Yeonnam-dong tonkatsu: pork collar vs tenderloin at Katsu Monster

Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch / A go-to for sangloseu katsu on a Yeonnam-dong date, recommended tonkatsu near Hongdae

• Address: 1F 101, 42-6 Dongyo-ro 38-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Katsu Monster
• Hours: 10:30 - 21:00

Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch: a tonkatsu restaurant in Yeonnam-dong

Today I went to Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch, which is famous as a Yeonnam-dong spot, haha.

I was on a date around Yeonnam-dong and wanted some good tonkatsu, and since this place is known these days as a tonkatsu spot in Yeonnam-dong, I went in with high expectations!

Yeonnam-dong has so many pretty cafés and restaurants tucked into its alleys that just walking around is fun, and when you want a proper meal too, tonkatsu is perfect, haha.

Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch has a clean, tidy atmosphere, so it was a nice place to eat during a Yeonnam-dong date!

What we ordered: pork collar katsu and tenderloin katsu

We ordered Sangloseu Katsu (gabrisal, pork collar) and Hire Katsu (tenderloin)!

Tonkatsu really does taste and feel different depending on the cut, so we ordered both to compare, haha. One was the savory, juicy sangloseu, the other the tender hire — best of both worlds!

What does the pork collar katsu (sangloseu) taste like?

We started with the sangloseu katsu! Since it's the gabrisal cut, it had a completely different feel from a regular loin tonkatsu, haha.

The meat was nice and thick, crispy on the outside but moist inside!

With one bite, you could taste the subtle, savory flavor of the meat itself — really good, haha. Especially with tonkatsu, if the breading is too thick or

there's too much fat, you can get sick of it after a few bites, but this was light enough to enjoy all the way through!

It's tasty dipped in sauce too, but I'd recommend trying the meat plain first, haha. That's when you really feel the flavor and texture of the meat itself!

The sangloseu katsu had such a soft, moist texture that it put me in a good mood right away! The meat was thick and the portion was generous enough to fill you up!

How to use the sauces on the table at Katsu Monster

Each table has a variety of sauces set up, so it was fun trying different combinations! I kept it simple and enjoyed it with just salt, wasabi, and the basic sauce, haha.

How the tenderloin katsu (hire) differs from the pork collar

Then I tried the hire katsu I'd been looking forward to! Since it's the tenderloin cut, the texture was clearly different from the sangloseu!

The meat was so soft and moist it just melted in your mouth, haha. If the sangloseu was savory and juicy, the hire was light and tender — I'm glad we ordered both!

If you like tonkatsu, you're always torn between loin and tenderloin, but if you love both like me, I'd recommend ordering different cuts and comparing them, haha.

With crispy breading around thick meat, every bite felt satisfying! It looked light but the inside was incredibly soft — the charm of the hire katsu!

Is Katsu Monster a good date spot in Yeonnam-dong?

On top of that, everything came out as a perfect full set with cabbage, rice, soup, and dessert at this Hongdae-area spot, Katsu Monster Hongdae Main Branch!! If you're looking for a Yeonnam-dong date course, a tonkatsu date spot like this seems like a solid choice, haha.

Especially in Yeonnam-dong, it's easy to pair a meal here with a walk through the nearby alleys and a café stop afterward, so it fits nicely into a Yeonnam-dong date course!

The sangloseu katsu let us taste the distinctive savory, tender flavor of the gabrisal cut, while the hire katsu had a light, moist texture true to tenderloin! The two menus were clearly different styles, so if you're visiting as a pair, I'd recommend ordering one of each to share, haha.

If you're looking for a good restaurant in Yeonnam-dong or Hongdae, or want great tonkatsu on a Yeonnam-dong date, give Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch a try :)