Busanjin tonkatsu restaurant for moist tenderloin: Katsu Gimseondo

You might not know this, but I’m actually a huge Japanese tonkatsu fan... I’m surprisingly picky specifically about pork cutlets, so rather than trying just anywhere, I tend to keep going back to only the places I really love! Then I ended up visiting Katsu Gimseondo! I’d known about this place for a while but had never been, and after eating there this time, I proudly added it to my list of great tonkatsu spots in Jeonpo, haha. Somewhere I’m 100% willing to visit again next time too..!!

Katsu Gimseondo location and basic information

• Location: 16 Seojeon-ro 47beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea
• Hours: 11:30–21:00 (closed every Tuesday)
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Last order: 20:00
• No parking

A neat, wood-toned interior

The interior had a neat, wood-toned feel! Even though the owner cooks alone, neither the dining room nor the cooking area felt messy or dirty, so I really liked how clearly hygienic everything seemed!!

One thing I personally really loved was that every table had its own pack of wet wipes! I didn’t have to ask the owner for them, and it made for such a hygienic meal—so, so satisfying..!

And the identity of Gimseondo, which I’d been curious about even before visiting..!! Haha, I thought it was the owner’s name, but he is actually a fictional character: a Donminam, or “a man crazy about pork cutlets,” who is completely obsessed with tonkatsu! Haha.

The menu and what we ordered

As you’d expect from a great tonkatsu spot in Seomyeon, Katsu Gimseondo had not only tonkatsu but also sides such as katsu sando (cutlet sandwich), curry, and croquettes! I also liked that you can add a small serving of tenderloin tonkatsu for ₩4,000~

They also say they serve the pork when its flavor is at its peak, after 180 hours of room-temperature aging and 20 hours of salt curing! Honestly, I don’t know exactly what all those processes mean, haha, but it was just insanely delicious... The meat was so, so tender!!

• Tenderloin tonkatsu set (₩14,000)
• Loin tonkatsu set (₩13,000)
• Handmade curry (₩2,500)
• Potato croquette (₩2,500)

Thick yet moist tenderloin tonkatsu

First up, the tenderloin tonkatsu I’d been looking forward to most! The moment it came out, the thickly sliced meat immediately caught my eye~~~>_< Tenderloin is all about that soft texture, and when I took a bite, the meat was moist and tender to chew, so delicious. (Hehe, I want it again already...)

The crust was not too thick either, so the balance between meat and breading was nice. It looks like it might be dry because it’s thick, but not at all, not at all! Tender,, moist,,, in a word: de.lic.ious!!

Loin tonkatsu with a lovely savory flavor

And the loin tonkatsu we ordered alongside it! It was just as tender and moist as the tenderloin, but the loin had a layer of fat, giving it an even more savory appeal, haha. Personally, I don’t usually love the texture of the fat attached to loin tonkatsu, but here the fatty part chewed so softly that I enjoyed it without any resistance! Haha.

• For a tender, moist style → tenderloin
• For savory flavor and a meatier taste → loin

I’m not really a fan of strong yuzu flavors, but these days so many tonkatsu places have salad dressing that is heavily yuzu-scentedㅠㅠ This place, though, had just a subtle yuzu aroma, as befits a great Seomyeon tonkatsu spot, so it didn’t get in the way of the meat’s flavor and was delicious, haha.

Lightly spicy curry and soft potato croquettes

I also ordered a curry because it felt a little sad to eat only tonkatsu! If you keep eating just tonkatsu, it can get rich, but this curry was lightly spicy. Mixing rice into the curry meant I never got tired of it and could finish the meal feeling nicely full! Haha.

Even though the potato croquette was one piece, it came cut in half, which made it just right for two people to share, haha. The potato was so soft that you need to pick it up gently~~ with your chopsticks, haha.

Why I added it to my Jeonpo tonkatsu list

I actually have a tonkatsu place in Jeonpo that I visit often! But from now on, I’m going to quietly add this one to my list of great Jeonpo tonkatsu places too, haha. If you love soft tonkatsu like I do, I’d recommend the tenderloin; if you want a little more meat flavor and texture, go for the loin. If you’re craving Japanese tonkatsu in Jeonpo or looking for a great tonkatsu restaurant in Seomyeon or Jeonpo, stop by Katsu Gimseondo too :) Next time, I’m going back to try some other menu items!