Weekday evening pork cutlet sets for two in Yongsan, Seoul: Onjeong

Some days I want crispy Japanese-style katsu, but sometimes what I really crave is the old-school, sauce-soaked nostalgia of gyeongyangsik (Korean-style Western) donkatsu.

As the name suggests, Onjeong Gyeongyang Sikdang, Yongsan branch centers on gyeongyangsik-style pork cutlets, and you can pair them with cold soba (buckwheat noodles) or udon, which makes it a really satisfying meal.

The sets run around ₩15,000, which felt easy on the wallet, and portions were generous and delicious — I noticed a lot of takeout customers too. I was also craving soba that day, and it turned out to be the perfect combo. A real find for pork cutlet in Yongsan.

Where Onjeong Gyeongyang Sikdang is in Yongsan, and what's on the menu

Onjeong Gyeongyang Sikdang, Yongsan branch is on Baekbeom-ro in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The menu had a good variety — classic gyeongyangsik donkatsu plus cheese, spicy, and curry sauces to choose from depending on your taste.

Even on a weekday evening, there were plenty of tables with kids eating along with their families.

After browsing the menu, I switched to the sets for the most basic classic donkatsu and the cheese donkatsu. There was a choice between cold soba and udon — I went with soba for both!

Does the classic gyeongyangsik donkatsu sauce taste like the old days?

The plate arrived piled high with cutlet and sauce ladled right over it — exactly that nostalgic old-school look.

It had been a while since I'd seen that visual, so my expectations were high — and it really was crispy and tender.

The outside was fried crisp while the meat inside was soft to bite into. Best of all, the sauce wasn't too sharp — as it soaked in, the flavor only deepened.

The sweet-and-sour, slightly salty sauce soaked into the breading nicely, pairing well with the light, clean-tasting meat.

What comes with a set at Onjeong, plus the morning bread add-on

The Onjeong set comes with a bit of rice, salad, mushroom soup, and a generous portion of soba — genuinely filling.

There's a morning bread add-on option when ordering, and when I added it, strawberry jam came along too, haha. It brought back a faint memory of the bread I used to eat as a kid on trips to Namsan.

How does the cheese donkatsu taste?

The cheese was really rich and had a deep flavor — a totally different charm from the classic version.

Visually, it's striking with cheese dripping generously all over. It was very savory, and the cutlet meat itself was soft and light, pairing well with the salty cheese sauce.

If it's your first visit and you're eating solo, I'd recommend the classic — but if there are two or more of you, definitely try the cheese too.

Cold soba at Onjeong: portion size and broth

The soba was cold and refreshing, and the portion was quite generous, so I never felt shortchanged. A fresh slice of lime was placed on top, and the broth was cool and clean — pairing it with the fried cutlet really refreshed the palate.

The cold soba's distinct nutty, savory flavor paired really well with the fried cutlet. Next time, I'd probably go for the set again rather than à la carte, for the extra abundance.

Both dishes let you enjoy the main cutlet and noodles together in one go, which made for a pretty hearty dinner.

Tips for choosing a cutlet and noodle at Onjeong

It's hard to decide what to order on a first visit. If you're craving something light and classic and it's your first time here, go for the gyeongyangsik; if you want the rich, savory taste of cheese, go with the cheese option I featured today. Personally, I'd love to try the spicy version next time!

Final verdict on Onjeong Gyeongyang Sikdang in Yongsan

This is a great spot in Yongsan for when you're craving thin, crispy old-school pork cutlet rather than the thick Japanese-style katsu, and want a well-rounded set with sides to go with the main dish.

The atmosphere was comfortable for solo dining, and being able to refill rice easily at the self bar added great value for money. The staff were friendly too, so it seems like a good spot for families to visit comfortably as well :)