Saturday lunch wait at a Gangdong tonkatsu restaurant: Riae Premium

Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch

Today my boyfriend and I went to Olympic Park on the weekend and found a Japanese-style tonkatsu spot nearby, so we checked it out 🧡

Saturday lunch wait at Riae Premium: book ahead and still allow extra time

Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch is located near Olympic Park in Gangdong 🔥🔥🔥

We booked through Naver Reservation and arrived about 30 minutes early, but since it was Saturday lunch there was still a wait?!?! So we went to a nearby café ☕️ Both Naver and Catch Table reservations work, so keep that in mind if you're planning to visit!

Wide tables, a solo dining zone and high chairs at Riae Premium

I couldn't get a shot of the inside on our first visit since it was packed with customers, but luckily managed to snap one once things thinned out toward the end of our meal 📸 First off, I loved how wide the tables were, and there was even a solo dining zone and baby chairs ready to go (there were actually quite a few tables with babies) — it looked like a great, low-pressure spot to bring family too‼️

You can order right from your seat via tablet, and Apple Pay is supported too 🍎

What we ordered at Riae Premium and what it cost

• Premium sirloin (deungsim) + tenderloin (hire) half-and-half ₩22,000
• Cold soba tenderloin (hire) set ₩19,500
• Black tiger shrimp, 1 piece ₩5,000

We wanted to try the cold soba too, so we ordered one half-and-half set and one cold soba set 🐷

Even the drinks came in a nice touch — two glasses over ice !!!🔥

And ta-da, a generously loaded table arrived〰️〰️

Premium sirloin and tenderloin half-and-half, 22,000 won: truffle oil sauce wins

This one is the premium sirloin (deungsim) + tenderloin (hire) half-and-half !!! Totally loaded ..?.!? Doesn't the cutlet look so appetizing with that pinkish glow — this is what 'gorgeous' really means .. ✨

Riae Premium serves a variety of sauces and side dishes to go with your cutlet, and my top pick was this truffle oil sauce !!! It was my first time trying truffle oil with tonkatsu, and it went together so well?!

Of course the plain salt version is delicious too, but the combo of crispy cutlet coating and truffle oil was the best 💙

The soup and cabbage salad that come with every set

The soup was packed with meat and vegetables, which reminded me of the look of a katsu place I ate at in Tokyo not long ago. Take a sip whenever it gets a bit rich, and it cuts right through it.

And the cabbage salad here wasn't the usual cabbage salad sauce we all know — it tasted more like galbi-restaurant sauce .. which is a total compliment lol

Sirloin cutlet or tenderloin cutlet: which to order at Riae Premium

I liked the loin cutlet because the fat-to-lean ratio was just right, making it soft and nutty. My boyfriend, on the other hand, prefers soft meat so he voted for the tenderloin cutlet !!! But honestly, both were so good it was hard to compare .. 🥰

Cold soba tenderloin set, 19,500 won, and the 5,000 won black tiger shrimp

Next up is the cold soba tenderloin (hire) set — cold soba and cutlet is a fail-proof combo on a hot day !!!

We ordered this black tiger fried shrimp separately as a side! At ₩5,000 per piece, I thought it might be a bit pricey, but once I saw the size, that thought disappeared ,, the shrimp was really big and the meat was super plump! Plus the batter itself was really crispy, so it was so good

Look at how good this cold soba looks ㅠ what are they trying to do, being this good at cold soba even at a tonkatsu place !!!!! It was loaded with fresh vegetables too so the texture was great, the broth seasoning was just right, and the broth itself was reeeally cold. Alternating a bite of hot cutlet with a bite of cold soba 〰️〰️ pure bliss.

The lean meat had no gamey smell and was so soft, and piling wasabi on top made this combo taste amazing too 💚 Maybe it's because of the variety of side dishes and sauces, but it had been a while since I ate at a katsu place that didn't feel greasy by the end!

Riae Premium near Olympic Park: the verdict on this Gangdong tonkatsu

If you finish a plate without leaving a single bite, you have to admit it's a good restaurant. 👊🏻🔥 It had been a while since I ate this satisfying a meal — Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch is a real Olympic Park favorite 🖤 And not just the owner but all the staff were so kind and warm, too — it felt like discovering a great neighborhood spot again after a long time ..💓

If you're coming near Olympic Park (there are lots of pretty cafés around here too), make sure to stop by Riae Premium and try the delicious tonkatsu! Genuinely recommend it 〰️‼️✨