Three-sauce gyukatsu and clam chashu ramen in Gwangmyeong: Hoka Hoka

A food log from a woman with big appetite but a small stomach >_<

Today I went to Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch, a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) spot near Cheolsan Station! There are barely any places selling gyukatsu in Gwangmyeong, so I was disappointed, but they opened near Cheolsan this year and I went right away //

Where is Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch and what are the hours?

Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch is located at 887 Oriro, 101ho, Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do, and is open daily from 11:30 to 21:00. Break time is 15:00–17:00, last order is 20:30. Takeout is available and there's Wi-Fi and separate men's/women's restrooms, but no parking.

Come out of exit 2 or 3 of Cheolsan Station and walk a bit, and you'll see a big Paul Bassett building — go a little further and Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch is on the first floor of the Bobostel building!!

If you see this signboard, you've found the right place!!

How does the waiting work?

If there's a wait at Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch, you register with CatchTable at the entrance. A lot of people eat alone, so the line seems to move fast.

What's the inside of Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch like — good for solo dining?

The inside of Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch feels clean and cozy! The place isn't huge, but I didn't feel like the tables were cramped.

There are bar-style solo seats too, so it's great for eating alone!! It seems like a lot of office workers near Cheolsan come by during lunch. The open kitchen layout means you can watch the cooking from your seat!

The lighting is set up like this so it genuinely feels like being in Japan haha. Even the calendar was a Japanese one?!

There's a hair tie at every seat so people with long hair can eat comfortably — I thought that was such a nice touch haha.

What's on the Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch menu and how much does it cost?

Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch's 130g gyukatsu is ₩19,000, and ramen starts at ₩11,500. Since it's an authentic Japanese restaurant, they sell a variety of dishes besides gyukatsu.

• Gyukatsu 130g — ₩19,000
• Hangjeong-katsu (pork jowl cutlet) 100g — ₩18,000
• Tori cold ramen — ₩13,500
• Cold ramen — ₩11,500
• Ankake ramen — ₩12,500
• Chashu ramen — ₩12,500
• Spicy chashu ramen — ₩12,500
• Chicken curry set — ₩13,500
• Tartar chicken katsu set — ₩13,500
• Gyudon (beef rice bowl) — ₩13,500
• Negi agedori (fried chicken) — ₩8,500
• Yaki gyoza — ₩8,500

If you leave a Naver receipt photo review, they give you either fried lotus root or handmade walnut cookies — worth joining in!!!!

We ordered the 130g gyukatsu (₩19,000) and the haejang jogae chashu ramen (₩13,500).

How was the sweet potato fritter served before the meal?

At Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch, sweet potato fritters come out before the main dish!!!! Not a pre-made product — they served it freshly fried hahaha.

The batter was super crispy, not greasy, and you could really taste the sweet potato's own sweetness — loved it haha. It went well with the sauce too.

130g beef striploin gyukatsu, grilled yourself over a charcoal grill

The gyukatsu at Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch is made with beef striploin, and you grill it yourself over a charcoal brazier. Enter the grill for cooking your own gyukatsu!!

Here's the beef striploin gyukatsu!! Even just looking at it, the meat quality seemed great haha.

When you order the 130g gyukatsu, it comes as a set with salad, rice, and miso soup. While the meat is grilling, eating the salad whets your appetite, and taking a bite in between refreshes your palate — the best haha.

Three gyukatsu sauces — which is the tastiest?

The gyukatsu at Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch comes with three sauces: chili sauce, tare soy sauce, and sesame mayo. It was fun dipping into each one to compare haha. My pick was the sesame mayo!! But all three were delicious so I kept switching between them lolllll.

Being able to grill it yourself at your own pace seems like the real advantage of gyukatsu haha.

Also great that you can cook it to whatever doneness you like! The outside was crispy and the inside was so soft it just melted away ㅠㅠㅠ. Striploin really needs no explanation — so good.

How does the haejang jogae chashu ramen taste?

Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch's haejang jogae chashu ramen (hangover clam chashu ramen, ₩13,500) has plenty of chashu and a refreshing broth. They usually sell either chashu ramen or hangover ramen separately, but since there was a menu item that combines both, I picked it right away haha.

I didn't even add extra chashu, and I was surprised how much was already piled in. The portion is really generous, right?!!!! A lot of places have tough chashu, but Hoka Hoka's chashu was so tender — very satisfying.

I get why 'hangover' is in the name. The broth is so refreshing that even though I hadn't been drinking, it still felt like it cleared me up,,,

The seasoning is a bit on the strong side, so it makes you want a beer. I almost started drinking early in the evening haha. Make sure to take a bite of bean sprouts + chashu + noodles all together!!!

Who would I recommend Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch to?

I'd recommend Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch to anyone looking for authentic Japanese food, gyukatsu and ramen in Gwangmyeong's Cheolsan area, or a solo dining or date spot for office workers near Cheolsan!!