Suwon katsu spot, Boknal ring chicken cutlet & cherry coke: Gyewondang

What kind of cutlet restaurant is Gyewondang Ingye Branch?

Gyewondang Ingye Branch is a katsu (breaded cutlet) restaurant in Ingye-dong, Suwon, where chicken katsu is the star. I was looking for a good cutlet place in Ingye-dong and stopped by Gyewondang. These days I go for something with more personality than a plain pork cutlet, so the chicken fried cutlet really jumped out at me! A chicken katsu specialist is a first for me, I think. Usually pork cutlet is the main and chicken or fish cutlet is a side, but at Gyewondang the chicken katsu is the star!

What's the difference between chicken katsu and fried chicken steak?

According to the staff at Gyewondang, chicken katsu is coated in breadcrumbs, while fried chicken steak is coated in frying flour. I couldn't decide what to order, so I asked the staff about the difference between the two, and they explained it kindly, haha.

What's the atmosphere like at Gyewondang Ingye Branch?

The restaurant was clean and warm, and the retro feel left an impression. It felt like sinking into memories, haha. It reminded me of the old-school Western-style diners (gyeongyangsik) I went to as a kid! It's easy to dine alone, and just as comfortable with friends or family. The staff were friendly too, so the first impression was great.

How are the taste and portion of the chicken fried cutlet?

What I ordered at Gyewondang Ingye Branch was the chicken fried cutlet: a big chicken cutlet served with salad, rice and soup, and the portion was generous. The first thing I noticed when it arrived was how much food there was, and it was neatly plated, more than enough for a meal. It's shaped like a ring, which I found fascinating!

On the first bite, the outside was really crispy and the inside moist. The king of crispy-outside, juicy-inside! The coating wasn't thick, so it didn't feel greasy, and the chicken wasn't dry but tender, with juice in every bite. There was almost no oily smell, so I could eat to the end without feeling weighed down, which I liked.

Chicken katsu sauce and salad pairing

The sauce served with the chicken fried cutlet wasn't too sweet or too strong, and it went well with the cutlet. It let the chicken's own flavor come through, and I didn't get tired of it even when I dipped generously. Eating it with the salad cut the richness and made the whole thing more balanced.

Are the egg fried rice and soup good too?

The egg fried rice, soup and salad served with the chicken fried cutlet were better than just basic. The soup in particular was warm and clean-tasting, a good match for the crispy cutlet, and it felt like it rounded out the meal.

Best of all was the freshness of the ingredients. The crispy texture suggested it was cooked right after ordering, so the batter didn't get soggy easily even as time passed. I think people who love pork cutlet will like it, and so will people who love fried chicken.

Value for money was high too. The portion was generous and filling, and considering the taste and the set, it's a place worth revisiting. If you're wondering where to go for a date meal, lunch or dinner in Ingye-dong, I'd recommend the chicken fried cutlet at Gyewondang.

It was a meal where the crispy batter, moist chicken and clean-tasting sauce worked together beautifully. I was satisfied enough that I'd like to try the other cutlet dishes next time. If you're looking for a cutlet in Ingye-dong, I recommend trying the chicken fried cutlet at Gyewondang.

Try a cherry coke with your chicken katsu

At Gyewondang Ingye Branch I also had a nostalgic cherry coke!! The combo of sweet cherry flavor and fizzy cola always puts me in a good mood. It went so well with the chicken katsu that I was really happy, hahaha.

The cherry coke soothed the richness in between bites! The weather was hot, and drinking it with ice was so refreshing! Fried food can feel heavy, so be sure to have a cherry coke with your chicken katsu, since they go so well together, hahaha.

Where is Gyewondang Ingye Branch?

The address of Gyewondang Ingye Branch is 102, 1st Floor, 9 Ingye-ro 138beon-gil, Paldal-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi, South Korea.