# Gangdong Seoul tonkatsu restaurant: special loin at Tonka - By Chaerin (https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-queue-ticket/) - Written Sep 8, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Gangdong, Seoul - Sponsored: This visit was sponsored by the business. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-queue-ticket/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@seoul-queue-ticket/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/index.md) ## In short Tonka is a Japanese tonkatsu restaurant in Gangdong, Seoul, with a small counter-bar seating area. I arrived at opening for the limited Special Loin Katsu and Tonkatsu, and especially loved the careful cooking, tender tenderloin, and rich shiitake mushroom soup. Verdict: Tonka is a great match for carefully prepared tonkatsu in Amsa-dong. ## Good to know - **Hours**: 11:00–20:30 - **Break time**: 15:00–17:00 - **Regular and temporary closures**: Closed every Sunday; check Naver Map updates for temporary closures - **Parking**: Brief parking is possible in front of the restaurant; parking is available behind the building - **Special Loin Katsu**: Limited quantity, ₩18,000 - **Tonkatsu**: ₩15,000 - **Refills**: Rice, soup, and side dishes can be refilled *as written by the visitor on Sep 8, 2026* Today I visited Tonka (톤카), a great tonkatsu spot in Amsa-dong! I had been looking for authentic Japanese tonkatsu (Japanese breaded pork cutlet), and as soon as I heard there was a good one in Amsa-dong, I went straight there >.< ![Visitor information for Tonka, a tonkatsu restaurant in Amsa-dong](https://img.superchart.com/images/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin-01-1h484-900.webp) ## Tonka's counter seats and waiting list in Amsa-dong Tonka is a small counter-bar space run by one chef. He was so kind and spoke so formally that I really felt looked after! ![Tonka's small counter-bar seating area](https://img.superchart.com/images/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin-02-1kwu1-900.webp) Oh, and Tonka is one of Amsa's popular spots, so they even have a waiting list ready, haha!!! Luckily, I got there right at opening and was able to sit down! ![Tonka waiting-list information](https://img.superchart.com/images/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin-03-1g85i-900.webp) ## A meticulously maintained open kitchen Looking around the open kitchen, tables, and everywhere else, I could tell how impeccably clean everything was kept. I love places that are this neat and clean! ![Tonka's open kitchen and table area](https://img.superchart.com/images/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin-04-11rz9-900.webp) They say they make everything that day and sell out that day, and prefer preparing small amounts of rice, soup, and side dishes frequently. That is exactly my philosophy too (?) haha. Rather than a place that leaves lots of side dishes and things to become waste, I prefer one where you can eat freshly prepared small amounts often; rice and soup are warmer when you refill them in small portions too! They told me rice, soup, and side dishes can all be refilled. ![Notice about Tonka's same-day preparation and sellout policy](https://img.superchart.com/images/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin-05-rzw59-900.webp) Such a thoughtful touch: there are coat hangers behind the seats! ![Coat hangers behind the counter seats](https://img.superchart.com/images/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin-06-1cu95-900.webp) Tonkatsu sauce and salad dressing! Sauces like these normally get messy when customers spill them, but I was amazed by how clean they were, haha. They also cleaned and checked each table really thoroughly after a customer left, so the hygiene was excellent. 👍👍 ![Tonkatsu sauce and salad dressing](https://img.superchart.com/images/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin-07-t8upd-900.webp) ## Watching the tonkatsu cooking process from the counter It was such fun sitting at the counter and watching the tonkatsu being made, haha. ![The tonkatsu cooking process viewed from the counter](https://img.superchart.com/images/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin-08-4w0zv-900.webp) It did not go straight onto the customer's plate the moment it was fried—they seemed to probe it with a thermometer (?) and let it rest. It felt like they paid close attention not only to crispness but also to cooking temperature and time! Then they sliced it like this, and it was pure crunchiness!!!! ![Tonkatsu resting and cutting process](https://img.superchart.com/images/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin-09-11vph-900.webp) ## Limited Special Loin Katsu and tender tenderloin Special Loin Katsu (limited quantity), ₩18,000. The Special Loin Katsu is a loin cutlet made with a carefully selected premium cut. ![Limited Special Loin Katsu menu](https://img.superchart.com/images/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin-10-dzhls-900.webp) The special loin had such a perfect balance of meat and fat!! It was seriously delicious. And the tenderloin beside it just melted away... ❤️ ![Special Loin Katsu and tenderloin selection](https://img.superchart.com/images/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin-11-1ep61-1200.webp) Tonka, the magical Amsa-dong tonkatsu spot where every bite went down so easily without a hint of heaviness... ❤️ ![A plate of tonkatsu that is not greasy](https://img.superchart.com/images/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin-12-zjqvj-900.webp) I always have this prejudice that tenderloin will be dry, but this was so tender and wrapped around the palate so smoothly, lol. The tenderloin was truly delicious!! ![Tender tenderloin tonkatsu](https://img.superchart.com/images/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin-13-1013j-900.webp) The yellow powder served alongside is salt! Dip it ever so lightly in the salt and it is ridiculously tasty ❤️ ![Salt served with tonkatsu](https://img.superchart.com/images/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin-14-1x6n6-900.webp) ## Classic Tonkatsu and shiitake mushroom soup Tonkatsu, ₩15,000. The standard plate brings together the loin's rich juices and the tenderloin's softness! ![Classic Tonkatsu menu set](https://img.superchart.com/images/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin-15-1jlxi-900.webp) This is a standard loin cut, different from the Special Loin Katsu, but the ratio of lean meat to fat is wonderful too, right??? If you prefer meat over fat, I think this regular Tonkatsu menu would be the one to order! ![Classic loin tonkatsu](https://img.superchart.com/images/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin-16-zvozz-900.webp) And the shiitake mushroom soup that came with it..👍 It had such a deep shiitake aroma and flavor, and it was truly delicious!!! It paired so well with the tonkatsu. Every item seemed designed to work together, and I had such a delicious meal! ![Shiitake mushroom soup served with tonkatsu](https://img.superchart.com/images/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin-17-qqz3w-900.webp) ## A special katsu before Sunday closure Because Tonka is regularly closed every Sunday, they say you can try special katsu the day before to help manage inventory! I am so curious that I will have to visit again on Saturday...! ## Where it is - Tonka (톤카) - 102, 1F, 78 Sangam-ro 5-gil, 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 --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-queue-ticket/amsa-tonkatsu-tonka-special-loin/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt