Geomdan tonkatsu with table kiosks: tenderloin vs loin katsu, HOKATSU

Why tonkatsu today

"What should I eat today?" I was looking for somewhere to eat around Geomdan, and this time I was really craving proper tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet).

Crispy breading, tender meat inside... once I started thinking about that, no other menu could hold my attention 😋 So the place I headed to was HOKATSU.

Where HOKATSU is and what the room feels like

HOKATSU is located at 788 Seogot-ro, 128ho, Geomdan-gu, Incheon. Arriving out front, the clean look made it inviting to walk in, and true to a dedicated tonkatsu restaurant, the menu was built around tonkatsu. These days there are so many options when searching for good restaurants in Geomdan that it's hard to decide, but this time I settled on the menu right away.

What the 2026 Blue Ribbon selection means

And here's the part that caught my eye! HOKATSU is a 2026 Blue Ribbon-selected restaurant. As someone who loves tonkatsu, that kind of detail can't help but raise expectations. "Guess I should really eat well today," I thought as I sat down 👀

How HOKATSU ages its pork

One thing HOKATSU highlights in particular is its aging method. They say the katsu is made using handmade yogurt dry-aging, a method HOKATSU developed and the first of its kind in Korea. In the restaurant's own words, this is meant to achieve "the most tender katsu in the world." It was impressive to see this point of difference from typical tonkatsu right in the aging process.

The three dishes ordered at HOKATSU

This time at HOKATSU I ordered three dishes in total!

• Tenderloin katsu
• Premium loin katsu
• Tonkotsu ramen

It felt like a waste to pick just one type of tonkatsu, so I ordered tenderloin and loin separately, plus tonkotsu ramen for something with broth 🍜 Once it was all laid out, the table filled up fast.

Tenderloin katsu: how tender is it?

First up, the tenderloin katsu. Tenderloin is the cut you expect a soft texture from in tonkatsu, and with the first bite, I could really take my time noticing the texture of the meat itself. The combination of breading and meat wasn't overwhelming either, so I could eat comfortably from start to finish.

Premium loin katsu: the chewier cut

Next was the premium loin katsu, which has its own charm, different from the tenderloin. Tasting that distinct loin flavor, I was glad I'd ordered both 😋

"Do you prefer tenderloin or loin?"

It was fun choosing based on preference like that.

Tonkotsu ramen on the side

Eating only tonkatsu felt like it needed something more, so I also had the tonkotsu ramen I'd ordered. Taking a sip of warm broth in between bites of katsu gives a whole different feeling, right? Pairing crispy katsu with a noodle dish made it a filling meal overall 🍜

Side-dish self-bar and the kiosk at each table

At HOKATSU, you can help yourself to side dishes from a self-bar. It was convenient to take as much as I wanted, and easy to grab more of anything running low while eating. Having a self-bar like this these days just puts me at ease 😊

Ordering was also convenient. Each table has its own kiosk, so you can order and pay all at once. You can take your time browsing the menu and pick whatever you want directly, which made ordering easy.

Can you order while waiting for a table?

HOKATSU also allows pre-ordering when there's a wait. It's a bit disappointing to visit a popular restaurant only to face a long wait, so being able to order ahead seems like a nice touch for anyone who wants to make their meal time more efficient.

Service at HOKATSU

The staff were friendly and attentive throughout my visit, which made for a comfortable meal. Since it was my first time with this menu, I ended up looking things over carefully, and overall the atmosphere felt easygoing. Food matters most at a good restaurant, but these small details tend to stick with you too.

Looking for tonkatsu in Geomdan New Town?

These days, a lot of people search for tonkatsu when looking for good restaurants in Geomdan New Town. HOKATSU lets you try both tenderloin katsu and premium loin katsu together, plus tonkotsu ramen, making it a solid pick for days when you want tonkatsu and noodles together 🥢 If you're curious about aging methods in particular, it's worth looking into HOKATSU's own handmade yogurt dry-aging story.

This time I ordered both tenderloin and loin to compare, and the texture really did differ by cut, so I was glad I ordered both together. Adding the tonkotsu ramen on top made for a pretty satisfying menu lineup.

"Today I really want proper tonkatsu!"

This is the kind of place that comes to mind on days like that 😋

HOKATSU visit information

• HOKATSU · 788 Seogot-ro, 128ho, Geomdan-gu, Incheon, South Korea
• Ordered: tenderloin katsu, premium loin katsu, tonkotsu ramen
• Self-bar for side dishes
• Ordering/payment via kiosk at every table
• Pre-order available while waiting
• Friendly staff
• 2026 Blue Ribbon Survey selection

If you're craving tonkatsu in Geomdan, this is a place worth checking out, from the menu lineup to the aging method. I got to enjoy the tenderloin katsu's soft texture and the premium loin katsu's distinct meat flavor separately, and with the tonkotsu ramen alongside, I left having had a really filling meal 😊 If you're searching for good restaurants in Geomdan New Town, good restaurants in Geomdan, or good restaurants in Incheon and craving tonkatsu, keep HOKATSU in mind.