# Amsa Station tonkatsu that sells out: 20-minute weekday wait at Tonka

- By Areum Jun (https://superchart.com/en/@seochon-low-table-2/)
- Written Sep 17, 2026
- Local places › Restaurants › Gangdong, Seoul
- Sponsored: This visit was sponsored by the business.
- English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@seochon-low-table-2/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out/
- Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@seochon-low-table-2/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out/index.md)

## In short

Tonka is a Japanese-style tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant in Gangdong, Seoul, about 5 minutes on foot from Exit 4 of Amsa Station. Arriving at 7:10pm on a weekday meant a 15–20 minute wait for the basic tonkatsu at 15,000 won, served with both loin and tenderloin, and Tonka ran out of meat for the two parties that came in right after. The batter at Tonka stayed cracker-crisp and never turned greasy, making it worth keeping as a neighborhood tonkatsu option.

## Good to know

- **Basic tonkatsu**: 15,000 won (loin and tenderloin served together)
- **Special loin katsu**: 17,000 won (select premium cut)
- **Sasami katsu**: 14,000 won (chicken breast)
- **Location**: About 5 minutes on foot from Amsa Station Exit 4
- **Seating**: Small open-kitchen room, full at around 7–8 guests
- **Wait**: Arrived 7:10pm on a weekday, waited 15–20 minutes
- **Ordering**: QR code ordering
- **Set includes**: Doenjang soup, salad, and a seasoned side
- **Price reference**: ₩15,000 ≈ $11 · ₩17,000 ≈ $12.5 · ₩14,000 ≈ $10 (2026-09-19)

*as written by the visitor on Sep 17, 2026*

I really love tonkatsu, and on the way home I spotted a place that looked delicious. This is "Tonka," near Amsa Station.

## Where is Tonka? Five minutes from Amsa Station Exit 4

Tonka is about a 5-minute walk from Exit 4 of Amsa Station. I usually just pass through Amsa Station on the subway, but more people got off than I expected, and the restaurant street was pretty lively. When I arrived, the place was already full, and one customer was waiting. The shop itself wasn't big.

![Exterior of Tonka tonkatsu restaurant near Amsa Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out-01-mxbqz-550.webp)

![The full entrance of Tonka](https://img.superchart.com/images/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out-02-1ng1f-550.webp)

On the door was a month's schedule posted up. Looked like the owner is currently doing civil defense duty. I'm still in the reserves myself, so he's a senior who's already finished active duty, haha.

![A month's operating schedule posted on the door](https://img.superchart.com/images/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out-03-75oln-550.webp)

## How long is the wait at Tonka at 7:10pm on a weekday?

I arrived at Tonka around 7:10pm on a weekday (the place isn't big, so it seemed like around 7–8 people made it full) and waited my turn in line. People kept showing up behind us too. Seems like the place has built up a decent name around the neighborhood.

![Waiting list sign-up at Tonka](https://img.superchart.com/images/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out-04-1ag5k-550.webp)
*Waiting list sign-up*

![The owner's profile photo displayed in the shop](https://img.superchart.com/images/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out-05-nwlff-550.webp)
*Looks like they even took a profile photo.*

It looked like the owner was running the place alone. As you'll see later, it's an open kitchen, so you can watch the cooking the whole time. He was quite friendly.

After two more parties came in behind us, it seemed the prepared meat had run out. A lot of neighborhood locals seem to visit.

![Sold-out notice after the meat ran out](https://img.superchart.com/images/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out-06-1l33m-550.webp)
*Sold out*

## Tonka's menu and prices: basic tonkatsu at 15,000 won

After waiting about 15–20 minutes (turnover wasn't fast), our turn came, and you order via QR code. Maybe because it was dinner, only the basic tonkatsu (served with both loin and tenderloin) was available (₩15,000). Other menu items include the special loin katsu made with a select cut (₩17,000) and the sasami katsu made with chicken breast (₩14,000).

![Tonka's tonkatsu menu and price list](https://img.superchart.com/images/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out-07-1qmiu-550.webp)

The owner fries and cuts the tonkatsu right in front of you. It's fun to watch. Looking closely, the number of prepared cutlets was down to the last few. It sold out right after us. Seems like he prepares one day's worth in advance and runs the shop that way.

![The open kitchen frying tonkatsu](https://img.superchart.com/images/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out-08-x6xqn-550.webp)
*The kitchen looked spotless*

The knife looked great. It sliced through with a satisfying sound.

## What the loin and tenderloin plate at Tonka is like

That was a long intro. Our tonkatsu arrived, and the composition was good — two chunks of tenderloin and one row of loin. Plus doenjang soup, salad, and that seasoned side dish, forming the basic set. The tenderloin was a really pale, milky color.

![The basic tonkatsu set with loin and tenderloin together](https://img.superchart.com/images/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out-09-1ytsv-1200.webp)

The taste lived up to expectations. The loin was chewy, and the tenderloin was soft and satisfying. That batter especially tasted like a cracker — so good. I gave up one piece of tenderloin to my wife, who loves it, and got two pieces of loin in return (honestly the better deal). It's a little disappointing I only got to try one piece of tenderloin, but quantity matters most, so it wasn't bad at all.

![Cross-section of the chewy loin katsu](https://img.superchart.com/images/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out-10-182ly-550.webp)
*Loin*

![A pale-colored piece of tenderloin katsu](https://img.superchart.com/images/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out-11-17awn-550.webp)
*Tenderloin*

## Why Tonka's tonkatsu never turns greasy, right to the last bite

(I did steal one piece, but) the portion was generous enough to fill us up, and the taste, first and foremost, was really good. It wasn't at all the frozen-tonkatsu feel you get at a place like Gimbap Cheonguk — it had that flavor of the trendy Japanese-style tonkatsu these days. That style of tonkatsu can easily look good on the surface but turn greasy and tiresome after just 2–3 pieces if made even slightly wrong, but Tonka's tonkatsu had none of that — clean and delicious all the way through. The owner even had a bit of that Culinary Class Wars vibe about him.

![Close-up of the crispy tonkatsu batter](https://img.superchart.com/images/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out-12-12ct9-550.webp)

![The tonkatsu plate nearly finished](https://img.superchart.com/images/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out-13-7evz6-550.webp)

This visit came about through a good opportunity, but next time I'm craving tonkatsu, I'm glad I now have a good option — there really wasn't a tasty tonkatsu place near my home before.

## Where it is

- Tonka (톤카)
- 78 Sangam-ro 5-gil, 1st floor, Unit 102, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- 서울특별시 강동구 상암로5길 78 1층 102호
- 37.5537784, 127.1283467
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%ED%86%A4%EC%B9%B4/@37.5537784,127.1283467,17z

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Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@seochon-low-table-2/tonka-amsa-evening-wait-sold-out/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt