Cheese tonkatsu + icy mini soba near Samsung Medical Center: Sioldon

A tonkatsu restaurant near Samsung Seoul Hospital where you can eat solo: Sioldon Irwon Branch

Sioldon Irwon Branch (시올돈 일원점) is a Japanese-style tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant right near Samsung Seoul Hospital, on Irwon-ro 9-gil in Gangnam, Seoul. I was searching for good places to eat near Samsung Seoul Hospital and found this one, where eating alone is easy too.

It sits close to the hospital, so it's very easy to get to.

Photos of the menu items are displayed out front, and every single one looks delicious. Before you even step inside, you're already caught in a happy dilemma over what to order.

Sioldon also cross-ages its pork for 72 hours before making the tonkatsu, so you can expect higher-quality food.

How are the wait and the seating at Sioldon Irwon Branch?

I visited early in the evening and got a seat right away, with no wait. Inside, the space is clean and cozy. If you hate waiting, coming a little before or after peak mealtime is a good way to eat comfortably.

The tables have partitions between them to a certain degree. That separates the spaces, so you can chat comfortably with whoever you came with.

There's also a bar-style table by the window. Not just this seat but the whole restaurant is set up well for solo diners, so if you're looking for a place near Samsung Seoul Hospital to eat alone, Sioldon is a perfect fit.

How to order at Sioldon Irwon Branch, and the takeout discount

You order at the kiosk installed in the restaurant, which is easy. Cooking starts as soon as you order, so you get to enjoy the food at its best. Takeout orders get ₩2,000 off, which makes it even better value.

After the meal there's sweet candy for dessert. And if you need a hair tie while eating, you can use the ones provided here. You can feel the care for customers in every little detail.

How does the cheese katsu taste at Sioldon Irwon Branch?

Soon the cheese katsu and mini soba I ordered arrived. A lovely smell reached my nose and I couldn't wait to dig in.

The cheese katsu here is packed with cheese, so if you like cheese, you can't help but enjoy it. When the cheese stretches, you can see how generous the amount is and how warmly it's melted.

Dip it in the sauce that comes with it and you get tonkatsu that's crispy outside and full of juice inside. The pork is well brined, so the seasoning is good and the meat is tender.

Putting a little of the wasabi that comes alongside on top is a great treat too. Good fried food is fine with just a dip in salt, and Sioldon's batter was exactly like that. The little dish that holds the sauce is so cute that it's a photo-worthy sight.

Side vegetables and a generous bowl of rice

Vegetables come with the meal by default, so eating them between bites keeps your mouth fresh and the meal light. The sauce drizzled over the vegetables was tasty too, so I kept eating them.

The rice that comes with it is really generous. With tonkatsu you often wish there were more rice, but you don't have to worry about that at Sioldon.

What's the mini cold soba side like?

The cold soba (buckwheat noodles) I ordered as a side is perfect for hot weather like we've been having. There's ice slush in the broth, so it's even more refreshing.

The noodles were good and the broth had soaked in well, so it was a satisfying side.

If you're looking for a good place to eat near Samsung Seoul Hospital, Sioldon Irwon Branch gives you a very satisfying meal.