Gwangju tonkatsu with rice-paper wraps: Filling Donkatsu Yongbong

If you're looking for good restaurants in Yongbong-dong or Ochi-dong, this might help. This is a place my family has been to three times or more! We went to Filling Donkatsu, located right next to Hyundai Hospital. It was featured in 'Daedon Yeojido,' a book listing Korea's top 100 tonkatsu restaurants, so the taste is guaranteed! If you're looking for a date course or dinner spot in Buk-gu, Gwangju, pay attention~

Where is Filling Donkatsu Yongbong Branch, and where do you park?

You can park in the lot next to Filling Donkatsu. They support 1 hour and 30 minutes of parking. It's such a busy neighborhood, so having parking support was really nice!

• Location: 297 Seoljuk-ro, 2nd-3rd floor, Buk-gu, Gwangju
• Hours: Tue-Sun 11:30-21:00 (closed Mondays)

Go up the stairs to the 2nd floor.

Weekend lunch at Filling Donkatsu: seating and Naver reservations

Since it was a weekend lunch, Filling Donkatsu was bustling. Naver reservations are available, so booking ahead lets you eat comfortably! There's group seating and baby chairs too, so it's a good space for families and couples alike.

You can order via kiosk. Since there were four of us, we made a Naver reservation before visiting. Filling Donkatsu was selected as one of Korea's top 100 tonkatsu restaurants in 'Daedon Yeojido.' I completely trust this Ochi-dong, Yongbong-dong spot haha

The nutty soup you can refill for free

We ordered two servings of filling wrap tonkatsu, shrimp pilaf, and the 200-hour tenderloin katsu. After a bit of a wait, they brought out the soup, and it was really savory and delicious~ A pale, savory-smelling soup!

Passed the soup test right away!! It was thick with a deep flavor that whetted the appetite.

We went with family, and my mom said the soup was so savory she got a refill. Filling Donkatsu's service was really good — the soup gets refilled, and with a Naver reservation they give out various coupons like drink coupons, so make sure to check and use them!

Filling ssam donkatsu: tonkatsu wrapped in rice paper

Tada~ here come the filling wrap tonkatsu and shrimp pilaf! Every time we come to Filling Donkatsu, we order the wrap tonkatsu. The dish is generous and pretty, so I'd recommend it as a date spot in Yongbong-dong.

Wrapping the tonkatsu in fresh spring roll wrappers makes it refreshing and delicious — kind of addictive, you know? I picked the wrap tonkatsu the first time because it felt different, and after eating it, the fresh vegetables and crispy tonkatsu came together so well that I keep coming back for it.

Shrimp pilaf with wok smoke and firm rice

The pilaf was full of smoky wok flavor and the shrimp were plump. You could bite into mushrooms here and there, which were savory and delicious. This pilaf was totally my taste! The rice was slightly crisped and chewy — top-notch, haha.

There are two thick slices of tonkatsu on top. Crispy and delicious even on its own ㅠㅠ The tonkatsu had no off smell and was full of juicy meat flavor.

Wrapping vegetables, tonkatsu, and pineapple in a spring roll wrapper

Dip it into whichever of the three sauces you like — so good! The three sauces are a slightly spicy cheese sauce, sweet chili, and tonkatsu sauce.

Nom nom~

How was the 200-hour tenderloin katsu?

Tenderloin aged for 200 hours, fried crisp while keeping the moist, juicy texture — the 200-hour tenderloin katsu!! The visuals are amazing and the full spread makes you gasp.

The spread came out really pretty and neat. I'd say it's a good dish for a date, haha. Just looking at that rosy-pink color makes it seem so tender, like the juices are still alive.

The tenderloin katsu was delicious whether eaten whole in one bite or cut in half! Everything at Filling Donkatsu really seems to taste good. It came with several sauces, so it was fun to eat with all the options.

Putting a dab of wasabi on the tender, rosy-pink flesh made it taste clean and delicious. Tonkatsu can sometimes feel a bit greasy if it's not done well, but Filling Donkatsu was clean through and through.

Is Filling Donkatsu worth a family visit?

If you're looking for a good restaurant in Buk-gu, Gwangju, or searching for a great tonkatsu spot, I'd recommend visiting Filling Donkatsu Yongbong Branch next to Hyundai Hospital! You might just fall for the charm of the wrap tonkatsu and the 200-hour tenderloin katsu, haha.