Seoul tonkatsu restaurant: 16,000-won fillet katsu set at Hunta

Hunta Euljiro: 3 minutes from Euljiro-ipgu Station

Hunta Euljiro is a tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant just a 3-minute walk from Exit 1-1 of Euljiro-ipgu Station. Euljiro has so many old-school spots and so much menu choice that I was genuinely torn on what to eat. Since I had plans right after the meal, I was looking for somewhere close to Euljiro Station first and foremost, and that's how I found Hunta Euljiro — a tonkatsu place in trendy 'Hipjiro,' how could I not be curious.

Location-wise it's close to both Myeongdong and City Hall Station, and very near the Lotte Department Store main branch!

It's on the 1st floor of the FastFive building. You spot it right as you come through the revolving door.

• 💛 Hours 11:00–20:10 (break time 15:00–17:00) / closed Sundays
• 💛 Parking: paid basement parking in the building (height limit 1800mm ~ no SUVs)

Is there a wait at Hunta Euljiro? Inside the restaurant

At the entrance of Hunta Euljiro there's a sign about the waitlist and a meal log. I knew there'd be a wait at lunchtime, so I deliberately came late, past the lunch rush — and there were still plenty of people eating, which told me this really is a well-known tonkatsu spot in Euljiro.

The wood and black tables and chairs gave it a calm feel, and every table had a tablet for ordering.

There's an aging fridge on display on one side — looking into it, I learned that Hunta, true to being a black pork katsu specialist, uses premium black pork breeds, and their own aging method is meant to bring out the best flavor of each breed. And here's the bar table I used — quiet enough to focus on the meal, and a comfortable seat for solo dining at lunch or dinner.

There's a sign saying cooking takes 10–15 minutes, and there's a receipt review event running for a fried egg or a drink — worth joining!

Ordering the fillet katsu set for 16,000 won

What I ordered at Hunta Euljiro was the fillet katsu set (히레카츠 정식) for 16,000 won. They also sell a kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) set as a collab. Before coming to Hunta I'd mentally settled on loin katsu or premium loin katsu, but glancing over I saw the people next to me eating tenderloin katsu, so I followed suit and ordered that instead. Premium loin is limited in quantity daily, so you'd need to come early to try it.

While waiting the 10 minutes, they read out 'how to enjoy Hunta deliciously,' and gaban pepper and shichimi are already set on the table. Scallion kimchi being served felt a bit unfamiliar, but it's definitely a combo that works, haha.

I also spotted the 'Daedon Yeojido' (a map of top pork cutlet spots) — apparently this place is listed among the top 100 katsu restaurants nationwide.

Salt, mustard or wasabi: the best pairing for fillet katsu

The staff brought the food over. The fillet katsu set caught my eye with its vivid pink color and crispy coating. Scallion kimchi, sauce, salt, mustard, and wasabi too — plus cabbage salad, soup, and rice all set up to mix and match.

You could see the juices rising in the tenderloin, so I tried the first bite with salt — the meat's natural savory flavor really came through, and it paired well with salt.

The juiciness never let up, which suggests it's well-aged. The owner, who's serious about katsu, apparently spent 5 years traveling around researching — and you can taste that know-how.

I piled on a lot of mustard and tried it — the mustard wasn't very spicy, just enough to cut the richness, so it made for a clean, refreshing bite. The wasabi has a real kick though, so be sure to control the amount 🥹

Tenderloin katsu tender enough to chew with your gums

There was a note saying you could chew it with your gums, and honestly it really was that soft. The staff recommended pairing the fillet katsu with gaban pepper since it has a strong meaty aroma — that combo was good, but it was even better with wasabi on top of the saeru-sal lake salt.

The tonkatsu sauce combo also had a familiar taste I kept reaching for, and the cabbage salad kept things refreshing, making for a satisfying full meal.

When is Hunta Euljiro worth a visit?

Hunta Euljiro is close to Euljiro-ipgu Station, the Lotte Department Store main branch, and Myeongdong, making it a great spot for a date too. Come here for a Hipjiro date! The friendly service also stuck with me. The tonkatsu quality is recognized enough to have made it into the Daedon Yeojido's top 100 list!

Next time, I'd love to try the signature, limited premium loin katsu, or the chicken katsu made with fried chicken thigh — this is a tonkatsu spot worth returning to.