Tonkatsu restaurant in Pangyo, Seongnam: Katsushokudo set lunch

The day my mom and I popped out to Pangyo and went in for lunch.

Whenever I look for a good Pangyo lunch, the question always ends up being, “What will make both of us happy?” Tonkatsu is one of the few answers that hardly requires any agonizing. So this time, I went to Katsu Shokudo Pangyo Main Branch, in the basement of Alphadom Tower by Pangyo Station. It is known for yuzu low-temperature-aged tonkatsu and has received Blue Ribbon recognition for several years, so I had been curious about it for a while. My mom and I ordered the two-person set, and to give the conclusion first, this was the easiest choice because we did not have to deliberate over a single menu item.

• Location: B1, Alphadom Tower 3, 152 Pangyo-yeok-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do
• Access: About 2 minutes on foot from Exit 3 of Pangyo Station / underground Alphadom Tower arcade opposite Hyundai Department Store Pangyo
• Hours: Weekdays 11:20–21:30 (last order 21:00) / weekends 11:20–20:30 (break 15:30–17:00, last order 20:00)
• Parking: Alphadom Tower underground parking, free for up to 3 hours (get your parking stamp and registration at the restaurant)
• Reservations/waiting: We visited without a reservation; there is usually little waiting if you avoid the weekday office-worker rush around noon
• What we ordered: Two-person set ₩35,000, loin katsu ₩15,000, tenderloin katsu ₩16,000, assorted katsu ₩19,000, mozzarella cheese katsu ₩16,000, curry udon set ₩16,000

Two minutes on foot from Exit 3 of Pangyo Station, in the Alphadom basement opposite Hyundai Department Store

An easy location from Pangyo Station and Hyundai Department Store

Katsu Shokudo Pangyo Main Branch is on B1 of Alphadom Tower 3, a two-minute walk from Exit 3 of Pangyo Station. It is directly opposite Hyundai Department Store Pangyo, so plenty of people probably find it while looking for somewhere to eat around the department store. After grocery shopping or browsing the department store, it was easy to simply head underground when it was time to eat. The underground arcade is connected, which is a plus on rainy or hot days because you do not have to go outside. That day, I got there without setting a single foot above ground. If you drive, use Alphadom Tower’s underground lot; parking is free for up to three hours. In Pangyo, three hours of parking is actually quite generous, so we had time to eat and look around the department store too.

A neat Japanese tonkatsu restaurant atmosphere that is comfortable for solo diners too

A relaxed atmosphere and waiting situation, even for solo diners

The restaurant is farther inside the underground arcade, but it was brighter and cleaner than I expected once we entered. It has warm wood tones and that tidy Japanese-restaurant feel, with mostly tables for two—just right for my mom and me. If you want one of those Pangyo lunch spots where you can quietly eat and head out, this one fits the bill. There were also several people dining alone nearby. The layout makes solo dining in Pangyo feel completely unawkward, so I could see why it draws so many office workers at lunch. We went on a weekday afternoon and were seated right away. Still, the Pangyo office-worker rush from noon to 1 p.m. can get busy, so around 11:30 or after 1:30 would be better if you want a more relaxed meal.

Free refills of rice, soup, and cabbage salad

When you order, the katsu arrives as a full spread with rice, soup, cabbage salad, pickled radish, and pickled peppers. With one menu ordered per person, rice, soup, and cabbage salad are free to refill. Only the curry has a paid refill, so keep that in mind. The cabbage is shredded very finely, and I kept reaching for it to reset my palate between fried bites. The dressing was fresh rather than overpowering. My mom even said, “I could eat more of this cabbage than rice,” and ordered a refill.

What comes with the two-person set?

The ₩35,000 two-person set was the easiest option

We ordered the ₩35,000 two-person set. It includes loin katsu, tenderloin katsu, mini soba, mini udon, and mini curry. Since you get to try both kinds of katsu alongside noodles and curry, there was absolutely no need to wonder what to order for two. Once everything was set on the table, it was so full that I thought, “Can we really finish all of this?” It was not the monotonous sort of meal where you only eat cutlet and rice; switching to the other items now and then was part of the fun.

It works out to ₩17,500 per person. Ordering loin katsu (₩15,000) and tenderloin katsu (₩16,000) separately would already be ₩31,000, so considering the added noodles and curry, the set felt reasonable. It suits not only two people who love tonkatsu, but even more so a pair like us, where “Mom likes something light and I like something richer.”

Loin katsu: a thin crust and savory juices

The first thing I reached for was the loin katsu. The crust crackled as it split when I cut it, and because it clung in a thin layer, it did not scrape the roof of my mouth while chewing. It was not a thick, puffed-up breading; it was the kind that sits snugly against the meat.

The pork is described as yuzu low-temperature-aged, and there was indeed almost none of that distinctive pork smell. When I chewed, a little savory juice seeped from the fatty parts. The oil temperature seemed well managed: the coating did not turn soggy and stayed crisp for quite a while even sitting on the plate. It came with a rich tonkatsu sauce and salt, but the loin katsu was better dipped in the sauce. The sweet-tangy sauce balanced the fattier cut. That said, if you eat only loin katsu continuously, it does get a little heavy toward the end. So I reset my palate now and then with cabbage salad and pickled radish.

Tenderloin katsu: light and tender, just my mom’s style

The tenderloin katsu was completely different in character from the loin katsu. Since it is a lean fillet cut, it had almost no fat, with a clean flavor and a soft texture that separated into fine fibers. It took hardly any effort to chew, making it much easier for older diners. My mom liked this one far more. “It is not greasy, so I can keep eating it,” she said. Tenderloin katsu was tastier with a little salt or wasabi than with sauce. The meat itself tasted so clean that dipping it heavily in sauce almost covered it up. I had seen reviews saying it was dry, but the inside was fairly moist when we visited. Still, as is typical of tenderloin, the fibers get drier as it cools, so it is definitely best eaten as soon as it arrives. Sharing the two types let us alternate between the savory loin katsu and the lighter tenderloin katsu, so we did not get tired of it all the way through.

Mini soba and mini udon to reset between katsu bites

The two-person set includes two kinds of noodles: cold mini soba and hot mini udon. The soba is served chilled, and its tsuyu dipping broth was clean rather than salty. One bite immediately cleared my mouth whenever the fried food began to feel rich. The mini udon, with its warm broth, was nice when we wanted something hot alongside the katsu. It was not a deeply rich broth, but rather a clear one with a gentle katsuobushi bonito aroma. My mom mostly had the hot udon while I mostly had the cold soba, so it was perfect to divide according to our preferences. The portions are truly “mini,” just a few chopstickfuls each. They are not meant to fill you up as a main noodle dish, but to change the rhythm between bites of katsu.

Mini curry for finishing leftover rice

The set also comes with mini curry. It was not an especially unusual flavor—just a familiar, solid Japanese-style curry. It was mild with a slight sweetness, so it was an easy choice to share with an older adult. Still, having it made a bigger difference than I expected: when rice was left over, pouring curry over it made it feel as if we had one more dish at the end. Dipping a piece of katsu into the curry turned it into something like katsu curry, and that combination was not bad either. Just remember that curry refills cost extra, so if you want to eat more generously, it is better to refill the rice and soup first.

What would I order on another visit?

If you know you want just one kind of tonkatsu, a loin katsu or tenderloin katsu set would be plenty. There is mozzarella cheese katsu (₩16,000) and assorted katsu (₩19,000) for cheese lovers, plus options such as the curry udon set (₩16,000) if you are more in the mood for noodles. But if it is your first time there as a pair, the two-person set seems like the safest choice. You can check out both kinds of katsu, noodles, and curry at once, which gives you a basis for choosing next time. Many people come after searching for tonkatsu near Pangyo Station, and being two minutes from Exit 3 also makes it easy for meeting up. It is the kind of place worth saving on a Pangyo lunch list for repeated use.

Final thoughts on a Pangyo lunch with my mom

Katsu Shokudo Pangyo Main Branch was the Pangyo lunch spot I visited with my mom. The yuzu low-temperature aging meant there was no off pork smell, and the thin breading kept the meal from feeling heavy through the end. The loin katsu was savory while the tenderloin katsu was light, making this a setup where two people with different preferences can both be happy. It is opposite Hyundai Department Store Pangyo, so it fits neatly into a department-store outing, and the three hours of free parking also take the pressure off when you have driven over. If you are wondering what tonkatsu to eat in Pangyo, I recommend starting with the two-person set.

• Location: Two minutes on foot from Exit 3 of Pangyo Station, B1 of Alphadom Tower 3 (opposite Hyundai Department Store Pangyo)
• Parking: Up to 3 hours free in Alphadom Tower underground parking
• Order: Two-person set ₩35,000 (loin katsu + tenderloin katsu + mini soba + mini udon + mini curry)
• Refills: Free rice, soup, and cabbage salad refills (curry costs extra)
• Waiting: Relaxed if you avoid the weekday office-worker period from noon to 1 p.m.
• Recommendation: Light tenderloin katsu for older diners; savory loin katsu dipped in sauce