Mapo Japanese restaurant for kimchi katsu nabe: Katsu Monster

A tonkatsu spot between Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong

I found Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch (카츠몬스터 연남본점) while looking for tonkatsu during a Hongdae date〰️ Sitting between Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong, it felt like a great place to enjoy a filling range of dishes, from a workday lunch to a date-night dinner 👍🏻

Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch information

• 42-6 Donggyo-ro 38-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울특별시 마포구 동교로38길 42-6 1층)
• Naver reservations available
• Takeout/delivery available
• Hire katsu ₩16,000
• Sang loin katsu ₩16,000
• Kimchi katsu nabe ₩16,000
• Chicken curry rice bowl ₩14,000

From tonkatsu to cold buckwheat noodles and udon

There are all kinds of tonkatsu (Japanese breaded pork cutlet), including tenderloin, loin, gabrisal, and cheese varieties, plus cold buckwheat noodles and cold udon that are great for a refreshing summer meal. On slightly chilly days, you can also enjoy spicy fish-cake udon, bonito fish-cake udon, the spicy kimchi katsu nabe, tonkatsu curry rice bowls, and udon ✨

A very Japanese-feeling space and tablet ordering

The interior was full of Japanese vibes too, so it felt a little like traveling in Japan 👍🏻 That glimpse of the fan decoration is such a nice touch〰️

Delicious-looking menu photos hung all around the restaurant—🔥

Each table had a tablet, so ordering was easy. They also offer everything from set menus to 1.5-serving options, so big eaters can order to suit their appetite too〰️

Kimchi katsu nabe and gabrisal sang loin katsu

I ordered the kimchi katsu nabe, and my boyfriend ordered the sang loin katsu〰️ The sang loin katsu is a gabrisal pork cutlet, said to have a richer aroma and flavor 🔥 It was described as a dish full of juices with a deep, nutty richness 👍🏻 The kimchi katsu nabe lets you enjoy spicy kimchi and katsu together ✨

The kimchi katsu nabe looked spicy just from looking at it, alongside the big, hearty-looking sang loin katsu—✨ Everything we ordered had arrived〰️ Each dish came as a full set meal 🔥

The sang loin katsu came with rice, soup, cabbage salad, kimchi, and dessert, while the kimchi katsu nabe came as a full set without soup〰️ Tonkatsu sauce, cabbage-salad dressing, wasabi, and salt were stocked at every table, so we could add as much as we wanted 👍🏻

The cabbage salad came with a light dressing, which was great for cutting through any richness that built up while eating the tonkatsu 👍🏻

Light sang loin katsu and spicy kimchi nabe

Since the sang loin katsu uses gabrisal, a fatty cut, I wondered if it might be too rich ❓ But it was lighter than I expected, and I loved its tender texture 👍🏻 Above all, the breading was thin rather than heavy, which made it so delicious ✨

The kimchi katsu nabe was spicy and pleasantly sharp, with savory katsu in the kimchi nabe, so it was delicious without feeling rich 👍🏻 It is a flavor Koreans would definitely love 🔥 I recommend Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch to anyone looking for tonkatsu on a Hongdae date ✨