Jeonpo-dong tonkatsu restaurant: Katsu Gimseondo

I visited Katsu Gimseondo (카츠김선도), a tonkatsu restaurant I had wanted to try in Jeonpo-dong, with my mother. We ordered one pork loin tonkatsu set and one Gimseondo set to compare the textures of different cuts and their accompaniments.

Where is Katsu Gimseondo, and is parking available?

The address is 16 Seojeon-ro 47beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea. The hours listed in the original post were 11:30–21:30, with regular closing on Tuesdays. The break time was 15:00–17:00, and last order was at 20:00. Parking was not available.

What were the atmosphere and seats like?

The exterior stood out with exposed concrete and full-height glass windows. The sign above the entrance had subtle lighting.

Inside, the open kitchen let us see the cooking process. To me, the kitchen seemed clean and well maintained. The wooden tables felt cozy, and the seats seemed generously spaced, so we could eat comfortably.

Each table had grinders for freshly grinding whole pepper and pink salt.

What tonkatsu sets and prices are available?

The sets let you choose pork loin or tenderloin separately, or try both together. The prices below were the menu information at the time of the original post.

• Pork loin tonkatsu set: ₩13,000
• Tenderloin tonkatsu set: ₩14,000
• Half-and-half tonkatsu set: ₩15,000, with pork loin and tenderloin
• Gimseondo set: ₩17,000, with pork loin, tenderloin, fried shrimp, soft-boiled fried egg, and special tare sauce
• Gavuri loin set: ₩16,000, a loin cut with attached gavuri meat, served in limited quantities each day

The Gimseondo set added two types of fried dishes to the two pork cuts, giving us more to choose from. The gavuri loin set was listed as a limited menu item.

The sides were katsu sando at ₩9,000, curry as an accompaniment at ₩3,000, one fried shrimp at ₩3,000, one potato croquette at ₩2,500, and an extra tenderloin katsu at ₩4,000. An extra soft-boiled fried egg was ₩2,000 and was available only when ordering the Gimseondo set.

What did the pork loin tonkatsu taste like, and how did we use the sauces?

We ordered a pork loin tonkatsu set and a Gimseondo set.

The coating was crisp while the inside was moist. The pork loin had a pleasantly chewy texture and savory fat, and I did not notice any unpleasant smell. To my taste, it felt less greasy, so it was easy to eat.

The shredded cabbage was crisp and good to eat between bites of the fried pork. Tonkatsu sauce and mustard sauce came with the meal, and the owner showed us how to mix a little wasabi into the tonkatsu sauce. That added a sharp aroma and made the flavor feel cleaner. Dipping the pork into the mustard sauce a little at a time also went well with its savory richness.

We were also shown how to grind pepper and salt and dip the pork in them, so we tried that too. It worked well when we wanted to taste the meat more simply without sauce.

How was the Gimseondo set different from the pork loin set?

The Gimseondo set let us eat pork loin, tenderloin, fried shrimp, and a soft-boiled fried egg in one meal. I liked being able to alternate between more textures than with the pork loin set.

The tenderloin was soft and juicy. Its texture and mild richness contrasted with the chewiness and savory fat of the pork loin, making the difference between the two cuts easy to notice.

The fried shrimp had a springy texture. The yolk of the soft-boiled fried egg flowed out thickly, and when we broke it over the rice and mixed it in, it tasted salty and rich.

Changing the pork cuts and accompaniments kept the meal from feeling repetitive. What I remembered most was being able to eat several different items together.

How were the rice and soup, and did we get more rice?

The set came with rice, warm soup, and salad. The rice was glossy and fluffy. The doenjang-based soup was clean-tasting and good for refreshing our palate between bites of fried food.

We still had tonkatsu left but were a little short on rice, so we asked for a refill and were given more. That let us finish the remaining tonkatsu with rice.

How was the meal with my mother?

My mother usually finds fried food a little heavy, but she enjoyed it that day. I think the less-greasy taste made it easier for her to eat. The owner was also friendly, which made the meal pleasant from beginning to end.

The pork loin set was good for enjoying chewy, savory loin, while the Gimseondo set was fun because we could alternate between tenderloin, fried shrimp, and the soft-boiled fried egg.

Both sets had distinct meat textures, and I liked changing the combinations of sauces and salt as we ate. The friendly service also stayed with me, so I would like to visit again when I am in Jeonpo-dong.