of flavor.

Wow... it just gets softer the more you eat... The tonkatsu has a chewy quality but is also moist, and that combination is irresistible.

Adding the mulberry jam brought a nice tartness that made it even better. Since there's mustard in it, my six-year-old said it was a little spicy, but she still happily dipped it in the jam and ate it all up.

Is Katsu Gimseondo worth a visit? Final verdict

Katsu Gimseondo was genuinely so delicious — one of the best tonkatsu restaurants in Seomyeon. My husband said it was way better than the tonkatsu he waited in line for at another famous spot not long ago, calling it the best tonkatsu he's ever had. He kept marveling that the batter was truly crispy and the meat melted in his mouth. A tonkatsu for the ages 👍