Two combo katsu platters at a Jeonpo-dong tonkatsu spot: Hets, Busan

Today I wanted tonkatsu somewhere around Jeonpo, so I went looking and found a tonkatsu spot in Jeonpo-dong worth sharing — Hets Jeonpo Branch! From the clean, stylish interior to the thick-cut cutlets, it was a pretty satisfying place, so if you're hunting for good tonkatsu in Jeonpo like I was, this post should help haha.

Hets Jeonpo Branch hours and location in Busan

Hets Jeonpo Branch is open daily from 11:10 to 20:30, with a break time from 15:30 to 17:00. There are two last order times, 15:00 and 20:00.

• Hours: Daily 11:10 – 20:30
• Break time: 15:30 – 17:00
• Last order: 15:00 / 20:00

The exterior was a bit unusual right from the start. It has a clean facade that fits Jeonpo's distinctive vibe, with HETZ written on it — at first glance it felt more like a café or a concept store than a tonkatsu restaurant. It's also fairly close to Jeonpo Station, so it seemed like a good spot for a Jeonpo date or a meal with friends.

Bar seats and an open kitchen: inside Hets Jeonpo Branch

Inside, the interior used gray tones and metal materials, and the seats were bar-style, so it didn't feel awkward to eat alone. There actually were solo diners there too, so I'd recommend it to anyone in Jeonpo-dong looking for a tonkatsu place to eat by themselves.

Because the kitchen is open, I could catch glimpses of the cutlets being prepared inside. Watching the process from order to finished dish right in front of you was kind of fun to watch.

There was also a spot to hang aprons and coats! When you're eating tonkatsu, breadcrumbs or sauce sometimes splash on your clothes, so having this set up so neatly was convenient. The whole place felt well organized, and it made a good first impression :)

Special loin katsu sold out, so two combo platters instead

Check the menu photo above! Since I went in the evening, Hets Jeonpo Branch's special sang loin katsu was sold out, so I ordered two: the Jeju black pork combo katsu and the YBD combo katsu.

And the barley tea — an easy pass~~

Alongside the katsu, you get sauce, salt, wasabi and more to mix and match to your taste. There was even truffle oil, so I really could eat it exactly how I wanted! By the way, the salad dressing was corn-flavored, and honestly — mind blown~~ it was so good.

Jeju black pork combo katsu vs YBD combo katsu at Hets Jeonpo Branch

The combo katsu lets you try loin katsu and tenderloin (hire) katsu at once, so I'd really recommend it when you can't decide what to order. Just from how neatly it's arranged on the plate and how thick the meat looked, my expectations went up haha. Since I'd come looking for good tonkatsu in Jeonpo-dong, it passed the visual test first.

It looked so moist and tender that I could tell it'd be delicious before even taking a bite. The breading wasn't too thick either, and the meat inside was quite thick. The outside was fried crisp while the inside looked moist, so I was curious what the texture would be like even before the first bite.

These might look the same, but the combo katsu photo above is the Jeju black pork, and this photo is the YBD combo katsu.

First I tried the tonkatsu plain, without dipping it in anything, to taste it on its own. The breading was crisp and the meat was tender, and as I chewed, the juices and savory flavor came through gently. What I liked most was that the meat wasn't dry at all but stayed moist. This piece was the loin cut!

How does the hire katsu (tenderloin cutlet) taste?

The hire katsu I'd been looking forward to! It definitely had a different texture from the loin — much softer and moister. When I chewed, the meat cut easily and practically melted in my mouth haha. If you like softer tonkatsu, you really should try the hire katsu.

Truffle oil, wasabi and salt: which pairing works best?

This time I tried it with truffle oil and sauce — the aroma came through subtly and paired well with the savory flavor of the katsu, which I personally quite liked. It was nice to try a different flavor experience.

I also tried a bit of wasabi on top, and it cut through the richness of the meat while giving off a slight spicy kick, which felt like a whole different experience. Alternating bites with salt, wasabi and sauce made the same tonkatsu taste different each time, so I never got tired of it, all the way to the end.

I also sipped the miso soup that came with it in between bites. Since the tonkatsu was rich and savory, a spoonful of warm soup in between helped cleanse my palate. One bite of katsu, one spoon of soup, another bite, a bite of rice — before I knew it, the plate was nearly empty.

Final verdict on Jeonpo-dong tonkatsu at Hets Jeonpo Branch

Overall, what I liked about Hets Jeonpo Branch was that it wasn't just about a crispy coating — you could really enjoy the texture and flavor of the meat itself. In particular, the Jeju black pork combo katsu lets you compare loin and tenderloin in one sitting, which seems like a solid choice for first-time visitors. For someone like me who has trouble picking just one menu item, the combo is the best haha.

There are so many good restaurants in Jeonpo that it's often hard to decide where to go, but Hets is worth a visit if you like tonkatsu. Especially if you're looking for good tonkatsu in Jeonpo-dong, I'd recommend the combo katsu :)