Gyukatsu and chashu ramen for solo diners in Gwangmyeong: Hoka Hoka

Back at Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch for a solo dinner near Cheolsan Station

Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch is a Japanese restaurant near Cheolsan Station serving gyukatsu and chashu ramen, and this was my second visit. On a cool Friday evening in September, my workout got cancelled last minute, leaving me with a relaxed evening after work. I'd only had a light meal of chicken breast and instant rice at the office, so after enjoying some downtime reading at the library, I hopped on my bike and headed to Cheolsan Station for a proper dinner.

This was a revisit to Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch, where I had such a satisfying solo meal before. The owner recognized me and greeted me warmly with, "You came here before, right?" It seems he remembered me from finishing everything down to the last bite last time, eating alone.

What to order: 130g gyukatsu and chashu ramen

I originally wanted to try the chicken menu, but it's popular and was already sold out.

Setting that disappointment aside, I ordered the restaurant's signature gyukatsu and the deeply flavored chashu ramen.

I was even more excited for the chashu ramen since they said it uses carefully selected Korean pork chashu.

You can add all kinds of things like noodles, dumplings, and chashu!

After ordering, I looked around the restaurant and, being a Friday evening, it was filled with all kinds of diners — solo customers, families, groups of friends, and company dinners.

Complimentary appetizer: sweet potato fritters with mayo

The first thing to arrive after ordering was the warm, freshly fried sweet potato fritters.

Dipping it into the savory mayo sauce and taking a bite, the crispiness and sweetness combined perfectly to really get my appetite going.

How the 130g gyukatsu is grilled at your own table

Gyukatsu 130g. When it arrived, the quality of the meat was obviously excellent at a glance. Seeing the vivid red marbling, I could feel the owner's care and effort.

It came neatly plated with sliced cabbage, refreshing orange dressing, takana (Japanese pickled mustard greens), tare sauce, and chili sauce.

Grilling the gyukatsu myself on the personal charcoal grill was so much fun. It really gave me that feeling of being in Japan.

I grilled 3-4 pieces at a time to my liking, and taking a bite, it truly melted in my mouth — that expression fit perfectly.

With so many different sauces, I could enjoy the meat in different ways without getting bored. Nice, solid protein intake!

Chashu ramen with soft-boiled egg, scallion and bean sprouts

The chashu ramen that came next had a really generous portion, more than it looked. The meat looked absolutely delicious.

With the added soft-boiled egg, scallion, and a heap of bean sprouts, the presentation alone was overwhelming. I didn't expect them to come out in a separate bowl. You mix them into the ramen.

After popping the savory soft-boiled egg first and then taking a sip of the deeply developed broth, the rich flavor of the Korean pork chashu spread throughout my mouth.

The miso soup served alongside had seaweed and scallion in it, and it was refreshing with excellent umami. You can taste the care put into it. It's a different flavor from your typical restaurant.

Can you see how bouncy the noodles are? Dipping the rice that came with the gyukatsu set into the ramen broth was also a special treat I couldn't stop eating. Being the big eater that I am, I finished the bowl without leaving anything behind.

Is Hoka Hoka comfortable for eating alone?

Midway through the meal, the owner came by to check if I needed more ramen broth, and I was touched once again by his thoughtfulness. The chicken menu that other customers at the next table were eating looked amazing too, so I made up my mind to try it on my next visit.

Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch isn't just a place to fill your stomach — it's a place where you feel like you're receiving a warm meal made with the chef's dedication and sincerity in every dish. Between the taste and the owner's kind consideration, I had a happy time throughout the whole meal. If you're near Cheolsan Station craving proper gyukatsu or rich Japanese ramen broth, I highly recommend heading here without hesitation. I'm planning to come back myself to try the chicken menu!