Uijeongbu pork cutlet and spicy octopus rice: Yangchonri Donkaseu

When the weather is nice, I suddenly want to get in the car rather than eat at home. That day, my wife and I decided to head out to the outskirts for lunch.

A lunch choice in Millak-dong, Uijeongbu

Rather than anything too elaborate, we wanted something easy to eat that still felt like a little treat. That brought us to Yangchonri Donkaseu Millak Branch (양촌리돈가스 민락점).

With pork cutlet, spicy rice, and warm udon all together, I felt we had picked a pretty good lunch. Let me walk you through the combination.

Yangchonri Donkaseu Millak Branch: location and parking

The restaurant is on the second floor of Jeil Punggyeongchae Centum at 196 Omok-ro, Uijeongbu-si. It is directly above the Millak Town Starbucks, which should make it easier to find.

If you are visiting by car, park underground and take the elevator for the MALL retail area. We did the same, and when we got off on the second floor, the restaurant was right in front of us.

You know how you can go to a retail building for a meal and end up circling around looking for the entrance? Here, it was quite easy once we knew which way to come up. Parking validation was available too, so we could eat without any fuss. If you drive, do not forget to give them your vehicle number when you pay.

Inside, the space was roomy and pleasant. Even for a simple lunch, a cramped restaurant can stay on your mind throughout the meal. This one was comfortable for eating, and I think it would be fine for families as well.

According to the restaurant introduction, Yangchonri Donkaseu began in Miryang in 1986 and has continued for three generations. It felt like a story that suited this old-school Korean-style pork cutlet rather well.

Cheese pork cutlet, octopus rice, and mini udon

We ordered fire-grilled spicy webfoot octopus rice, cheese pork cutlet, and mini udon. It is a setup that lets you enjoy different flavors rather than eating pork cutlet alone.

There are also dishes such as hamburg steak, spicy pork, and bibim-guksu (spicy mixed noodles), so choosing should not be too difficult even if the person you are with has somewhat different tastes. That day, we decided to enjoy cheese alongside spicy octopus for lunch.

Cheese pork cutlet that did not feel heavy

Let me start with the cheese pork cutlet. Cheese can be tasty, but sometimes it starts to feel rich halfway through, right? This pork cutlet was less heavy than I expected, which I liked.

The cutlet and cheese worked well together instead of feeling separate, so it was not overwhelming. If you love cheese and are deciding between this and the regular pork cutlet, this is worth trying.

Fire-grilled spicy octopus rice with a subtle smoky aroma

Next was the fire-grilled spicy webfoot octopus rice. Personally, it was a dish I liked as much as the pork cutlet that day. I really enjoyed the subtle smoky aroma. When that flavor is too strong, it can be the only thing you remember rather than the other flavors. Here, it blended in gently and paired nicely with the pork cutlet.

The cheese pork cutlet brought a gentle, mellow side, while the octopus rice added spice. Their personalities were so different that it was fun to alternate between them.

We came to Uijeongbu for pork cutlet and ended up loving the rice-bowl pairing too. If pork cutlet alone feels a little lacking, or you are craving something spicy as well, this combination could be useful to keep in mind.

Mini udon that worked well as a side

And then there was the mini udon. It would be a shame to leave this one out. It was a side dish, but the broth was savory and had depth.

Taking a sip of warm broth between the pork cutlet and rice bowl made the three dishes work together remarkably well.

It was not a dish to take lightly just because it was called “mini.” Personally, I think I would have missed it if it had not been part of this order.

A lunch of three dishes together

Looking back, what made this lunch good was not just choosing one good dish, but ordering all three together. Cheese pork cutlet, spicy rice, and savory udon broth made for a satisfying combination in itself.

Yangchonri Donkaseu Millak Branch had a spacious, pleasant dining room, convenient parking, and easy access to the restaurant. It was a nice choice for a lunch out with my wife on a beautiful day.