Solo tonkatsu in Amsa, Seoul: free sasami katsu and chocolate, Tonka

I had errands in Cheonho today and went looking for a good place to eat alone, so I headed to Tonka for some Amsa tonkatsu. It only opened recently, but Tonka is a dining katsu bar built on Japanese-style tonkatsu (pork cutlet). It's a one-chef operation at a small counter, where the chef cooks and serves everything personally, and the flow and finish of each dish matter most.

Where is Tonka in Amsa-dong? Hours, break time and parking

Tonka is at 78 Sangam-ro 5-gil, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, Unit 102 on the first floor. It's open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00–20:30, with a break from 15:00 to 17:00.

• Location: 78 Sangam-ro 5-gil, Gangdong-gu, Seoul (Unit 102, 1st floor)
• Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 11:00–20:30 (break time 15:00–17:00)
• Last order: 14:30, 20:00
• Closed: every Monday
• There is a waiting area
• Parking: you can park briefly in front of the shop while you eat, and there is one space behind the building. Parking is tight

Is Tonka a good place to eat alone?

Tonka is set up with solo counter seats, which makes it a comfortable tonkatsu spot for eating alone in Amsa. I went at weekday lunchtime, and even though it was a bit late, quite a few people from the neighborhood were there eating!

Since it's all solo counter seats, there are even coat hooks on the wall for your outerwear.

I was shown to the seat at the very back. Tonka says it handles every step with care, from choosing the raw pork to trimming, curing, frying and putting the meal together. They say it's not just about crispy tonkatsu, but about delivering juiciness, flavor, and a balanced texture of coating and meat reliably. They manage cooking temperature and time closely to serve the cutlet in its best condition.

Their principle is same-day production and same-day sell-out, preparing rice, soup and side dishes in small batches, often. They put steady quality and a relaxed meal for each guest ahead of fast turnover and efficiency!

The kitchen is open, so you can watch the cooking up close. The chef was really clean and explained things kindly. The place is run so that not just the food but the atmosphere and flow of the space come together as one dining experience.

Paper cups and sauces are set out on the counter, and you order by scanning a QR code with your phone camera.

Tonka tonkatsu menu and prices

The menu has three katsu: tonkatsu at ₩15,000, special loin katsu at ₩18,000, and sasami katsu (chicken tenderloin cutlet, limited quantity) at ₩14,000. For drinks there's bottled beer at ₩4,000 and soft drinks (cider, cola, zero cola) at ₩2,000.

• Tonkatsu ₩15,000
• Special loin katsu ₩18,000
• Sasami katsu (limited quantity) ₩14,000
• Bottled beer ₩4,000
• Soft drinks (cider, cola, zero cola) ₩2,000

How does Tonka's special loin katsu taste?

Tonka's special loin katsu (₩18,000) had a really crunchy coating, and the thick meat was savory with a satisfying chew. I agonized a bit and went with the limited-quantity special loin katsu, which is made from carefully selected special cuts. Doesn't it look crispy, with a lovely color?

The coating was really crunchy, and the thick meat was savory and chewy in a good way!

Free sasami katsu (chicken tenderloin cutlet) on the house

The sasami katsu they gave me as a freebie is mild chicken breast fried crisp, a clean-tasting katsu, and it was so good, honestly! The coating is so clean that it felt even crunchier! It wasn't dry at all and the texture was great, so just a pinch of salt was plenty.

The loin katsu has a different charm: there's just enough fat for a good chew, and it was savory and full of flavor when I bit in! It held its juices without being dry, a nice mild finish.

Why the loin katsu is pink inside: medium-well pork

With Tonka's perfectly fried cutlet, I could feel the juices locked in the surface of the meat melt out as I took a bite. The coating is super crispy, and the meat is cooked by moving between low and high heat, so the inside came out a slightly pink medium-well and very moist!

Does Tonka refill rice, soup and side dishes?

At Tonka they refill rice, soup or side dishes if you need more, and it was easy to just ask. Eating it with the side dishes they put out was a total kick of flavor!

At the end they even gave me a chocolate as a freebie. The food was great, of course, but I was happy overall with the cleanliness and mood of the open kitchen and the kind service too! Tonka in Amsa works fine for a solo meal, but next time I'll come with my husband and enjoy it over a beer!