Gwangju tonkatsu restaurant with fish cutlet and jjolmyeon: Jinsimwang

Today I went back to Jinsimwang Donkatsu Seogwangju Branch, a place I'd visited once before and really enjoyed. Sometimes a spot you tried once and liked just keeps popping into your head, and this was exactly that kind of place. I was craving tonkatsu again, so I went back, and once again the generous portions and hearty meal left me satisfied. If you're looking for a tonkatsu restaurant in the Geumho-dong area, this is worth a visit, so let me introduce it.

Where is Jinsimwang Donkatsu Seogwangju Branch, and what are its hours and parking?

• Address: 1 Seogwangju-ro, 1st floor, Units 101 & 102, Seo-gu, Gwangju, South Korea
• Hours: 11:00 to 20:50
• Break time: 15:00 to 16:30
• Parking: Large parking lot available to the left of the restaurant

What the restaurant looks like from outside

Jinsimwang Donkatsu Seogwangju Branch is located on Seogwangju-ro, so it wasn't hard to find. The exterior gives off a sense of scale, so it caught my eye even just passing by.

The sign is also big, so I think first-time visitors would find the place easily. It felt like a great location to stop by when you're out looking for a meal and suddenly want tonkatsu.

This time it was a repeat visit, so there was a familiar feeling, but seeing the clean exterior again put me in a good mood even before going in.

Inside Jinsimwang Donkatsu Seogwangju Branch

Once inside, the space was bigger than I expected, so it was comfortable to eat at a leisurely pace. The tables weren't crammed together either; the spacing between seats was fairly generous. It felt fine whether you're eating solo or coming with family.

Overall it was neatly kept, so I could eat comfortably, and the space is roomy enough that it seemed fine for a group visit too. If you're looking for a tonkatsu restaurant in Geumho-dong where you can eat comfortably, this atmosphere is definitely a plus.

Ordering at the kiosk

You order through a kiosk, so I could take my time browsing the menu and pick what I wanted.

This time I ordered

• Jinsim Wang Donkatsu (jumbo pork cutlet)
• Fish cutlet
• Jjolmyeon (spicy chewy noodles)

That's what I went with.

I wanted to try a different combination from last time, and ordering several menu items together made for a pretty lavish spread. Especially eating tonkatsu and jjolmyeon together, the contrasting flavors made the meal much more fun than just eating one dish.

What is on the self bar?

One thing that was convenient at Jinsimwang Donkatsu Seogwangju Branch was the self bar. Being able to grab side dishes or accompaniments myself while eating was handy. From basic sides like kimchi and danmuji to soup, soup base, and lettuce, there was a good variety prepared. When you're partway through tonkatsu you sometimes need a side dish to reset your palate, and it was nice being able to take as much as I wanted. The self bar area was also kept fairly clean, so it was easy to use.

The dishes I ordered arrived, and honestly, both the look and the smell were amazing.

How big is one Jinsim Wang Donkatsu cutlet?

Finally, the Jinsim Wang Donkatsu arrived, and from the moment it landed on the plate the size really caught my eye. It lived up to the name 'wang' (jumbo) donkatsu — one cutlet was hefty. The crispy breading and the thick meat inside made each bite feel quite substantial. The sauce wasn't the type that drowns the whole cutlet, so I could still enjoy some of that crunchy texture.

The meat wasn't too dry, more on the tender side, so it was easy to eat without feeling heavy, and it went well with rice when paired with the sauce. The portion is generous, so it's best to go in planning to eat until you're full.

I remembered thinking the portion was huge on my last visit too, and eating it again confirmed it's just as generous. The cabbage salad, cucumber peppers, and rice that come with the tonkatsu are all really well done too. If you're looking for tonkatsu in Geumho-dong and portion size matters to you, this should suit you well.

How is the fish cutlet different from the pork tonkatsu?

This time I also ordered the fish cutlet.

Placed next to the tonkatsu, each dish had its own distinct feel, which made picking between them fun. The fish cutlet's exterior was fried crispy while the fish inside was soft.

Eaten with tartar sauce, the tangy-sweet, savory-but-light flavor of the fish cutlet combined beautifully with the softness of the sauce. If tonkatsu feels rich and savory, fish cutlet lets you eat something a bit lighter, and I was glad I ordered both together. If you like fish cutlet, ordering it as a kind of side dish alongside tonkatsu seems like a good move.

Wrapping the tonkatsu and fish cutlet in lettuce and eating it as a wrap was also delicious — light and savory.

Why order jjolmyeon alongside the tonkatsu?

And I also had the jjolmyeon, which would've been a shame to skip while eating tonkatsu. The jjolmyeon had a seasoning style that really wakes up your palate.

The noodles had a chewy texture and came with crunchy vegetables too, so it was satisfying to chew.

Thanks to the tangy, spicy seasoning, taking a bite of jjolmyeon in between bites of tonkatsu felt refreshing every time. Eating tonkatsu alone can get a little heavy, but pairing it with jjolmyeon let me enjoy a much wider range of flavors. Personally, the tonkatsu-and-jjolmyeon combo worked so well together that I think I'll order them together again next time.

Was the second visit to Jinsimwang Donkatsu worth it?

What I noticed revisiting this time is that a place you tried once and liked really does draw you back. Jinsimwang Donkatsu in particular is great to visit on a day when you want a hearty meal, since the portions are so generous. The restaurant is spacious, ordering is simple, and there's a self bar too, so the whole dining process was easy. Rather than just eating tonkatsu on its own, I'd also recommend ordering fish cutlet and jjolmyeon alongside it to enjoy a variety of flavors.

If you're looking for a tonkatsu restaurant in Geumho-dong, Jinsimwang Donkatsu Seogwangju Branch, with its variety of menu options and generous portions, is a genuinely great spot to visit for a family meal or a hearty lunch with friends. Highly recommend!