Dog-friendly room & self bar at Filling Donkatsu, Gwangju Cheomdan

Today I'm introducing a pork cutlet spot from the Great Pork Cutlet Map (대돈여지도) that also allows dogs — a place I go to often even on my own dime. Today's spot is 👉 Filling Donkatsu Gwangju Cheomdan Direct Store.

Location and hours of Filling Donkatsu Gwangju Cheomdan Direct Store

• Location: 43-10 Cheomdangwagi-ro 208beon-gil, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 2nd floor, Building A
• Hours: 11:00–20:30 (closed Mondays)
• Break time 💤: 15:00–17:00
• Parking: Free for 2 hours in the building parking lot
• Dogs welcome 🐶♥️

Exterior & atmosphere

This is my favorite pork cutlet place in Gwangju, Filling Donkatsu. I used to go to the Yongbong branch near my workplace whenever I craved cutlet, but since the Cheomdan branch opened it's become closer for me, so lately I've only been going to Cheomdan. Since I've been a regular since the Yongbong days, this is already a proven favorite!!

Cooking starts the moment you order, so the food doesn't come out super fast, but the taste is guaranteed to be worth the wait. It's so popular that it's often fully booked during lunch and dinner, so I highly recommend making a Naver Reservation.

The inside of the restaurant is fairly spacious, with more than 10 four-person tables and group tables too, so it's great for visiting with a bigger crowd.

Dog-friendly private room

Best of all, there's a private room, great for when you want a more private meal — and since dogs are allowed in the room, it's perfect for visiting together with your pup.

What's at the self bar

The self bar has everything — various kinds of kimchi, salad, pickles, all the perfect side dishes for pork cutlet, plus bread and soup. During lunch you can help yourself to soup, but at dinner you add it via the kiosk!

You can't skip the pre-meal bread, right? There's a toaster to grill bread for jam, but if you dip it in the soup you'll keep eating and might fill up before the cutlet even arrives 🚨

Thought the self bar was over? Not quite, they nail it right to the end... a soft-serve ice cream machine and coffee too (holders, straws, iced cups all perfectly set up.) I also recommend taking it to go and doing a loop around Ssangam Park after eating ~❤️

Menu & prices

It seems like there's a new menu item every time I visit. How good must that grilled skirt steak bibimbap be... it was sold out, and I really wanted to try it, ugh.

They're running various events too, so let's join in and get our money's worth!!

How did the ordered dishes taste

🍅 Spicy tomato clam pasta

It was spicy but with the tanginess of tomato added, making it a surprisingly clean-tasting pasta. The refreshing umami from the clams and garlic added even more flavor to the broth itself, and it was subtly spicy so I kept eating without feeling any heaviness — the cool seafood flavor paired really well with the spicy tomato sauce.

🥩 Handmade onion pork cutlet (sauce on the side)

There's an option for sauce on the side, and since I wanted to experience both the crispy and softened versions today, I ordered it separately and it came out looking almost like a plain cutlet 🙈 From the moment it arrived, the ridges of the breading were clearly intact and looked crispy — and it really was crispy enough to make ASMR content with.

Now I get why people pour the sauce on and take photos haha. I hurriedly poured it over just half.

Look at the cross-section of the cutlet. See how thin the breading is and how thick the meat is? One bite and the juices were spot on — moist, and even though it was thick, it wasn't dry at all, just soft. Maybe thanks to the onion sauce, the cutlet wasn't cloying or greasy, so I finished the whole thing.

🦐 Shrimp pilaf

The shrimp pilaf had a nutty, light flavor, with the shrimp's plump texture still alive and the rice grains nicely fluffy — I loved it. The portion was fairly generous too, and the seasoning wasn't too strong, so it wasn't overwhelming. Seemed perfect for kids to eat!!! Also pairs so well with the cutlet 💚

There are instructions so it's easy to use ~! Everyone, go go go for dessert too 🔥

Meokjjangjang's overall review

• Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
• Price: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
• Cleanliness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
• Would revisit: Yes 🩵

Finished off dessert nice and neat, nom nom ☕️🍨 Every time I come here it's just perfect...