Ansan Gojan-dong donkatsu restaurant with shrimp tempura: Gin Jaryoko

A Gojan-dong lunch right at opening time, straight after a morning run

I've been really into running lately, following my husband's lead haha. After a morning run with a close friend, I found myself craving a solid, filling lunch.

So I showed up right at opening time. Gin Jaryoko Ansan Gojan Branch — I already love this brand and used to visit the Baegot location often. Let me tell you in detail how the demiglace donkatsu set was this time at the Gojan branch.

Gin Jaryoko Ansan Gojan Branch at a glance: hours, closing day, address

• Ordered: Demiglace donkatsu set
• Price: ₩15,000 per person
• Seating: Bar-style tachi seats
• Self-bar: Miso soup, kimchi, pickled radish
• Takeout: All menu items available for takeout
• One-line review: Free 1.5-portion add-on is love
• Hours: 11:00–21:00 (closed every Wednesday)

Menu and prices at Gin Jaryoko, plus the free 1.5-portion upgrade

Gin Jaryoko is all about the cream-demiglace donkatsu, but the menu actually had quite a lot of options. Besides donkatsu, they also had rice bowls, curry, pasta udon, and even cold udon.

Also, every menu item at Gin Jaryoko can get a free 1.5-portion add-on, so big eaters should definitely take advantage. We didn't even need to add extra — it was plenty.

What is on the self-bar at Gin Jaryoko?

The self-bar at Gin Jaryoko Ansan Gojan Branch has miso soup, kimchi, and pickled radish. The miso soup especially was packed with seaweed and really refreshing.

Pairing kimchi or pickled radish with the cutlet and tempura kept things tasty all the way through. Even on a weekday morning, there were plenty of delivery and takeout orders in addition to dine-in guests.

Tachi bar seats: is Gin Jaryoko good for solo diners?

Gin Jaryoko has bar-style counter seating, commonly called tachi seats. It faces the kitchen, and since it's an open kitchen, there's the added fun of watching the cooking process.

It's especially great for solo diners who want to eat alone! Groups are fine too, but it's even better solo or as a pair.

What comes with the 15,000-won demiglace donkatsu set?

The demiglace donkatsu set I ordered was seriously generous. Two large cutlets plus assorted tempura, rice, and salad filled the plate to the brim.

I was quite hungry after running, but the portion was more than enough by the time I finished. The jumbo shrimp tempura especially stood out — it was surprisingly large for a side, and satisfying to bite into. For a woman, I don't think you'd need the 1.5-portion add-on.

A closer look: cream demiglace sauce, wasabi and jumbo shrimp tempura

Honestly, the cutlet is delicious, but one reason I love Gin Jaryoko is this demiglace sauce. The cream-based sauce is rich and heavy, but dabbing on a little wasabi makes it taste refreshingly different.

The sweet-and-tangy salad went well with it too, and the rice portion was generous enough that mixing everything together wasn't bad at all!

Would I go back to Gin Jaryoko? My verdict

This visit to Gin Jaryoko Ansan Gojan Branch really won me over with the generous portions and the rich yet refreshing set composition. Next time, I'm thinking of ordering one set menu and one cream udon to share.

The free 1.5-portion add-on feels like too much for me personally, but I'd probably add it if I came with my husband — our family are big eaters haha.

I'm a regular at the Baegot branch and go often, so seeing that the Gojan branch is just as good makes me think the brand itself is solid. 100% would visit again :)