Last seat before closing at Tonka, an Amsa-dong tonkatsu restaurant

Where is Tonka? A 5-minute walk from Amsa Station exit 4

Tonka (TONKA) is a Japanese-style tonkatsu restaurant on the first floor of 78 Sangam-ro 5-gil, Gangdong-gu, Seoul. It's about a 5-minute walk from Amsa Station exit 4, so it's pretty easy to get to. It's tucked inside an alley, but the clean TONKA sign isn't hard to spot.

It only opened recently as one of Amsa-dong's newest Japanese-style tonkatsu spots, but it's already gotten a lot of buzz!

We went on a weekday evening, almost right at closing time, and there were still two parties waiting ahead of us. 👀

You write your name on the waiting board outside and get called in order — we ended up being the very last guests let in that day.

Tonka's solo chef and his 10 years at Jeongdon

💡Turns out this place has some serious credentials. You know Jeongdon, the place that started the whole Japanese-style tonkatsu craze in Korea? Tonka's owner spent about 10 years there studying and working on tonkatsu before opening this place on his own.

No wonder... even before visiting, I'd been scrolling through other bloggers' reviews and Naver Place, and something felt different. 👀 Just the photos of that crispy-outside, juicy-inside tonkatsu, plus all the wait-time reviews... yep, this place has serious 'hidden gem' energy. ✨

The interior is small but cozy ✨ with an L-shaped counter that gives it the feel of a tiny tonkatsu shop you'd find in Japan.

It's a one-chef operation!!!!! Since a single person handles everything from taking orders to cooking, you can tell just from photos how much care goes into every piece of tonkatsu... ✨

Since it's counter seating, you get to watch the whole cooking process right in front of you 👀 Watching each cutlet get fried one by one was honestly pretty fun to watch. ✨

Tonka's menu and prices: just three cutlets, tonkatsu at 15,000 won

Tonka's menu is just three items: tonkatsu (loin + tenderloin) at ₩15,000, special loin katsu at ₩18,000, and sasami katsu at ₩14,000. You order by scanning the QR code as soon as you sit down.

With such a small menu, it really feels like all the focus goes into doing tonkatsu right. 👀

• Tonkatsu (loin + tenderloin) ₩15,000 — Tonka's signature menu, letting you try both cuts at once
• Special loin katsu ₩18,000 — a limited-quantity loin cutlet
• Sasami katsu ₩14,000 — also sold in limited quantity

We came in near the very end of dinner service, so unfortunately the special loin katsu and sasami katsu had already sold out 🥹 So that day we only got to try the signature 'tonkatsu (loin + tenderloin),' the one item still available.

Actually, since it was our first visit, it worked out — why not start with the signature dish that includes both loin and tenderloin! Order complete ✨

How Tonka's tonkatsu tastes: rested loin and tenderloin

The key thing about Tonka: they don't slice the tonkatsu right after frying — it goes through a resting process first. 👀

Once resting is done, they slice it to order right in front of you. But wait, everyone... what's with that knife catching my eye before the tonkatsu even does?????? haha 🔪 The knife alone had serious presence, and watching it slice through with that crisp sound was its own kind of entertainment. Watching it happen right in front of the counter seats had my expectations at MAX before I'd even taken a bite....!!!!!!! ✨

And finally, the tonkatsu I'd been waiting for ✨ There are a lot of tonkatsu places if you search for Amsa-dong restaurant recommendations these days, but Tonka nailed the presentation from first glance.

Since this dish lets you try both loin and tenderloin at once, it's the one to order first on your first visit. My husband loves tonkatsu so much he's always hunting for the best tonkatsu spots in Gangdong, and the moment he took a bite, we just looked at each other...

Ah.... now I get why there's a line here.

The breading was crispy but light, and the meat inside was seriously juicy....! Can you see the juices from my favorite tenderloin cut? I've had a fair amount of tonkatsu in Japan too, and honestly, this felt even better than what I had there 🤎 It instantly made sense why this place has become known as one of the best tonkatsu spots in Amsa-dong!

The shiitake miso soup and rice served with every tonkatsu

And then there's the shiitake miso soup and rice 🍚 that comes with the tonkatsu. The soup was packed with shiitake mushrooms, so the aroma was rich and full of umami! A sip of the warm soup between bites of tonkatsu cut through any greasiness perfectly.

The rice was cooked light and fluffy, and pairing it with the juicy tonkatsu was such a great combo 🤎 If the guy in your life — husband included — is obsessed with tonkatsu, you have to bring him here haha 🤎 Even my husband, who's very serious about his tonkatsu, approved the moment he took a bite! If you're looking for the best tonkatsu in Amsa-dong, I'd highly recommend Tonka. ✨

The loin was juicy the second you bit into it, with the meat's own savory flavor coming through clearly. It was thick but not tough at all — chewy yet tender at the same time.

Mustard, salt or tonkatsu sauce: how to eat it at Tonka

It's delicious plain, but I dipped it in both the mustard and the salt too 🤎 A touch of mustard adds a sharp kick that makes it feel cleaner, while just a bit of salt makes the loin's own savory meaty flavor come through even stronger.

The tonkatsu sauce has a sweet-and-tangy flavor that cuts right through any richness, and it's a perfect match for the cutlet! Even dipped generously, it never felt heavy — the savory juices and tangy sauce together kept me reaching for more.

If you're serious about tonkatsu, just go here. 🤎 Both my husband and I approved after one bite of Tonka, our new favorite tonkatsu spot in Amsa-dong! We're already planning a return visit to try the special loin katsu and sasami katsu we missed out on this time. ✨