Gunpo pork cutlet restaurant: Onjeong Gyeongyangsikdang

Where is Onjeong Gyeongyangsikdang Sanbon Academy District Branch?

I visited Onjeong Gyeongyangsikdang Sanbon Academy District Branch (온정경양식당 산본학원가점), opposite Gwangjeong Elementary School in the Sanbon academy district. It was easy to find using the school as a landmark, and I tried the basic Western-style pork cutlet and the spicy pork cutlet and udon set.

The address is 5-11 Sanbon-ro 386beon-gil, Gunpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, Samdae Building 1F, Unit 103. The original post lists hours as 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with regular closure on Mondays.

How are the portion and texture of the basic Western-style pork cutlet?

The mushroom cream soup served before the meal had a subtle mushroom flavor and was slightly thin. It was not heavily seasoned, making for a light start. The tray also included cream soup, clear soup, kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), danmuji (pickled yellow radish), and strawberry jam.

The ₩13,000 basic Western-style pork cutlet came with two overlapping cutlets, each about the size of an adult man's palm. Their size caught my eye at first, but the meat was thinner than a typical Western-style pork cutlet, so the portion was not as overwhelming as it looked.

Rather than thick, juicy meat, it was the kind of cutlet made for soaking the thin, crisp coating in sauce. The sauce had a slightly ochre color and a savory, nutty taste. It was mild rather than sharply sour, so it was not overpowering and did not become tiring as I ate.

What do the spicy pork cutlet and udon set taste like?

The spicy pork cutlet and udon set was ₩15,000. Alongside the cutlet came a morning roll, rice, cabbage salad, and sweet corn.

The spicy pork cutlet had heat on the tip of my tongue from the first bite. It tasted like a sweet chili sauce mixed with a spicy sauce, with both a pungent heat and tanginess. A thin sauce was poured over the entire cutlet, so if you prefer dipping, it may be worth asking when ordering whether the sauce can be served separately.

The udon contained six round fish cakes and looked generous. However, both the broth and fish cakes were so lightly seasoned that I could barely taste the seasoning. It fell short if you were expecting deep umami, and worked more as a way to ease the intensity while eating the spicy pork cutlet.

How did I eat the morning roll served with the meal?

The morning roll came with strawberry jam. You can split the bread in half, spread on the jam, and add pork cutlet and salad to eat it like a small pork cutlet burger. I also enjoyed the fun of drawing a heart with the strawberry jam.

Which should you choose: the basic pork cutlet or the udon set?

For my taste, the ₩13,000 basic Western-style pork cutlet was better. The ₩15,000 spicy pork cutlet and udon set was less satisfying because of the udon, while the basic cutlet let me enjoy the mild, savory sauce more fully.

Because it is opposite Gwangjeong Elementary School, it was easy to find, and I thought it could be a fine place to stop for a meal with a child after academy classes. It seems best suited to those who prefer thin, crisp Western-style pork cutlets and a mild basic sauce over thick meat.