# Tonkatsu with Japanese curry near Jeonpo Station, Busan: Katsu Kitchen - By Jihye (https://superchart.com/en/@salt-dish/) - Written Sep 22, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Busanjin, Busan - Sponsored: This post was written after receiving a complimentary meal as part of a store-visit sponsorship. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@salt-dish/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@salt-dish/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/index.md) ## In short Katsu Kitchen Premium Jeonpo Main Branch is a tonkatsu restaurant in an alley two minutes' walk from Jeonpo Station in Busanjin, Busan. The order was the fillet katsu (tenderloin), the limited-quantity special loin katsu and Japanese curry, and the best part was the beef and radish soup served instead of the usual miso soup, paired with green onion kimchi made by the owner's mother. For proper tonkatsu in Busan, Katsu Kitchen Premium Jeonpo Main Branch is worth the trip. ## Good to know - **Location**: 2-minute walk from Jeonpo Station, inside an alley - **Seating**: Bar-style counter, 5 window seats - **Dishes ordered**: Fillet katsu (tenderloin), special loin katsu (limited quantity), Japanese curry - **Dressings**: Two kinds: black sesame and yuzu - **Sides**: Himalayan salt, wasabi, myeongi (pickled mountain garlic leaves), green onion kimchi, sesame oil, spicy sauce - **Rice and soup**: Furikake rice; beef and radish soup instead of the usual miso soup - **Dessert**: Vanilla ice cream *as written by the visitor on Sep 22, 2026* ![Main image of Katsu Kitchen Premium Jeonpo Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-01-m27i6-966.webp) I'm sharing a review of a truly life-changing katsu restaurant I found just a 2-minute walk from Jeonpo Station. You walk through a narrow alley with a strong Japanese vibe and arrive at Katsu Kitchen Premium Jeonpo Main Branch. ![Katsu Kitchen's Japanese-style entrance inside a narrow alley](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-02-1u73m-966.webp) The atmosphere was amazing from the entrance alone — it felt like something out of a small Japanese town. I love tonkatsu, so I've been to just about every famous spot both in Korea and Japan. I got a great opportunity to visit, and thanks to that I finally met my life-best katsu after more than 30 years on this earth. Such a happy day. ![Bar-style seating inside behind the wooden door](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-03-1q6gz-966.webp) ## Inside Katsu Kitchen Jeonpo: window seats and table setup Open the wooden door and you'll find bar-style seating arranged around the counter. If you're diligent like me and get there early, there are also 5 window seats where you can enjoy the atmosphere while you eat. Each seat comes with two salad dressings — black sesame and yuzu. And for people like me who always want the spicy sauce with their tonkatsu, that's available too. Interestingly, sesame oil is also provided as a condiment. ![Table with black sesame and yuzu dressing, spicy sauce, and sesame oil](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-04-1g3ca-966.webp) ## What to order at Katsu Kitchen: fillet katsu and limited-quantity special loin katsu Katsu Kitchen's best-selling menu item is the fillet katsu, so I tried to order that plus the pomodoro katsu, but the pomodoro katsu was sold out, so I asked for the special loin katsu (limited quantity) instead. ![Hair tie and katsu-eating instructions prepared at the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-05-nhjld-966.webp) They even provide hair ties at each seat for a comfortable meal — such a thoughtful touch! There's also a kind explanation at every seat on how to enjoy the katsu properly. ![Warm tea served before the meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-06-c3o0n-966.webp) While sipping a cool, nutty tea and chatting as we took in the view from the window, the table setting was ready in no time. ![Neatly arranged table setting at Katsu Kitchen](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-07-1vhpf-966.webp) Everything arrived so neatly arranged that it felt like being treated to something special. ![Himalayan salt, wasabi, and mountain garlic leaves as sides](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-08-1ta19-966.webp) Himalayan salt, wasabi, and mountain garlic leaves — all the accompaniments that go well with tonkatsu were generously prepared. ![Furikake rice and beef radish soup](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-09-42ni1-966.webp) ## Beef and radish soup instead of the usual miso soup Along with warm rice topped with furikake, Katsu Kitchen serves beef radish soup instead of the typical miso soup — and this soup is genuinely excellent. The rich broth carries a hint of black pepper, so good you could finish a whole bowl of just the soup alone! It's deeper and richer than what you'd find at a famous gomtang (bone broth soup) place, and sipping it between bites of katsu really cleanses the palate. ## What does the Japanese curry taste like? My friend wanted to try it, so we ordered the Japanese curry too! ![Japanese curry with a soup-like consistency](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-10-1jiss-966.webp) It has a soup-like consistency and a fairly strong seasoning — definitely different from Korean-style curry. Loaded with finely minced meat, mixed into rice it's a surprisingly nice treat. ![Mixing the curry into the rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-11-55oug-966.webp) ## How the fillet katsu (tenderloin) tastes The main dish, the fillet katsu (tenderloin), arrived looking gorgeous, full of pink juices. ![Plate of fillet katsu with a pink cross-section](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-12-87qsu-966.webp) Just from the look, it seems similar to other famous tonkatsu spots, right? But one bite and that thought completely changes. ![A piece of fillet katsu dipped in pink salt](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-13-r81w7-966.webp) I tried the first piece dipped only in pink salt — inside the thin, crisp breading, with zero gamey smell, it was extremely tender, falling apart along the grain. It's less about chewing and more about the texture melting softly in your mouth. I usually don't like taking huge bites, but here you absolutely have to take a full bite to properly enjoy this happiness! I finally understood why it's known as one of Busan's best tonkatsu spots. ![Close-up of the fillet katsu's cross-section and breading](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-14-1q58p-966.webp) ### Katsu with green onion kimchi: the owner's mother's recipe Especially notable is the green onion kimchi, said to be homemade by the owner's mother — that's the real kicker. I don't usually eat green onion kimchi, but I fell for it here. This spicy, crunchy green onion kimchi pairs incredibly well with the fillet katsu. ![Fillet katsu topped with homemade green onion kimchi](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-15-111iz-966.webp) ## Special loin katsu: the flavor of a limited cut Having properly enjoyed the tender texture of the fillet katsu, it was time to try the special loin katsu, which has a richer meaty aroma and firmer texture. It has more fat and flavor than regular loin, and since it's served as a limited cut in small quantities, you really must try it! ![Special loin katsu with mixed fat and lean meat](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-16-v5ppa-966.webp) The fat and lean meat are perfectly mixed, and the juices glistening on the surface were moving to look at even before eating. First, I piled on plenty of the black sesame dressing that pairs so well with tonkatsu onto the cabbage! The yuzu dressing here is delicious too, but the ultra-nutty black sesame dressing goes especially well with the katsu. ![Cabbage topped with black sesame dressing next to special loin katsu](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-17-1s3ok-966.webp) The meat is so tender that it's hard to get a pretty photo showing how glossy it looks... wow, this is the first time I've had such a tender loin katsu. ![Cross-section of the tender special loin katsu](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-18-ndv9d-966.webp) The rich fat layer, the tender lean meat's aroma, and the crispy, nutty breading all together! I feel like every item on the menu here would be satisfying — this is a Jeonpo restaurant you absolutely must visit. ![Cabbage salad with yuzu dressing](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-19-1ldz8-966.webp) ## How to use the dressings, sauces and sesame oil In between bites, the tangy, crunchy cabbage with yuzu dressing gives a nice change of pace. Usually you eat cabbage because the meat feels greasy, but here the dressing is so good you eat it for its own sake, haha. ![A piece of special loin katsu topped with spicy sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-20-14cqv-966.webp) And don't forget to pile plenty of spicy sauce on the special loin katsu! I want to ask them what the secret is — even the tonkatsu sauce here is delicious. The regular sauce is also full of flavor and delicious, but the meat is so good that I'd recommend dipping it in as little sauce as possible. The ultimate nutty combination you can only truly enjoy at Katsu Kitchen — drizzle a little sesame oil and fully embrace the nuttiness. ![A piece of katsu drizzled with sesame oil](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-21-1njvr-1200.webp) Drizzle a bit of sesame oil and top it with green onion kimchi, and a whole new world opens up. The green onion kimchi combination was so good that I ended up finishing it all, even though I kept saying I don't like green onion kimchi, haha. ![Katsu topped with both sesame oil and green onion kimchi](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-22-1qt40-966.webp) If you want to enjoy the meat's flavor even more intensely, adding a bit of mountain garlic leaves is also great. ![Tonkatsu combination topped with mountain garlic leaves](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-23-3k0r5-966.webp) A little wasabi plus a touch of sauce, taken in one big bite to really bring out the meat's aroma — that combination is also the best! ![A bite of tonkatsu dipped in wasabi and sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu-24-1e3yv-966.webp) ## The last bite and vanilla ice cream to finish Tonkatsu usually gets greasy and loses its crispness as it cools, but this place was perfect right down to the very last bite. My friend and I even made a promise to definitely come back here again, haha. Just as the meal was wrapping up, the ice cream arrived at the perfect timing — finishing with a soft, creamy vanilla flavor made for a flawless meal with nothing to complain about. If you want to enjoy proper tonkatsu in Busan, I strongly recommend stopping by Katsu Kitchen Premium Jeonpo Main Branch. I haven't tried Tonshou, known for its brutal waiting lines, but somehow I feel like this place would be even more satisfying!? ## Where it is - Katsu Kitchen Premium Jeonpo Main Branch (카츠키친 프리미엄 전포 본점) - 27-6 Dongseong-ro 25beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea (카츠키친) - 부산광역시 부산진구 동성로25번길 27-6 카츠키친 - 35.1524799, 129.0668491 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%B9%B4%EC%B8%A0%ED%82%A4%EC%B9%9C%20%ED%94%84%EB%A6%AC%EB%AF%B8%EC%97%84%20%EC%A0%84%ED%8F%AC%20%EB%B3%B8%EC%A0%90/@35.1524799,129.0668491,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@salt-dish/katsu-kitchen-jeonpo-hire-katsu/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt