Ansan Japanese restaurant: pork cutlet and salmon at Gin Jaryoko

Lately, I’ve been really enjoying the drama <Chaebol X Detective 2>, and when I saw the pork cutlet on screen, I simply couldn’t resist it. I looked it up and—Gin Jaryoko pork cutlet!!! I immediately dashed over to Gin Jaryoko Ansan Gojan Branch (긴자료코 안산고잔점), which is known in Gojan-dong for doing pork cutlet well.

Just as I’d heard, it was a meal that filled me with happiness: huge portions, a one-of-a-kind sauce, and mouthful after mouthful of rice, pork cutlet, and salmon together.

A visit to Gin Jaryoko Ansan Gojan Branch in search of the pork cutlet from Chaebol X Detective 2 in Gojan-dong.

Weekday lunch: how long was the wait?

I arrived right at the weekday lunch rush, and of course~ the restaurant was packed with diners, just like you’d expect from a popular spot, with a short wait.

But Gin Jaryoko has you order ahead at the kiosk by the entrance before waiting, so the food came out as soon as I sat down. The turnover was amazingly quick.

Thinking of that pork cutlet from the drama had made me so hungry, so I was really pleased that I could dig in quickly without waiting long.

Counter seating and an open-kitchen atmosphere

Inside, the restaurant has cozy Japanese-restaurant vibes, with a dachi (bar-counter) table layout. It is perfectly set up for solo dining, since you can eat comfortably without feeling self-conscious. There were indeed lots of people enjoying a filling meal on their own.

From the seat, I could clearly see the open kitchen, where the chefs were constantly frying pork cutlets until crisp. Seeing them swiftly handle not only the cooking on site but also the nonstop delivery orders made me realize again that this is a well-regarded local restaurant.

The self-service corner and free 1.5-portion upsize

While waiting for the food, I picked up as much steaming hot miso soup, kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), and danmuji (pickled yellow radish) as I wanted from the self-service corner to cut through the richness of the pork cutlet.

Gin Jaryoko’s biggest draw is its free service to upsize every menu item to 1.5 portions.

Being able to enjoy a large serving without an extra charge is like rain after a drought for big eaters. Still, the standard portions are already very large, so I recommend choosing carefully so you do not leave food behind.

What did the demiglace pork cutlet set look like?

Demiglace pork cutlet set (1.5 portions / ₩15,000)

Out came the demiglace pork cutlet set with the exact look I had been craving while watching the drama.

The tray was packed with three large, thick pork cutlets, one crispy whole shrimp tempura, two soft potato croquettes, fresh salad, and rice.

It arrived generously coated in a smooth, deeply flavorful demiglace sauce, and here is a little useful tip: flip the pork cutlets over as soon as you receive them.

That way, the breading underneath will not turn soggy in the house sauce, and you can enjoy every last piece crisp and savory.

A generous bowl of sake-don salmon rice

Sake-don salmon rice bowl (1.5 portions / ₩14,000)

The sake-don I ordered alongside it arrived in such an enormous bowl that it reminded me of a washbasin.

Thick slices of glossy fresh salmon were densely arranged over a rounded mound of rice. Add a little fresh wasabi and the house soy sauce, and each bite melts softly in your mouth.

A huge bite with rice, crispy pork cutlet, and soft salmon all together was pure happiness flooding my mouth.

I had gone in on a whim after being drawn by the pork cutlet visuals in the drama, but Gin Jaryoko, a Gojan-dong favorite for pork cutlet, delivered portions and flavor far beyond my expectations for a very satisfying lunch.

Things to know before visiting

• Address: 107, 56 Gwangdeokseo-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (경기 안산시 단원구 광덕서로 56 107호)
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00
• Break time: 14:30–16:30
• Closed: Every Wednesday
• Parking is unavailable. I used nearby public parking and parked on the road around the commercial building during lunch hours.

With quick turnover, friendly service, and dachi counter seating that is great for eating alone, I recommend stopping by whenever you are craving delicious pork cutlet and Japanese food near Gojan-dong.