Jeonpo-dong tonkatsu with Sangaria oolong tea: Hets Jeonpo, Busan

While looking for somewhere to eat in Jeonpo-dong, I decided to try something a little special this time. The place I visited is Hets Jeonpo Branch, a Japanese-style tonkatsu restaurant famous as a Jeonpo-dong pork cutlet spot!

Where is Hets Jeonpo Branch, and when is it open?

Hets Jeonpo Branch is located at 225 Jeonpo-daero, Busanjin-gu, Busan, about a 3-minute walk from Jeonpo Station Exit 7. It's open daily from 11:10 to 20:30, with a break time from 15:30 to 17:00, and last orders at 15:00 and 20:00.

• 📍 225 Jeonpo-daero, Busanjin-gu, Busan
• 🚇 About 3 minutes on foot from Jeonpo Station Exit 7
• ⏰ Daily 11:10 - 20:30
• ☕ Break time 15:30 - 17:00
• 🕐 Last order 15:00 / 20:00

Coming out of Jeonpo Station Exit 7, it's just a short walk away, so the accessibility was pretty good.

Inside Hets Jeonpo: a bar-seat tonkatsu counter

Hets Jeonpo Branch has a clean interior in silver tones, built mostly around bar seating. It's a good spot for a quiet solo meal, but also works fine for a date or a meal with coworkers. The seats were spaced more generously than I expected, making it a surprisingly comfortable place to eat.

Assorted Jeju black pork katsu, 18,000 won, with Sangaria oolong tea

I ordered the Jeju black pork assorted katsu for 18,000 won, and added a Sangaria oolong tea for 3,000 won to drink alongside it. The tea came out first, and it went with the tonkatsu better than I expected. The oolong tea's slightly bitter, clean taste seemed to reset my palate after the greasiness of the cutlet.

The spicy miso soup that comes with the set

Then came the miso soup that's served alongside the meal. I usually think of tonkatsu-restaurant miso soup as just something warm to sip, but this one had a slight kick to it that I liked. Since tonkatsu is such a rich, savory dish, having a sip of the miso soup in between bites cleaned up my palate nicely.

Rosu katsu and hire katsu on one plate

The Jeju black pork assorted katsu comes with both rosu katsu (loin cutlet) and hire katsu (tenderloin cutlet). Since it's an assorted plate, I got to try both, which was great. Personally, the tonkatsu was genuinely delicious that day. I could see why it's known as a Jeonpo-dong tonkatsu spot. The meat itself tasted great, and the overall balance worked well alongside the miso soup.

It wasn't a 'hm, not bad' first bite — it was an 'oh? this is actually good?' bite that made me go back for more!!!!

What pork does Hets use? YBD cuts and Jeju black pork

The pork Hets uses is a bit special. They work directly with YBD-graded pork and Jeju black pork to make cutlets that bring out the character of each cut. Here, YBD stands for Y = Yorkshire, B = Berkshire, D = Duroc. Each breed has its own traits — leanness, chewy texture, or a soft, savory flavor — and Hets' approach is to bring out the strengths of each in harmony.

Eating the katsu with pepper and truffle oil

I sprinkled on some pepper here and there, and drizzled a bit of truffle oil, which turned out to be a fun twist. With the distinct aroma of truffle added, the savory flavor of the tonkatsu felt a touch richer. It seems like Hets, this Jeonpo-dong tonkatsu spot, uses good-quality wasabi and truffle oil too.

Who should try Hets Jeonpo Branch?

Overall, I really enjoyed the Jeju black pork assorted katsu that day. It's fairly close to Jeonpo Station too, so if you're trying to decide on lunch or dinner in Jeonpo-dong, it's worth stopping by. The atmosphere is comfortable whether you're eating solo or on a date, so if you're looking for a clean, delicious tonkatsu meal in Jeonpo-dong, I'd recommend Hets Jeonpo Branch.