Holiday tonkatsu dinner in Pangyo after studying: Katsu Shokudo

A holiday evening tonkatsu spot in Pangyo, after studying

For the Buddha's Birthday holiday, I made a trip to Pangyo for the first time in a while. After lunch I studied hard for a certification exam at a nearby Starbucks, and when evening came and my stomach started rumbling, I headed to Katsu Shokudo Pangyo Main Branch. It's already famous among local office workers and residents, so I arrived with high expectations.

The first thing I noticed at the entrance was the Blue Ribbon sticker. The restaurant has received a Blue Ribbon for six years in a row, from 2021 to 2026! The clean, stylish exterior already had that great-restaurant vibe, and I immediately thought, "Yep, I came to the right place."

Where is Katsu Shokudo Pangyo Main Branch, and how is the parking?

Katsu Shokudo Pangyo Main Branch is in the basement level of Alpha Dome Tower, just a 2-minute walk from Exit 3 of Pangyo Station, so it's really easy to reach by public transport. It's right across from Hyundai Department Store, which makes it very easy to find.

• Address: Store 9, B1F, Alpha Dome Tower 3, 152 Pangyoyeok-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, South Korea
• Parking: If you use the car park in Alpha Dome Tower, you get up to 3 hours of free parking, so you don't need to worry about parking at all if you drive.
• Facilities and reservations: Group visits and reservations are possible, and the men's and women's restrooms in the building connected to the restaurant are neatly separated. There are also high chairs for anyone coming with kids.

While I ate, delivery alerts kept going off and takeout customers kept coming in, and I couldn't help feeling a little jealous of the people who live in Pangyo.

Patented yuzu slow-aged pork and the menu

"Shokudo" (食堂) in Katsu Shokudo is the Japanese word for a canteen or casual eatery, and the menu lives up to that name, with hearty dishes made with real care.

The most special thing about Katsu Shokudo is that, as they explain, the meat goes through a patented yuzu slow-aging process.

On top of that, the pork, chicken and rice are all domestic (Korean), which made it easy to order with peace of mind.

A generous solo order, like this

Looking at the menu photos, I wanted a generous meal even though I was alone, so I placed the following order.

• Fillet katsu set (hirekatsu jeongsik): the signature dish, where you can taste the tenderness of the pork tenderloin
• Jumbo shrimp katsu: a fried shrimp of overwhelming size
• Chicken karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken), 4 pieces: a side dish that's the textbook definition of crispy outside, juicy inside

Every set comes with your choice of mini udon or mini soba, so I completed the combo with cold soba (naengmomil, chilled buckwheat noodles).

7 PM: a spread that delights the eyes and the mouth

Around 7 PM, the neatly arranged main and side dishes were served to my table. I couldn't help gasping at the gorgeous look of it and taking photos, and even at a glance the batter looked really clean and crispy. I started at 7 and took my time enjoying everything until 7:40, happy and relaxed.

How do the yuzu slow-aged fillet katsu and cold soba taste?

The frying on the Katsu Shokudo fillet katsu was just right. It wasn't overly greasy or thick, it crunched pleasantly, and the inside was packed with thick, lean meat, so chewing it was a joy. Maybe thanks to the patented yuzu aging, the meat had a subtle aroma and was really tender.

The cold soba that came with it, eaten with chopped scallions, had noodles cooked to just the right chewiness.

If you top the katsu with tonkatsu sauce, pickled chili peppers, pickled radish and wasabi, the sharp kick means you never get tired of it. I ran short of rice and cabbage salad partway through and asked for refills, and the staff kindly topped them up, so I ended up really full and happy.

Overwhelmed by the jumbo shrimp katsu and the chicken karaage

The mains at Katsu Shokudo are great, but the sides are just as well made. The jumbo shrimp katsu overwhelmed me with its huge size the moment it arrived. It isn't just a thick coating: the inside was packed with springy shrimp meat, so it was a satisfying protein boost.

As for the chicken karaage, the chicken inside was so tender that I let out an admiring sigh the second I bit into it.

The karaage was also fried just right and tasted clean, and dipping it generously in the white tartar sauce served on the side doubled the nutty richness and the fresh tang.

Is it good for dining alone in Pangyo? Single seats available

Inside Katsu Shokudo Pangyo Main Branch, the space is well laid out, from single seats for solo diners to group seating that suits families or colleagues. Even if you come to eat alone like me, the big plus is that you can sit at a single seat and eat quietly and comfortably without worrying about people's glances. The restaurant itself is very clean and tidy, so I felt well looked after the whole meal.

I was satisfied with everything: the taste, of course, but also the friendly service and the comfortable parking. If you're looking for a proper tonkatsu restaurant near Pangyo Station, or you're an office worker who wants to enjoy a tasty meal alone after work or on the weekend, I strongly recommend it. I'd 100% go back, and next time I definitely want to try the loin katsu too!