Seongnae-dong tonkatsu restaurant with potato croquettes: Riae Premium

I was looking for a place to have lunch near Olympic Park when I found Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch. I love tonkatsu and have tried plenty of places, but what really caught my eye here was the half-and-half menu that lets you eat sirloin and tenderloin at the same time.

It's also fairly close to the JYP Entertainment building, so I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good Japanese tonkatsu spot around Olympic Park or Seongnae-dong.

Where is Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch, and what are its hours?

Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch sits right across from the crosswalk at Olympic Park's North Gate 2. It's about a 3-minute walk from JYP Entertainment and about 7 minutes from Korea National Sport University and Gangdong-gu Office, making it easy to drop by when hunting for lunch nearby.

It's open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a break time from 3 to 4 p.m. Last order is at 7:30 p.m.

Driving there is fine too. You can park in front of the restaurant, and if it's full there's a dedicated lot at the back entrance.

When I visited during lunch hour, it was pretty crowded, and there was even a Catch Table waitlist kiosk set up outside. People were actually waiting, which made it clear this place is a real local favorite near Olympic Park.

How tender is the sirloin and tenderloin half-and-half tonkatsu?

We went as two and each ordered a different set, plus added a potato croquette.

Premium half-and-half: sirloin (ros) and tenderloin (hire)

The dish I was most satisfied with was the half-and-half that lets you eat sirloin and tenderloin together. Whenever I only order one cut, I always end up missing the other, so I loved that this place has so many menus where you can compare two cuts side by side.

The tenderloin in particular was so soft I was impressed the moment I took a bite. Even though it was thick-cut, it wasn't dry at all — the moist texture really came through. I've had tenderloin tonkatsu before that was tough despite the thickness, but this one was clearly different in terms of softness.

The sirloin was also nutty, with a great balance of lean meat and fat. There were plenty of sauces to dip into — wasabi, salt, truffle oil, tonkatsu sauce, yuzu ponzu — so even the same cutlet tasted a little different each time.

Cold soba and sirloin tonkatsu set at Riae Premium

My friend ordered the cold soba sirloin set. The portion of soba was generous and the noodles were chewy, which was more satisfying than I expected.

After the crispy, nutty sirloin cutlet, a bite of the cool soba made for a really great combo.

With regular tonkatsu I sometimes feel a bit greasy toward the end, but eating it alongside the cold soba made the whole meal feel much lighter.

Korean-grown potato croquette

On the side, we added a Korean-grown potato croquette. We ordered one but got an extra one for free, haha. The outside was crispy and the inside was fluffy and warm. Eating it fresh out of the fryer really let the soft texture of the potato shine, and it was a nice, easy addition to the meal.

Why Riae Premium works for lunch near Olympic Park

Overall, it was a satisfying meal all around — the tonkatsu, cold soba, and croquette all delivered. The spread was generous too, with rice, soup, and cabbage salad plus gungchae namul, pickles, and kkakdugi all served together.

Customers kept coming in throughout the lunch hour I was there, and a wait even formed, which made me think this is a real go-to spot for local office workers and Olympic Park visitors.

If you're looking for tonkatsu near Olympic Park, Japanese food in Seongnae-dong, or a solid lunch spot around Olympic Park, I'd recommend this place. Next time I visit, I'll probably order the half-and-half with tenderloin again without a second thought. If you like soft tonkatsu, this is a place you'll likely be quite happy with.