Cheese tonkatsu lunch in Wonju: Haengbokhan Udong Gage

Whenever I start wondering what to have for lunch, I inevitably end up at Haengbokhan Udong Gage Dangwan Branch (행복한우동가게 단관점), a go-to spot in Dangu-dong, Wonju. It is cheap but generously portioned, and the flavor is hard to believe for the price—always delicious, always leaving us absolutely stuffed. Basically, it is the locals’ own lunchtime hideout!

Haengbokhan Udong Gage Dangwan Branch hours and parking

It is open from 11:00 AM until 4:30 AM the following day on Monday and Wednesday through Sunday, and from 6:00 PM until 4:30 AM the following day on Tuesday. Break time is 3:00–4:00 PM, and last orders are at 4:00 AM.

Looking at those hours, it is practically a 24-hour restaurant. That makes it perfect for soothing late-night hunger or grabbing a drink after catching the last train. Parking in the alley behind the restaurant is easiest!

Police officers, firefighters, and military personnel even get ₩1,000 off. Haengbokhan Udong Gage Dangwan Branch does all the good things! Places like this deserve to sell loads and become wildly successful!

The restaurant is clean with a retro concept! The old-school interior feels familiar and warmly nostalgic. Anyone born in the ’90s or earlier knows this vibe... hahaha.

Ordering cheese tonkatsu, squid rice, and perilla-oil soba

The menu has both meal dishes and drinking snacks, though udon, tonkatsu, and rice bowls seem to be the most popular. We ordered cheese tonkatsu, stir-fried squid rice, and perilla-oil soba just like this.

Whenever we come to Haengwoo, cheese tonkatsu and squid rice are basically our fixed choices. Then we alternate between udon when it is cold and soba when it is hot, hahaha.

The review event is pretty generous too: write a receipt review and you get one of soju, beer, or honey tomatoes.

Fire-kissed stir-fried squid rice

As we chatted away and waited, the stir-fried squid rice arrived! It is Jwooni’s dad’s favorite at Haengwoo, packed with an ample amount of dry-fried squid with a lovely smoky wok flavor. A dish that satisfies in both taste and portion.

The squid is especially plump and tender, fresh with no fishiness at all, and the seasoning is delicious too—game over. It is just so good...

Perilla-oil soba for days without an appetite

Next was perilla-oil soba! It is Haengbokhan Udong Gage’s hidden little gem, just perfect when it is hot and you have no appetite ❤️

The savory soy sauce, a generous pour of perilla oil, chopped minari (water celery), and a little chopped chili really lift what could otherwise be a mild, plain perilla-oil soy flavor and aroma.

The little crisp bursts of minari as you chew are the key point ⭐️ Eat this when you have no appetite and it comes right back home, haha.

My number-one cheese tonkatsu: crunch and cheese

And then Jwooni’s number-one pick, the cheese tonkatsu! I think everyone knows Haengbokhan Udong Gage’s cheese tonkatsu is famous by now, but even compared with all those cheese tonkatsu places boasting that they appeared on TV, this one has first place in my heart.

And it is only ₩11,900! Tonkatsu is often ₩16,000–₩18,000 these days, but at this price, with a heaping bowl of rice, a bowl of udon broth, and a huge serving of vegetable salad, Haengwoo wins by a landslide.

The color of the cheese, the crunch of the breading, even the thickness and tenderness of the meat—Haengwoo’s cheese tonkatsu has nothing missing!! This is it, this is the one.

How far is it going to stretch////??? The cheese is wonderfully chewy and nutty, and that crisp coating is a work of art. It is tasty dipped in sauce too, but it is best eaten plain. It just makes me want to dip it in salt and eat it!

We had such a delicious, filling meal at Haengbokhan Udong Gage Dangwan Branch, a great restaurant in Dangu-dong, Wonju. If you are looking for a great-value lunch spot in Wonju, do not overthink it—come straight to Haengbokhan Udong Gage!