Ilsan pork cutlet restaurant for a weekday lunch booking: Kitsuki

I was on the hunt for good tonkatsu in Ilsan when I ended up at Kitsuki Ilsan Bamridan-gil Branch. The restaurant has a clean, comfortable atmosphere and I tried everything from the katsu to the side dishes — the crispy texture and generous portions were great, and the side dishes paired well too. Here's my honest review of everything I ordered.

Where Kitsuki Ilsan Bamridan-gil Branch is, and its hours

Kitsuki Ilsan Bamridan-gil Branch is located on the 1st floor of 159 Sandu-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi.

• Hours 11:30-20:30, last order 19:30
• Pet-friendly
• Corkage available
• Reservations available
• Goyang Pay accepted
• Parking available — free at Pungsan Station public lot, or in front of the restaurant 11:30-14:00 and after 6pm

The entrance and signing up on the waitlist

As soon as I walked in, there was a kiosk near the entrance for putting your name on the waitlist, and a phone charger set up nearby too. Being able to charge your phone if the battery's low while waiting felt like a really thoughtful touch.

Kitsuki's vintage dining room: fine for solo meals or a date

Kitsuki's interior is filled with vintage furniture, small decor pieces and music, giving it a warm, cozy feel. It has a comfortable overall vibe with its own distinct character, making it easy to enjoy the atmosphere while eating — and just as comfortable for a relaxed solo meal.

There are also table seats, which work well for visiting with friends or family, and with the nice atmosphere, it's a place well suited to dates or special occasions too.

Is there a wait at weekday lunch? Why booking matters

I'd made a reservation in advance, so I got seated right away with no wait. Even though I visited on a weekday lunch, there were plenty of customers and some people waiting for tables — I even saw a few people turn away disappointed because there weren't any free seats. If you're planning to visit, I'd really recommend booking ahead.

Ordering was done conveniently through the tablet system built into the table. No need to flag down staff — I could take my time looking over the menu and order whatever I wanted right away.

I ordered the perilla cream udon, loin katsu, hirekatsu, and the special loin katsu.

Premium loin katsu topped with gabrisal (pork jowl)

The special loin katsu has gabrisal (a cut of pork skirt meat) attached to the loin, giving it a different texture from regular loin tonkatsu. With a good layer of fat, it had that rich, savory loin flavor, and the gabrisal added a chewy bite that made it fun to eat. The outside was fried crisp while the inside stayed soft and moist — a katsu with both tenderness and chew.

It was tasty on its own, but dipping it lightly in salt brought out the meat's natural richness and umami even more. Each piece was cut thick and filled my mouth, and every bite felt satisfyingly generous.

Black pork hirekatsu with seed jeotgal and clear broth

The inside was so full of juice it glistened, and it looked moist even before I took a bite. The first thing I noticed was the crispy coating, followed by the moist juiciness of the tenderloin. It melted in my mouth, and being lean black pork tenderloin, there was almost no greasiness — just a savory, clean flavor that kept me reaching for more.

It paired really well with the seasoned seed relish too — the salty, umami-rich relish added yet another dimension to the crispy katsu. The broth served alongside was memorable as well, a bit different from a typical Korean broth: it had a deep, meat-based richness with a somewhat exotic edge, yet still tasted familiar and comforting once you actually tried it — the kind of flavor almost anyone would enjoy.

Hirekatsu or loin katsu: which should you order at Kitsuki?

Where the hirekatsu felt soft and clean, the loin katsu had a richer, more savory flavor coming from its fat layer. Crispy outside, moist inside, with a subtle savory meat flavor that builds as you chew. It had a bit more chew than the hirekatsu, but the meat itself was tender enough that it never felt tough — in fact it was just as soft as the tenderloin, letting you enjoy the loin's signature richness alongside a tender bite. If you like clean, light flavors, go for the hirekatsu; if you prefer a richer, more savory meat flavor, the loin katsu is the one. The loin katsu especially paired well with the tonkatsu sauce — its savory fat combined with the tangy-sweet, umami-rich sauce made it even better.

Side curry and perilla cream udon

The side curry I ordered exceeded my expectations too. Since this is a tonkatsu restaurant, I figured the curry would just be a light add-on, but it turned out to be genuinely good on its own. The smooth, rich curry was great with rice, and just as good with a piece of katsu on top. After eating nothing but katsu for a while, having curry in between kept things from feeling repetitive.

The perilla cream udon was a dish where the nutty perilla flavor really stood out. The cream sauce was smooth and fairly thick, and with the perilla added, the nutty flavor went even deeper. The plump, chewy udon noodles held onto the sauce well, so every bite of noodle was packed with a savory, smooth flavor.

There were also plenty of oyster mushrooms in it, adding a chewy texture that made it fun to eat. Despite being a cream sauce, it wasn't overly heavy, so it was easier to enjoy than I expected.

Final verdict: who Kitsuki Ilsan Bamridan-gil Branch suits

• Anyone who loves tonkatsu that's crispy outside and moist inside
• Anyone looking for a great tonkatsu spot in Ilsan
• Anyone who wants to eat somewhere clean with a good atmosphere
• Anyone looking for a comfortable place for a solo meal or a date
• Anyone looking for a place to eat with friends or family
• Anyone looking for a pet-friendly restaurant to visit with their dog

I'd recommend Kitsuki, a great tonkatsu spot on Bamridan-gil.