Guryong Station tonkatsu restaurant lunch with shrimp tempura: Riae

I went to Riae Tonkatsu near my office for lunch with my boyfriend! I've been coming here whenever I craved katsu, and even after a while away, it was still just as legendary — premium tonkatsu that lives up to its reputation. It's such a famous Gaepo-dong Japanese restaurant that there can be a wait during the lunch peak, so I'd recommend checking ahead before you visit!!

Riae location, hours and parking near Guryong Station

• Location: 6 Seolleung-ro 16-gil, 1st floor, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00–20:00 (last order 19:00) *Same hours during Chuseok holiday!
• Reservations: Naver, Catch Table
• Parking: 6 free spots beside the restaurant

Riae sits in an alley near Guryong Station in Gaepo-dong — the kind of place locals in the area already know well. The restaurant has that cozy yet clean Japanese-restaurant atmosphere all the way through. The owner is friendly too, and after three years of visits, I can tell this is a place that's kept genuinely clean and tidy.

Riae menu: the new premium katsu series and curry

I've eaten here plenty before, but there are so many new menu items now! With the premium series, the portions feel bigger and the meat quality feels even better. And best of all, now that they have curry, there are so many more options for a meal — I'm so happy about that haha

Premium top-grade sirloin katsu and black tiger shrimp tempura

Riae's signature dish, the premium sirloin loin katsu, comes out over 2cm thick and looked incredibly delicious. The moment I bit in, savory juices burst in my mouth — not dry at all, really tender. Dipping it in salt and truffle oil was the best combination. Paired with the thin cabbage salad drizzled in savory dressing, I could eat endlessly 🫶🏻

The black tiger shrimp tempura I ordered as an extra also surprised me — long, thick, and impressive-looking. I ate it head to tail, all crispy, and inside was plump white meat, unlike regular shrimp — it really tasted like shrimp tempura you'd get near the coast.

What is Riae's hire tenderloin Tokyo spice curry like?

For my main, I picked the hire tenderloin Tokyo spice curry, and it was plated in a cute face shape that made me unreasonably happy haha

The curry had that deep, rich flavor unique to Japanese solid curry blocks from Tokyo, and the tenderloin was softer and cleaner-tasting than the sirloin. Comparing everything, I think this place is overwhelmingly the best in Gaepo-dong. Truly the perfect lineup from a real Gaepo-dong tonkatsu favorite!

Is Riae worth it? Verdict on this Gaepo-dong Japanese restaurant

If you're looking for a can't-go-wrong Gaepo-dong Japanese restaurant with rich curry and juicy tonkatsu, you have to try Riae Tonkatsu! It's the perfect hearty, delicious lunch, so I plan on coming back again and again and again. I also tried the takeout, and it does soak up a bit of oil, so the taste is a little different from eating in-store!!ㅠ If you can, make the time to visit and try it in person!! 😎