Cheese katsu, cold udon and shrimp tempura in Yeonnam: Katsu Monster
In short
Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch is a tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Cheese katsu at 17,000 won, cold udon at 10,900 won and one piece of shrimp tempura at 1,500 won came to 29,400 won in total, and switching between the heavy cheese katsu and the chilled udon kept the meal from feeling rich by the end. For anyone in Yeonnam-dong who wants tonkatsu with a cold noodle dish alongside, this combination works well.
Good to know
- Cheese katsu
- 17,000 won
- Cold udon
- 10,900 won
- Shrimp tempura
- 1,500 won per piece
- Total paid
- 29,400 won
- Location
- 382-18 Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul (1F, Unit 101, 42-6 Donggyo-ro 38-gil)
- Price reference
- ₩17,000 ≈ $12.5 · ₩10,900 ≈ $7.9 · ₩1,500 ≈ $1.1 (2026-09-19)
as written by the visitor on Sep 16, 2026
Going on a date in Yeonnam-dong or heading over to Hongdae, there are honestly so many good restaurants that picking one gets harder, not easier. This time I was craving crispy tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet), so I went to Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch.
Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch is located at 382-18 Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul.
It's a great tonkatsu spot to hit up if you're on a date in Yeonnam-dong and want a filling meal.
What we ordered at Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch and what it cost
What I ordered that day was cheese katsu at ₩17,000, cold udon at ₩10,900, and shrimp tempura at ₩1,500 for 1 piece — ₩29,400 in total. Rather than ordering just one tonkatsu dish, I added the cool udon and shrimp tempura too, so I could try a bit of everything.
Cheese katsu, 17,000 won: worth it if you love cheese
First up is Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch's cheese katsu at ₩17,000.
I like plain tonkatsu too, but whenever cheese katsu is on the menu, I always have to think it over. Crispy fried pork cutlet plus savory cheese is a combo that's hard to mess up! The outside had a crunchy coating, and inside was meat and cheese together, so one bite felt way more indulgent than regular tonkatsu.
The cheese adds an extra savory richness, so if you're someone who loves cheese, you'll be satisfied. Cheese katsu is a bit heavier and more filling than regular tonkatsu — it felt like a full meal on its own. Still, eating just one dish seemed like it might get a little dull, so I ordered cold udon alongside it.
Cold udon, 10,900 won: the best match for cheese katsu
The second dish is cold udon at ₩10,900. Honestly, ordering this was one of my better decisions of the day.
A dish like cheese katsu — fried and loaded with cheese — can start to feel heavy if you eat it non-stop, but cutting in with cool cold udon in between made for a really nice combination.
Warm udon is great too, but enjoying it cold like this alongside tonkatsu has its own charm. Especially on a hot day of wandering around Yeonnam-dong, cool udon would be even more welcome.
Taking a bite of cheese katsu, then a bite of cold udon, back and forth — that way, I didn't get tired of it the way I might have with just one dish, and I enjoyed it all the way through. If ordering only tonkatsu feels like it's missing something, or if you're splitting dishes with someone, I'd recommend the cheese katsu + cold udon combo.
Shrimp tempura at 1,500 won a piece, ordered one at a time
And then there was the shrimp tempura I just couldn't pass up! At Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch, shrimp tempura is ₩1,500 per piece, so I added one without much hesitation.
What I really liked is that you can order it by the single piece. Since I'd already ordered cheese katsu and cold udon, ordering multiple shrimp tempura would've been too much food — but being able to add just as much as I wanted made it perfect as a side.
It has a different kind of charm from the crunch of tonkatsu, so if you like shrimp tempura, it's worth adding one as a side.
Is Katsu Monster a good date spot in Yeonnam-dong?
Yeonnam-dong has everything from cafés to Japanese, Western, and Korean restaurants packed together. Among all of them, Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch was the place to go when you're craving crispy, filling tonkatsu, like I was that day.
Ordering cold udon along with the cheese katsu, rather than just the cheese katsu alone, meant I could go back and forth between something hot and savory and something cold and refreshing — the combo really worked. Add a shrimp tempura on top and you get tonkatsu, noodles, and tempura all in one meal — quite a hearty spread!
If you're at Hongik University or Yeonnam-dong on a date and can't decide on lunch or dinner, it's worth a visit.
If you love cheese like me, go for the cheese katsu; if you want something cool to eat alongside tonkatsu, get the cold udon; and if you're still not full, add the shrimp tempura too :)
The full order and total bill at Katsu Monster
- Cheese katsu — ₩17,000
- Cold udon — ₩10,900
- Shrimp tempura (1pc) — ₩1,500
- Total — ₩29,400
- Location: 382-18 Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Where it is
1F 101, 42-6 Donggyo-ro 38-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 마포구 동교로38길 42-6 1층 101호 카츠몬스터 연남본점
