Irwon-dong tonkatsu with a local friend: kimchi cheese nabe, Sioldon

Lunch with an Irwon-dong friend at Sioldon Irwon Branch

Sioldon Irwon Branch (시올돈 일원점) is a tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant on the Irwon food street in Irwon-dong. My friend lives in Irwon-dong, so we made a lunch plan there! She is seriously into good restaurants, haha, and she said this place is seriously into tonkatsu, so off we went!

Is there a wait at Sioldon Irwon Branch at 1:30 pm on a weekday?

We got there around 1:30 pm on a weekday and walked straight in with no wait. Maybe because lunch hour had just passed, we got in right away, haha. Being able to eat at a relaxed pace made it even better.

Is there parking at Sioldon Irwon Branch?

Yes, there is free parking in front of the shop. This was one of my favorite things! Driving around Gangnam or Irwon-dong is always a parking war and so stressful, right? But here you can park for free right in front, so it was a perfect hundred points from the start!! 🚗

Being able to visit in Irwon-dong without worrying about parking turned out to be a bigger plus than I expected.

Is Sioldon Irwon Branch good for eating alone?

The shop was clean and bright, and quite a few people were dining alone, so eating solo felt completely comfortable. It is a quiet space to enjoy a meal, and I thought I could come by myself next time.

What does Sioldon's kimchi cheese nabe taste like?

I agonized over the menu for ages, but I was craving something spicy, so I ordered the kimchi cheese nabe (김치치즈나베, a hot pot with kimchi and cheese)! It costs ₩13,900.

It showed up soon after, bubbling in an earthenware pot, and I couldn't help gasping at how it looked, haha. I tried the broth first and wow... it's seriously amazing! Even though the cutlet was soaking in the broth, the pork had been aged 72 hours, so it had zero dryness and was soft as cotton candy, so so tender 😭

And the spicy, tangy kimchi broth cut right through the greasiness the fried food can sometimes have, so I couldn't stop spooning it up, haha.

They also sprinkled the cheese on top generously, so the richness exploded too, and the balance of sweet, salty and spicy was a perfect match! I mixed it into my rice and ate it all up, and it was so filling and satisfying that I was full of energy all day, haha.

One bite and I immediately understood why this is a tonkatsu specialist!!

My friend's tenderloin katsu set at Sioldon

I also tried a bite of the tenderloin tonkatsu (안심카츠정식, tenderloin katsu set, ₩14,900) my friend ordered! It was really tender and moist! Crispy outside and juicy inside, and the more I chewed, the more I tasted the flavor of the meat.

Sioldon Irwon Branch menu prices

Here is what we ordered at Sioldon Irwon Branch! For other menu items and prices, please check the menu photos!

• Kimchi cheese nabe ₩13,900
• Tenderloin katsu set ₩14,900

With a single bite I understood why office workers nearby line up here for lunch every day, haha. From the side dishes to the main dishes the quality was so high that it felt like I had found a proper Irwon-dong rice spot after a long time, and my friend and I happily chatted the whole meal!

Is Sioldon Irwon Branch a good lunch or solo meal near Samsung Seoul Hospital?

It's easy to get to, parking in front is free, and above all you can taste the deep flavor of 72-hour aged tonkatsu that beats what you'd get in Japan itself. Highly, highly recommended!

If you're looking for a tasty lunch near Samsung Seoul Hospital, or a filling place where you can eat alone without feeling awkward, don't hesitate and run to Sioldon Irwon Branch~!!

If you're hunting for a good restaurant near Samsung Seoul Hospital, the location is great for a meal before or after a hospital visit, and the vibe is comfortable for solo dining, so it suits many situations. It was good with a friend like me, and a satisfying space for a quiet meal alone too.

If you're looking for a good place to eat in Irwon-dong, I recommend Sioldon Irwon Branch!! From the tender tonkatsu finished with 72-hour aging to the spicy kimchi cheese nabe, it was a place where I could enjoy a hearty, tasty meal!

Next time I'll be back soon to clear the basic katsu and the curry menus too, lalala haha.