Yangju Okjeong tonkatsu with no batter mix in the coating: Himawari

[Yangju food spot] Himawari

Why we chose Himawari for lunch in Yangju Okjeong

I was trying to figure out what to eat for lunch in Yangju Okjeong, and I suddenly craved a proper tonkatsu, so I went to Himawari. I found it while searching for tonkatsu spots around Okjeong-dong — the story that caught my eye was that the master here has spent a whopping 20 years perfecting tonkatsu alone, so I decided to check it out!

Himawari's location and parking: floors 3 to 7 of Dream Tower 2

Himawari sits inside Dream Tower 2, a commercial building in the heart of Yangju Okjeong. There's also Okjeong Lake Park, a movie theater, and kids' cafés nearby, so it seemed like a good spot to pair with other plans before or after the meal. Parking is fairly convenient too, so it's fine to drive here. Apparently you can use the dedicated parking lot on floors 3 through 7 of Dream Tower 2. Honestly, when parking is a hassle at a restaurant, it makes me not want to go — so the fact that you can use the building's own parking lot here was a big plus.

Inside Himawari: what the dining room is like

Stepping inside, the place had an overall clean and warm atmosphere.

It's less about being flashy and more about a comfortable place to eat, so it seemed like it would work well not just for lunch but for a family meal out or a date too. There were baby chairs ready, so it looked good for visiting with kids as well.

Himawari's menu: katsu types and assorted sets

That day I ordered the rosu katsu (pork loin cutlet) set and the cold buckwheat soba set. Besides rosu katsu, Himawari had a whole range of katsu options — hire katsu (pork tenderloin cutlet), cheese katsu, sweet potato cheese katsu, fish katsu, and more. If you want to try several kinds at once, there's also an assorted set, so I wanted to come back and try other katsu options next time.

What we ordered, and Himawari's grind-your-own sesame sauce

1. Rosu katsu set (₩13,000) 2. Cold buckwheat soba set (₩12,000)

After we ordered, they brought over water and sesame seeds.

There was a way to make the tonkatsu sauce yourself, so I tried it out exactly as shown.

Grind it up well

and they add the sauce on top.

Various sauces are also kept right beside the table, just so you know!

Rosu katsu set (13,000 won): a coating made without batter mix

First up, the rosu katsu set!

The tonkatsu looked appetizing the moment it arrived. The thick pork loin was coated in a crisp fried batter, and it wasn't the kind where the coating overwhelms everything — the balance between the meat and the crust felt just right.

They said Himawari doesn't use betamix, a synthetic additive, and instead makes the coating with just flour, egg wash, and breadcrumbs. Maybe that's why one bite gave me both the crisp texture of the coating and the clean, mild flavor of the pork loin at the same time.

What I especially liked was that it didn't feel very greasy. With a lot of tonkatsu places, even after just a few pieces it can get too heavy to keep eating — but Himawari's rosu katsu was on the lighter side, so I could eat it comfortably all the way through. The pork loin itself was thick, so each bite really delivered that meaty texture. If you like a crisp outside with a moist inside, I think this would be very satisfying.

Cold buckwheat soba set (12,000 won): the combo for a hot day

And the cold buckwheat soba set we ordered alongside it exceeded expectations too. It was so hot out that I wanted something cool, and being able to eat cold soba together with crisp katsu made for a great menu combo.

One bite of the cool buckwheat soba,

then one bite of the crisp tonkatsu — the different textures and flavors worked together so I never got tired of it.

Rather than just eating tonkatsu the whole time, having the cold soba there felt like it cleaned my palate in between.

Especially if one person loves tonkatsu and the other loves noodles, ordering these kinds of sets and sharing seemed like a great idea.

Seriously, that cold broth was amazing.

Dipping it into the sauce we'd made earlier, the nutty sesame went really well with the tonkatsu.

Since it's fried food, eating the cabbage alongside it here and there really hit the spot. Above all, just as they say the shop has spent 20 years researching tonkatsu, I really felt that dedication to the basics. Using good ingredients, making a crisp yet light coating, and even taking care with the rice felt like Himawari's own signature.

If you're looking for lunch in Okjeong-dong or searching for tonkatsu spots in Yangju, I think this place is worth a visit. It's easy going solo, and the atmosphere works fine for a family meal or a date too. This time I had the rosu katsu set and the cold buckwheat soba set, but next time I want to try the hire katsu or the cheese katsu. On a day I wanted crisp tonkatsu and cool cold soba together, I came away well fed at Himawari, an Okjeong-dong favorite.

Is Himawari in Yangju Okjeong worth a visit?

◇Location◇ 108 Okjeongdong-ro 7da-gil, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea * Hours: 11:00–21:00 Last order 20:55 (Closed Tuesdays) ◇Order◇ (2 people) 1. Rosu katsu set (₩13,000) 2. Cold buckwheat soba set (₩12,000)

• 20 years of tonkatsu know-how — a restaurant that has focused solely on tonkatsu for a long time was the biggest highlight.
• Crisp coating made without synthetic additives — flour, egg wash, and breadcrumbs give it a light, crunchy texture.
• Pressure-cooker rice that pairs well with tonkatsu — rice cooked fresh every morning to go well with the katsu.
• Easy parking in the heart of Okjeong — the dedicated lot on floors 3 to 7 of Dream Tower 2 made driving there convenient.

Himawari address, hours and directions

Himawari Yangju Okjeong Main Branch / 108 Okjeongdong-ro 7da-gil, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea