Amsa-dong tonkatsu and Sapporo beer for a 5pm solo dinner: Tonka

Where is Tonka, the tonkatsu restaurant in Amsa-dong?

Tonka (TONKA) is a Japanese-style tonkatsu restaurant located at 78 Sangam-ro 5-gil, 1st floor, Unit 102, Gangdong-gu, Seoul. Today was one of those days when I was really craving tonkatsu 🐷 Once you start thinking about crispy breading and juicy pork cutlet, there's no holding back, right? So I finally made it to Tonka, a tonkatsu spot in Amsa-dong, Gangdong that I'd had bookmarked for ages!

The storefront has 'Japanese-style tonkatsu restaurant TONKA' written in big letters right at the entrance, so there's no way to miss it 😆 It's walkable from Exit 4 of Amsa Station — go straight for 450m, turn left, and it's right there in the alley!

Arriving at Tonka at 5pm: sold out right after the last seat

I went a little after 5pm, right after break time (15:00–17:00) ended, and the place was already full...! I was there for a solo meal, so luckily one seat was still open and I managed to get in 😋 Literally right after I sat down, a sold-out sign went up! I got lucky 🥹

(To avoid a wasted trip, I'd recommend calling ahead if you're planning an afternoon visit!!) They keep a separate waitlist, and on weekends you should go in expecting to wait! That probably says something about how popular this place is.

How to order at Tonka: tonkatsu 15,000 won, Sapporo 8,000 won

At Tonka, once you sit down you order yourself via QR code. This kind of smart ordering system is really convenient these days 📱 I ordered the signature tonkatsu (loin+tenderloin) for ₩15,000 and a cold bottle of Sapporo beer for ₩8,000!

Bar seats and an open kitchen made for solo diners

Inside, Tonka is compact but has a cozy vibe. It's all bar seating, which is great for eating alone! And since it's an open kitchen, you can watch the whole cooking process — that's a real charm point! Watching the owner prepare everything with such care made me even more excited 👨‍🍳

Finally, the moment of cooking! The owner slices the tonkatsu right in front of you, and there's real fun in watching this scene ✨ Even the sound of the knife was serious, and I could see the crispy-outside-juicy-inside thing happen with my own eyes, which doubled my anticipation.

While waiting, a cold glass of Sapporo beer 🍺 On a hot day, this combo is just unbeatable. It went down so refreshingly that even the waiting time for food felt enjoyable.

How does Tonka's tonkatsu (loin and tenderloin) taste?

And finally, the Tonka tonkatsu arrives! Can you see the thick-sliced cutlet cross-section? A pink, juicy interior with crispy breading on the outside — it was perfect from the visuals alone 🤤 The shredded cabbage came piled up like a mountain too, so I could keep eating without feeling greasy. The sesame sauce was the best!

Rice and miso soup all set! I took a bite with mustard and sauce added... and the moment I bit into the crispy breading, the juices burst out and I was completely happy 😆 The soft-yet-crispy texture had me just marveling. Eating it with the beer, I thought — this is what happiness is! So glad I came!

Tonka's limited menus and a Sunday tip

By the way, here's a tip the owner shared: every Sunday, the day before the regular closing day, they sometimes bring out special cutlets as part of stock management, so keep that in mind! Also, the special loin katsu and sashimi katsu are limited quantity, and apparently they usually sell out by morning!!

Next time I want to go try the special loin katsu~~ As a place that stakes everything on a single tonkatsu menu, the quality was seriously solid. Highly recommend it if you're looking for a Japanese-style tonkatsu restaurant near Gangdong-gu, Amsa-dong 👍

Is Tonka in Amsa-dong worth a visit?

• Taste: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Friendliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Would revisit: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (I'll be back for the special loin katsu!)