Pangyo tonkatsu with beer: tiger shrimp mixed katsu don, Katsu Shokudo

Where is Katsu Shokudo Pangyo Main Branch? B1 of Alphadom Tower

I got hungry after shopping at Pangyo Hyundai Department Store and found this Pangyo tonkatsu spot. It's on the basement level of Alphadom Tower, right across from the department store, so it's easy to find.

Multiple Blue Ribbon marks made it feel like an already-certified local favorite. Out front there was a Catch Table kiosk and a waitlist sign-up board.

Is there a wait before 6pm? Bar seats for solo diners

Inside, the seats are spacious and comfortable. At lunch there's a wait since so many office workers come in, but before 6pm in the evening it's much more relaxed — only two or three tables when I visited.

There are bar seats up front for solo diners, so it seems like it gets pretty busy at lunch.

On the table, shichimi pepper and salt (and dental floss) are set out for use.

Katsu Shokudo Pangyo menu and how to order

The menu is divided into set meals, tonkatsu, nabe (hot pot), donburi (rice bowls), and udon dishes, with curry available as an add-on or as a set alongside the katsu. Katsu Shokudo Pangyo's menu centers on fillet katsu, loin katsu and shrimp katsu, which can also be ordered as set meals depending on the type.

The best-sellers were the assorted katsu, assorted katsu don, and fillet katsu, plus side dishes like karaage (Korean-style fried chicken) and croquettes. Salad, soup and side dishes are all refillable at no extra charge.

Payment works on a pay-first system, which was a bit inconvenient — if you want to order more while eating, it feels awkward since you've already paid up front.

Since it was evening and I was in the mood for a beer, I ordered a one-shot beer for ₩3,000 along with the mixed katsu don set for ₩21,000.

Mixed katsu don set: thick fillet katsu and tiger shrimp katsu

The mixed katsu don comes with fillet rather than loin, so it's more moist and tender. Along with it comes cabbage salad and soba as part of the set.

The shrimp katsu was fried well and wasn't the least bit soggy.

Fillet katsu is often cut thin, but here it's nice and thick. The thickly sliced fillet katsu had tender texture and a clean flavor, while the shrimp katsu stood out for its springy bite. The crispy batter let the filling's flavor shine through, and eating the two together never got repetitive. It's a good spot to drop by for a relaxed solo lunch in Pangyo.

The mixed katsu don comes topped with a huge tiger shrimp katsu. It was thick and delicious — I wished I'd added an extra one, but held back worrying I'd be too full with the beer. In hindsight, adding one would've been fine.

Cold soba or udon: which to choose with the set

You can choose between cold soba and udon, and I went with the refreshing cold soba. Even as a side, the portion was nearly half a full serving — quite generous.

A full spread like this, with a one-shot beer, would be a great mood-lifter for stressed-out lunch breaks too.

The noodles were springy and cooked just right.

The shrimp fills your mouth with flavor!!

The katsu don sauce isn't salty — add shichimi pepper

Both the fillet and shrimp were fried well, and the katsu don sauce is on the mild, non-salty side, so it's nice to sprinkle on the shichimi pepper sitting nearby.

The sauce over the rice mixes onion and mushroom with egg, making it a clean, filling combination. Eating tonkatsu alone can feel heavy, but katsu don is the perfect choice for anyone who finds tonkatsu too greasy!!

It was a bit of a shame that the katsu don only comes with fillet and not loin, but I'll have to come back and try the assorted katsu again sometime.

Is Katsu Shokudo Pangyo good for eating alone at lunch or dinner?

This is a tonkatsu spot where you can eat comfortably even on weekends when the department store is packed. The food comes out fast, so it's great for a quick lunch, or for a relaxed evening drink on your way home from work. The space is spacious and the food is quick to eat, making it a solid choice for a company lunch too — filling enough to keep you going all day.