Late-lunch tonkatsu near Magok Station: soup curry side at Katsuryun

Katsuryun at Magok Station: location, hours and facilities

Katsuryun (카츠륜) is at 10 Magokjungang 6-ro, 1st floor, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, 232 m from Exit 3 of Magok Station. It is open 11:00–21:00 Monday to Friday and 11:30–20:30 on Saturday, and closed on Sundays.

• Parking available
• Local currency / Zero Pay / mobile payments accepted
• Wi-Fi
• Waiting area
• Child seats
• Separate men's and women's restrooms

Why I chose Katsuryun for a late solo lunch near Magok Station

On a weekday when I'd missed the lunch rush a bit, I was looking for somewhere near Magok Station where I could eat comfortably by myself, and ended up at Katsuryun, a tonkatsu place well known among Magok office workers. I'd been wondering where to go for lunch near Magok Station, and suddenly I just really wanted tonkatsu. It was great for eating solo and the food was great too, so I left very satisfied.

Katsuryun is right by Exit 3 of Magok Station, so it wasn't hard to find, and it would be an easy visit on a rainy or hot day too. Even though lunchtime had passed on this weekday, customers kept coming in, so you can tell it's a popular lunch stop near Magok Station. Quite a few office workers were dining alone.

What are the atmosphere and solo seats like at Katsuryun?

The Katsuryun Magok Station branch is done in warm wood tones, and the tables are spaced generously so it never feels cramped. It's clean and comfortable, good for a lunch or even a date :)

There are seats set aside for solo diners, so I didn't feel awkward coming alone at all, haha. And one of my favorite things: the kitchen is open, so I could see in, and you can tell the owner keeps it spotless, which was reassuring.

Katsuryun's open kitchen: hygiene and fast service

The cooking area was super clean, and they seem to put a lot of effort into hygiene overall. Seeing that makes me trust the food more. While eating I noticed that a lot of customers were there alone. Food also comes out fast, so it's perfect for office workers or solo diners at lunch or dinner.

Bottled water for every diner at Katsuryun

Another thing I liked: Katsuryun hands you bottled water, bottle and all!! Many places have a pitcher or a water purifier, but here each person gets their own bottle, which feels much more hygienic, haha. It's a small thing, but it raised my satisfaction more than you'd expect.

Katsuryun menu and my order: sirloin katsu 12,000 won + soup curry 3,000 won

Katsuryun's signature dishes are sirloin katsu, tenderloin katsu and tori katsu (chicken katsu). Sirloin and tenderloin are both popular, but I was dining alone this time and ordered as below!

• Sirloin katsu ₩12,000
• Soup curry ₩3,000

It's a side dish, so I didn't expect much from the soup curry... but please order it too, haha. Highly recommended!!

The food arrived quickly after I ordered. The sirloin katsu came as a full set with rice, soup and cabbage salad, and it was a generous, filling meal, haha. Tonkatsu sauce, salt and wasabi come along too, so dip however you like.

How does Katsuryun's sirloin katsu taste?

The coating on Katsuryun's sirloin katsu is really thin and crispy while the inside stays moist, so the texture was wonderful. Tonkatsu has to be crispy, right? The first bite made me say "oh..." out loud, haha. Even though it's sirloin, it wasn't tough or dry; it was juicy and mild, so I kept eating.

You taste the pork itself best, and nothing is tough or greasy, so I first dipped it lightly in salt and later in the sauce too. Katsuryun says it uses Korean pork aged for 164 hours to bring out the true flavor and juiciness of tonkatsu. Maybe that's why it was not only juicy but tender, and even tastier.

Cabbage salad with yuzu dressing at Katsuryun

The cabbage salad was fresh, and the yuzu dressing was bright, so eating it in between cleansed my palate. It's a slightly uncommon sauce, which made it even better, I think.

Is Katsuryun's soup curry worth adding as a side?

Katsuryun's soup curry (₩3,000) was the biggest surprise of this meal. I thought of it as just a side, but the contents were more generous than expected and the broth was deep and rich, so delicious. A bite of sirloin katsu followed by a bite of soup curry is honestly the best combination.

Sirloin katsu alone can get a little heavy, but the soup curry balances it perfectly, so together they're amazing. For ₩3,000 at this quality, skipping it would be a loss. I'll definitely order it again! Look how plump the sausage is too, haha.

Rice and side dish refills at Katsuryun, and the verdict

At Katsuryun you can get refills of side dishes or rice if you run short. The owner was very kind too, and everything was delicious. If you're looking for a lunch spot near Magok Station or a place to eat alone, I recommend Katsuryun, a great Gangseo tonkatsu restaurant.