Cheonan pork cutlet with lettuce wraps: Jinsim Wang Donkatsu

If you are looking for a good-value pork cutlet place in Buldang-dong, Cheonan, I think Jinsim Wang Donkatsu (진심왕돈까스) is probably what many people think of. Its giant pork cutlets use certified Grade 1 Korean pork loin, so the portions are generous without being too hard on the wallet. I have visited every Jinsim Wang Donkatsu in Cheonan and Asan because of its unusual, must-try appeal: wrapping pork cutlet in ssam (lettuce wraps)^^ Today, I visited the Cheonan Buldang branch.

Jinsim Wang Donkatsu Cheonan Buldang: location and parking

It is less than a five-minute drive from Cheonan-Asan Station, so access is great from either Cheonan or Asan.

Use the M Tower underground parking lot; parking is easy. Hours are daily from 11:00 to 21:00, with a break from 15:00 to 16:30 and last orders at 20:30. Please ask about holiday closures.

A bright interior with full-height windows and solo seats

Half the restaurant wall is made up of full-height windows, making the whole space bright and airy.

There are four-person tables as standard, plus solo seats by the windows, so you can eat without feeling boxed in while looking out toward Mulchongsae Park^^

A self-service packing station was also kept very tidy. As someone with a small appetite^^? I liked being able to pack leftovers without feeling self-conscious.

Self-serve lettuce wraps and soup

The self-service bar has ssam vegetables, side dishes, and tableware for you to help yourself. If you plan to wrap your pork cutlet, I recommend taking plenty of greens.

At a Japanese-style pork cutlet restaurant, soup and jang-guk (clear savory broth) are essentials, right?^^ Be sure to grab some yourself^^

From giant pork cutlets to noodle dishes

Alongside the classic giant pork cutlet, there are plenty of choices, including jjolmyeon (chewy spicy noodles), kalguksu, udon, and rice dishes. Prices are affordable, making it great for a group where everyone wants to order something different.

A full spread of Jinsim Jjol Donkatsu and kimchi nabe

The ssam vegetables, soup, jang-guk, and side dishes we brought from the self-service bar! We ordered cola separately, haha.

Here is our full spread of Jinsim Jjol Donkatsu and Jinsim Pork Cutlet Kimchi Nabe. One had spicy, warming kimchi nabe broth, while the other paired crisp pork cutlet with tangy, spicy jjolmyeon! We ordered two different styles to share.

Jinsim Jjol Donkatsu wrapped in lettuce

Jinsim Jjol Donkatsu is such a welcome combination when you want pork cutlet and jjolmyeon at once! The plate is so large that the food looks sparse, but it really is a giant pork cutlet.

I cut the crisply fried pork cutlet into easy-to-eat pieces with scissors,

and look at that thickness—it is almost like katsu! Personally, I prefer this kind of katsu to Western-style Korean pork cutlet.

I immediately tried it in the ssam greens, and the lettuce really cuts through the pork cutlet's richness, making it fresh and clean to eat. My sister, who was trying pork cutlet wrapped in greens for the first time, gave it a big thumbs-up and said she should eat it this way at home too!

The spicy, tangy sauce had soaked nicely into the crunchy vegetables and chewy noodles. It complements the mild pork cutlet and balances the richness, so you can keep eating without getting tired of it^^

Even I, a total lightweight with spicy food, wrapped the jjolmyeon in greens, and it was a special treat^^ If you are curious, come try it for yourself^^

Warming Jinsim Pork Cutlet Kimchi Nabe

Kimchi nabe lets you enjoy pork cutlet with the spicy, peppery kimchi-jjigae broth that Koreans cannot help but love!

The crisp pork cutlet absorbs the broth, becoming moist and tender.

Put it over rice, and one kimchi nabe has enough food to fill up two adults.

Wrapping rice, kimchi, and a piece of pork cutlet in greens brings another delicious dimension^^ I was very satisfied to have that hot, spicy, hangover-soup-like broth alongside it too^^

Pork cutlet absolutely must be wrapped in greens

At Jinsim Wang Donkatsu, you have to wrap the pork cutlet in greens!

Jinsim Wang Donkatsu Cheonan Buldang is a pork cutlet restaurant memorable for its generous portions, approachable prices, and the unusual fun of eating pork cutlet in lettuce wraps. Above all, true to its giant pork cutlet name, the portions are ample, so it is a good choice when you are looking for a good-value Buldang restaurant or want a hearty pork cutlet meal. If you love pork cutlet like I do, you should experience this different combination of “pork cutlet ssam” at least once^^ On a day when you are craving pork cutlet in Cheonan Buldang, how about rolling one up in lettuce for a bite^^?