Yeonsinnae tonkatsu: cheese katsu with spicy curry at Katsu Monster

On days when I'm craving crispy tonkatsu, this is where I go. This time I visited 'Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch' (카츠몬스터 연신내점), a place with a great reputation as a Yeonsinnae tonkatsu spot.

Where is Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch, and is it good for eating solo?

Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch is a 1-minute walk from Yeonsinnae Station Exit 4, so access is really good. It works as a meeting spot, and it's no pressure for a solo meal either.

The inside is on the small side, with about three 4-person tables and a bar counter along one side, which is perfect for dining alone. Tonkatsu is a soul food for guys, I guess, because there really were a lot of solo diners when I visited.

Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae menu and prices

• Loin katsu (rosukatsu): ₩12,000
• Tenderloin katsu (hirekatsu): ₩14,000
• Cheese katsu: ₩14,000
• Mixed katsu (loin + tenderloin): ₩16,000

You order at the kiosk by the entrance. I liked how simple the menu is: basic loin and tenderloin katsu, plus cheese katsu for cheese lovers.

Ta-da! Today's tonkatsu feast is served 😍

Is the cheese katsu too greasy?

The Katsu Monster cheese katsu (₩14,000) has so much cheese it looks like more cheese than meat, yet I could eat it to the end without it feeling heavy. Cheese katsu first. One look and you just say, wow.

The amount of cheese beats the amount of meat, it's crazy,, they really don't hold back, so it tasted rich and nutty the whole way through 😍

Stretchy cheese 😍 Bite in and the savory, thick cheese pours out of the crispy coating like a waterfall, and the combination of mild pork and rich cheese is fantastic 😍 Cheese katsu usually gets heavy after a few bites, but at Katsu Monster the nuttiness of the cheese and the mildness of the pork balance each other, so I enjoyed it to the end.

If you write a Naver review, Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch gives you a spicy bite-size curry as a free extra. I dunked the cheese katsu deep into the curry, and the gentle spiciness brought out the cheese flavor even more, a different kind of charm 👍🏻

How were the loin and tenderloin in the mixed katsu?

Even though the loin in the mixed katsu (loin + tenderloin, ₩16,000) is thick, it stays juicy, and the writer ranks it number one among all the tonkatsu places visited so far. Next up: the mixed katsu (loin + tenderloin).

I started with the loin, and I can say this with confidence: hands down number one of all the tonkatsu places I've been to.......

Loin katsu dipped in Himalayan salt

Every seat at Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch has Himalayan salt, so first I dipped a piece in just the salt and tried it.

The moment I bit in, juice filled my mouth and I couldn't help exclaiming. The outside is fried thin and crisp with great texture, and the inside was unbelievably moist and tender 😍 I immediately understood why so many people recommend it as a Yeonsinnae tonkatsu spot. What impressed me most was that even though the meat is quite thick, it isn't dry at all and the juices are all still there.

Tenderloin katsu with wasabi

The tenderloin katsu was excellent too: not just the tender texture tenderloin is known for, but juices that stay springy and chewy the more you bite, which really impressed me.

I put wasabi on top and took a bite, and it cut right through the fried richness, which made it a real treat ✨ With its mild yet deep flavor, I think tenderloin fans will be very happy with it.

The udon set and the free spicy bite-size curry

The tonkatsu sets at Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch come with hot udon (thick wheat noodles), which cuts the richness of the katsu. Eating only tonkatsu can get a little heavy, so a steaming udon in the set was a really solid combination.

One sip of the hot broth and I felt warm all the way down. The chewy noodles and plump fish cake were a highlight among highlights. Eating it as a set left me properly full, a very satisfying combo.

The free spicy bite-size curry was better than I expected too.

The gentle spiciness and rich curry flavor go so well with rice that even a spoonful of rice with just curry on top kept me going back. Eaten with the tonkatsu it's yet another combination, which made it even more enjoyable 👍🏻

Is Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch worth going back to?

Taste, portion, price and access were all satisfying at Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch. It's close to Yeonsinnae Station so it's easy to get to, and it's good for eating solo, on a date or with friends. Above all, the juicy loin katsu and the stretchy cheese katsu are things I still think about 😍

If you're looking for a Yeonsinnae tonkatsu spot, I confidently recommend Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch! Try it once and you'll feel for yourself why so many people name it their Yeonsinnae tonkatsu pick!