Favorite katsu combo with mini curry and shrimp tempura: HOKATSU

There's a tonkatsu place I really love near my house, one of those Geomdan spots I come back to whenever I'm craving juicy tonkatsu. I order delivery from here a lot, but nothing beats eating it fresh out of the fryer! This time I wanted crispy, freshly fried tonkatsu, so it's been a while since I made the trip to HOKATSU in person. Their thing is using meat aged in yogurt, which makes it noticeably soft and juicy. Honestly, I think no other tonkatsu place in Geomdan comes close — this has been my regular spot for a long time.

A hot spot that even made the Blue Ribbon Survey

Walk into HOKATSU and the first thing you notice is the Blue Ribbon Survey sticker on the door. There's a certificate displayed inside too, which somehow makes me feel like my long-time favorite spot is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

The interior is done in wood tones, giving it a clean, cozy feel overall. It's such a hot spot in Geomdan that it's usually packed during peak meal hours, but I visited around 2pm this time and it was quiet.

Yogurt-aged, juicy tonkatsu made fresh to order

One reason I love HOKATSU is how much they care about food quality. They don't pre-fry the tonkatsu, and they don't even coat it in flour and breadcrumbs ahead of time — cooking starts only once the order comes in, apparently. That means about a 15-minute wait after ordering, which might sound a bit long, but if it means freshly fried, high-quality tonkatsu, I'm more than happy to wait!

Another thing that sets HOKATSU apart is that they age their meat in house-made yogurt.

They add honey to this yogurt and serve it before the meal. Mixing in the honey well, it really was pure sweetness, haha! Sweet and smooth, it made a nice light starter. This isn't included with delivery orders — only when you eat in the restaurant — so it's a little bonus perk of visiting in person.

Favorite katsu: both tenderloin and cheese in one plate

This is the favorite katsu I always order at HOKATSU. It comes with both tenderloin katsu and cheese katsu, perfect for someone like me who can't give up either one! Rice and soup come standard, and since the curry at this Geomdan spot is also great, I added a mini curry on top.

The curry is loaded with shredded meat, and it's a rich Japanese-style curry — great mixed into rice, and just as good for dipping the tonkatsu.

I also ordered a zero-sugar cola! Eating fried food nonstop can get a little heavy after a while, and a sip of zero cola resets things nicely.

The real kicker: natural-cheese cheese katsu

Both the tenderloin katsu and cheese katsu are delicious, but personally, I think the cheese katsu is HOKATSU's real standout.

Apparently it's the most popular item on the menu, and the moment you lift a freshly fried piece, the cheese stretches out in long strands — the visual alone gets you. What I especially love is that they use natural cheese, not processed cheese! The second I bit in, I could tell right away the cheese here is the real deal. The aroma is on another level, and the savory flavor lingering in your mouth is so good — this is a menu item I always have to order. The meat isn't thin either, it's pretty thick, so even two pieces feel surprisingly filling. That's probably why, even when I try other tonkatsu places in Geomdan, I end up coming back here.

The juicy tenderloin katsu I've been eating for almost 10 years

My mom ordered the tenderloin katsu again this time. She's loved this dish for almost 10 years — every time we come to HOKATSU, this is basically the only thing she orders.

Even one piece looks quite thick, and cutting into it you can literally see the juices glistening. Maybe because of the yogurt aging, the meat is soft too — if you like tenderloin katsu, this should satisfy you. They drizzle a bit of truffle oil on top too, adding an extra layer of aroma that makes the flavor even more amazing. It's delicious dipped in the basic sauce, but personally, I think wasabi with Himalayan salt is the best combination. No matter how many times I have it, that pairing is just unbeatable!

Even the shrimp tempura is top quality

Tonkatsu may be the main event, but the shrimp tempura at HOKATSU shouldn't be overlooked either! Honestly, I thought it was much better than what I've had at most Japanese restaurants.

First, the size is huge — and it's not just because of a thick batter, the shrimp itself is genuinely large, so you really feel that firm, springy texture with the first bite.

A place I keep coming back to for the juiciness

I first came here just because it's near my house, and somehow it's become a place I've visited with my family for almost 10 years now, and these days I order delivery from often too. Even after eating here so many times, the biggest reason I keep coming back to this Geomdan favorite is definitely the juicy, tender texture of the tonkatsu. From the juiciness you see when you cut into the thick tenderloin katsu to the stretchy cheese in a freshly fried cheese katsu, this place has everything I love. If you like thick, high-quality, juicy tonkatsu, go check out HOKATSU with your family or friends!