Ilwon-dong tonkatsu late lunch after COEX with a toddler: Sioldon

From COEX to Ilwon-dong: a late lunch with a 41-month-old

We went with family to COEX at Samseong Station to see an exhibition, and as lunchtime approached, we decided it made more sense to leave and eat out than to keep paying for parking at COEX — that's how we ended up at this tonkatsu place, Sioldon Ilwon Branch. Wow, but that short distance from the COEX parking lot to the exit took us 30 minutes on the weekend. Yeah, leaving the car at home really is the way to go for COEX.

After finally making it, we arrived at this Ilwon-dong favorite. Since we were dining out with a baby, I picked a tonkatsu place I knew our daughter would like, and as expected, Sioldon Ilwon Branch didn't disappoint. They use pork cross-aged for 72 hours, so the cutlets come out extra tender and delicious.

Sioldon Ilwon Branch hours, break time and parking

• Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. (last order 8:00 p.m.)
• Break time: 2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Opens 10:00 a.m. on holidays
• Parking: about 3–4 spots in front of the store (also available at the naengmyeon shop right next door)

Partitioned seats at Sioldon that suit dining with a toddler

Inside, Sioldon Ilwon Branch had a really cozy, warm atmosphere. Each table had a tall, private partition doubling as a backrest, which made for an even more comfortable meal. Honestly, I barely felt self-conscious dining there with our kid?

Food comes out from an open kitchen, and once you're done, you bus your own dishes to the return counter. You can also spot the 72-hour aging equipment off to the side.

Sioldon Ilwon Branch menu and prices: what we ordered

There are plenty of tonkatsu varieties, plus a good range of donburi and udon options too. We went with two sets: the sirloin katsu set for 12,900 won (mini fried tofu udon +3,000 won) and the cheese katsu set for 12,900 won. Mini fried tofu udon is available as an add-on for just 3,000 won once you pick a set, so we ordered it for our 41-month-old daughter.

How to eat Sioldon's tonkatsu at its best

For the best experience: start by trying it plain with no sauce, then dip lightly into Himalayan pink salt, then try it with wasabi or wholegrain mustard, then mix mustard into the tonkatsu sauce! They give you a variety of sauces so you can enjoy it every which way. Personally, the pink salt dip was my favorite. Salt really is the best thing for any kind of meat.

Cheese katsu set, 12,900 won

First up, the cheese katsu set — the dish I always order without fail at any katsu place! Four big, long rectangular cutlets came piled high with melted cheese still warm and gooey, and I couldn't even imagine how tender it would be.

Salad, a bowl of rice, udon broth, pink salt, wasabi, wholegrain mustard, tonkatsu sauce, and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) — everything was thoughtfully laid out.

Sirloin katsu set at 12,900 won with mini fried tofu udon

The sirloin katsu set had a visual that just screamed properly aged sirloin. The pink-tinged flesh from the well-cooked meat looked absolutely delicious.

Same sauces, a bowl of rice, and kkakdugi came with this one too. We added the mini fried tofu udon and gave it to our noodle-loving daughter, who happily ate it right up.

Cheongyang curry sauce add-on, 3,000 won

As we ate, we noticed quite a bit of rice left over, so we ordered the cheongyang curry sauce for 3,000 won to make the most of it. It's only 3,000 won, but I really recommend adding it for the value — great not just with rice but for dipping the katsu into as well.

How did the tonkatsu at Sioldon taste?

The cheese katsu was, as expected, incredibly soft. The crunch of the crust, the tender aged meat inside, and the hot cheese stretching out on top, all so savory — there's no way it could be anything but delicious. Whoever invented cheese katsu deserves an award.

Because it's properly aged, the sirloin katsu had no dryness whatsoever — the juices were still alive, the meat texture was super tender, and the flavor was great. Dip it in salt and the salt melts gently into the juices for that salty note, blending perfectly with the crispy fried savoriness and the clean flavor of the pork — three flavors coming together beautifully.

The udon was meant for our daughter, and ordering it turned out to be a great call. We cut the katsu into bite-sized pieces for her to eat along with the udon, and since she was hungry and it tasted good, she just kept eating.

Mixed into the rice, the spicy curry with soft minced meat was pretty addictive. You really have to try this one! The spicy curry brought a tired appetite back to life.

So that was our late lunch after COEX — a delicious plate of Sioldon katsu that perked us right up just when we were about to run out of steam.

Ilwon-dong tonkatsu lunch spot Sioldon Ilwon Branch / 12 Ilwon-ro 9-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 1st floor