Hongdae Japanese restaurant for family katsu and udon: Katsu Monster

If I had to name one of the hot places lately, Hongdae would definitely be it. There are so many people walking around, and so many international visitors too. Since it’s summer these days, it feels like such a lively neighborhood, with lots of people showing off all kinds of fashion. With so many people, there are also so many restaurants, so it can feel a bit overwhelming. But among them are places that lots of people seek out, and I could see there’s a reason for that. I went sightseeing around Hongdae with my family recently and visited Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch.

Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch hours and exterior

It is open daily from 10:30 AM to 9 PM, with a break from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM.

Walk about five minutes from Exit 3 of Hongdae Station and you’ll find the restaurant. It also has KATSU MONSTER written on it. The standing banner includes photos of the main dishes.

There are lights on the sign, banner, and roof eaves, so it is easy to spot even after dark.

You can look over the menu and photos before going in, so you can decide what you want in advance.

There was a rider pickup zone out front. Some people come in to eat, but it seems that many people order delivery too. Riders kept coming to pick up orders while we were eating.

Kiosk ordering and seating

When you enter, you can see seats lined up along one side and tables in the middle.

There is a kiosk at every seat, so you can order there.

There are tables for two as well, so this would be a good spot to sit when you come on a date. There is a basket underneath for your belongings.

Each seat has salad dressing, tonkatsu sauce, salt, mustard, and more, along with utensils, a water pitcher, and cups.

I sat at one of the lined-up seats, and it was convenient because everything I needed was close by. I poured water into my cup and put tonkatsu sauce into the small dish. Personally, I added a little mustard too, and it suited my taste really well!

There was also something like slightly spicy chili powder, so have a look!

The wall clearly lists the food names, photos, and descriptions.

Since this neighborhood gets so many international visitors, the descriptions are in Korean, English, and Chinese. Compared with when I used to get around a lot, I have recently felt that there are truly so many more Western visitors.

The set for two my family had

Loin katsu is ₩14,000, tenderloin katsu is ₩16,000, cheese katsu is ₩17,000, All Katsu is ₩18,000, Triple Katsu is ₩21,000, the set for one is ₩22,000, and the set for two is ₩35,000. Spicy chicken curry udon is ₩12,000, kimchi katsu nabe is ₩16,000, and cold soba, cold udon, and bonito fish cake udon are ₩10,000 each. Chicken karaage (3 pieces) is ₩8,000, while fried gyoza dumplings (6 pieces) are ₩5,000. I ordered the set for two.

It includes loin and tenderloin katsu. This much food comes with salad too!

Udon comes with it too, and the broth was delicious, so my child kept asking for more.

It came in a huge bowl, so the portion was very generous.

The kimchi served as a side dish was a really great match too. You can finish with the snack after your meal.

The spicy soup served beside the rice was addictive too.

You can ladle out the udon to eat it.

Both the tenderloin and loin were nicely substantial inside.

In the end, after devouring everything, we finished it all. Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch is great for dining in, and if you live nearby, it is also a good restaurant to order from without any fuss. The prices are kind for the quality, and the set menus in particular are well put together, so I could see why the overall reviews are good. It is not easy to choose just one among the many restaurants in Hongdae, but if you are unsure, I think this is a place you can choose comfortably!