Kimchi nabe and half-udon set at a Gwangju donkatsu restaurant: Jinsim

The weather's been getting warmer lately, so partly for a change of scenery I took a drive out near the Pyeongdong Industrial Complex in Gwangju.

The Pyeongdong area quietly hides a lot of good restaurants, so it's a great neighborhood to visit right around lunchtime. The place I went to is one anyone who loves donkatsu (pork cutlet) has probably heard of — Jinsim King Donkatsu Pyeongdong Branch.

Parking and the dining room at Jinsim King Donkatsu Pyeongdong Branch

Jinsim King Donkatsu Pyeongdong Branch sits on Pyeongdong-ro 800beon-gil in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, with a wide parking area right in front. The clean exterior and the spacious parking caught my eye the moment I arrived.

When you're driving to a restaurant, having plenty of parking makes you feel at ease before you even walk in, right? There was zero parking stress here, so it passed the first-impression test immediately.

Stepping inside, everything felt clean and well maintained overall. The tables were spaced generously apart, so it never felt cramped and I could focus comfortably on the meal.

How the self-serve bar and lettuce wraps work at Jinsim King Donkatsu

The self-serve bar at Jinsim King Donkatsu Pyeongdong Branch has soup and broth, pickled radish and kkakdugi (radish kimchi), and even lettuce wraps with ssamjang (seasoned dipping sauce). It was neatly arranged in one corner, with warm soup and broth that anyone would like, plus pickled radish and kkakdugi as side dishes.

What makes this Pyeongdong Station donkatsu spot special is that you can eat the cutlet wrapped in lettuce. That's why the self-serve bar has lettuce and ssamjang you can help yourself to as much as you like.

As the name suggests, this Pyeongdong Station donkatsu restaurant is known for its huge portions, so there's a self-serve takeout station for packing up leftovers. When the place is busy it can feel awkward to ask a staff member, but with the self-serve station I could just pack up without worrying about it.

Before the food came out, I scooped a bowl of warm soup from the self-serve bar. It had that classic Western-style savory-and-smooth flavor that brought back old memories and was a great way to whet the appetite.

What we ordered: the half-udon set and the donkatsu kimchi nabe

For this visit to Jinsim King Donkatsu Pyeongdong Branch, we ordered two things: the udon combo set and the donkatsu kimchi nabe. Looking over the menu, there were so many tempting options that it took a while to decide. In the end, I picked the udon combo set to taste the restaurant's signature all at once, and added the donkatsu kimchi nabe since I was craving something spicy and hot.

After ordering, the food arrived without much of a wait. The first thing that caught my eye was, of course, the portion size. As soon as the food came out, I understood exactly why the name includes the word 'king.'

How was the king donkatsu in the half-udon set?

I first tried the king donkatsu included in the udon combo set. It wasn't just big — the crispiness of the breading was genuinely exceptional.

The outside was crunchy while the meat inside was thick and held onto its juices, giving it a fantastic texture. The sauce was delicious on its own too, but wrapping it in lettuce made the donkatsu even more special.

How much udon comes with the set, and how is the broth?

The udon was included as part of the set, but the portion was almost enough to be a full meal on its own. The noodles had that springy, chewy texture that stood up to what you'd find at a dedicated udon shop, and it was generously loaded with fried tofu skin, egg, and fish cake.

The warm, deep bonito-flavored udon broth played off the crispy, savory donkatsu beautifully. Take a bite of the cutlet, then a sip of the warm udon broth and noodles, and all the greasiness disappeared, leaving only a clean flavor that kept me coming back for more.

Donkatsu kimchi nabe: for anyone who loves a spicy broth

The donkatsu kimchi nabe is a dish I'd strongly recommend to anyone who loves a spicy, hot broth. I really liked that it comes in a pot, staying warm throughout the meal. Inside the bubbling broth were spicy, well-fermented kimchi and thick chunks of donkatsu submerged in the soup.

Taking a first spoonful of the broth, there was no greasiness at all — the tangy, refreshing depth of the kimchi blended well with the savory juices of the donkatsu, making for a deep, rich broth.

The donkatsu, having soaked up the broth, turned moist on the outside and soft on the inside, offering a completely different charm from the crispy version. There was even egg in it, so I think it's a genuinely solid meal nutritionally. If you're someone who can't handle greasy food well, or who prefers donkatsu with a spicy Korean twist, this will definitely satisfy you.

Final verdict on Jinsim King Donkatsu Pyeongdong Branch

This Pyeongdong Station donkatsu restaurant was a satisfying place that didn't fall short on generous portions, ingredient quality, taste, or friendly service. If you're ever in the mood for hearty, delicious Western-style donkatsu, I'd recommend visiting without hesitation.

Jinsim King Donkatsu Pyeongdong Branch / 11-13 Pyeongdong-ro 800beon-gil, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju / Hours 10:00-21:00