Cheonan tonkatsu restaurant: loin vs fillet at Jeongseong Katsu

I went out for tonkatsu at a Buldang-dong restaurant in Cheonan. A while back my wife and I were looking for somewhere to eat in Buldang-dong, and I was craving tonkatsu, so we headed to Jeongseong Katsu Cheonan Buldang branch (정성카츠 천안불당직영점).

I usually like tonkatsu anyway, so I didn't agonize over the menu that day haha. It's a place with a clean, tidy atmosphere, so if you're looking for a Buldang-dong restaurant in Cheonan, this one's worth checking out.

Inside Jeongseong Katsu in Buldang-dong, Cheonan

The whole restaurant felt clean and tidy overall, and the tables weren't cramped together, so we could sit comfortably and eat.

Ordering one loin cutlet and one fillet cutlet for two

Since there were two of us, we ordered one roseu katsu (loin cutlet) and one hire katsu (fillet cutlet).

We wanted to try both, so we each picked a different one, and it turned out to be the right call.

Roseu katsu lets you taste that nutty flavor unique to the loin cut, while hire katsu is comparatively lighter and softer, so trading bites between the two kept things from getting boring.

What comes with the tonkatsu set at Jeongseong Katsu?

After a short wait, our orders came out one after another. The tonkatsu arrived with rice, doenjang soup, salad, and more, making for a pretty substantial one-meal setup.

From the outside, the batter didn't look too thick and everything seemed fried up nice and crispy overall. Personally, what matters most to me with tonkatsu is a crispy coating and meat that isn't dry, and this hit the mark on that.

Tasting the roseu katsu (loin cutlet) first

I picked up a piece of roseu katsu first and tried it. The crispy coating came through first, and the meat inside was tender to chew.

It had that nutty flavor unique to loin cuts too, so it was good dipped in sauce, and also good with just a light dab of salt.

When I eat tonkatsu, I like to start with sauce and then switch to salt or wasabi partway through, and eating it that way let the flavor of the meat come through even more.

My wife tried the roseu katsu too and said it was fried up nice and crispy haha.

Hire katsu (fillet cutlet): lean and tender

Next up, the hire katsu. Honestly, this was the dish that impressed me more that day.

It had a lighter feel than the loin cut, and the meat itself was tender, so it was easy to eat without feeling heavy. Cut into bite-sized pieces with a little wasabi on top, the nuttiness of the fried coating and the sharp kick of wasabi came through together really well.

Dipping it generously in sauce is nice too, but hire katsu also held up quite well eaten simply like this.

How to eat tonkatsu with sauce, salt and wasabi

Tonkatsu sauce is set out by default, so you can dip it to your taste.

Starting with sauce, switching to salt or wasabi partway through, then finishing with rice alongside it — eating this way was a lot more fun than sticking to just one flavor the whole time.

The salad served alongside also helped cut through the richness of the tonkatsu now and then.

Rice, soup and salad make it a full meal

Tonkatsu really does need rice to feel like a proper meal, haha.

A bite of crispy tonkatsu, a spoonful of rice, and some side dishes in between — it filled us up more than I expected.

With rice, soup, and salad all included rather than just the tonkatsu alone, it seemed like a good option to visit for lunch or dinner.

Good for solo diners and for two

The place has a clean vibe overall, so it looked like it wouldn't feel awkward to come alone and just order one tonkatsu set.

If you want a clean, simple tonkatsu meal in Buldang-dong, this is worth considering as a Buldang-dong restaurant option in Cheonan. Especially if you're torn between roseu katsu and hire katsu, I'd recommend ordering one of each to compare, like we did.

Final verdict on Jeongseong Katsu Cheonan Buldang

My wife and I each tried the roseu katsu and hire katsu that day, and we both left satisfied with our meal.

With crispy tonkatsu and a solid serving of rice, it felt like a proper meal. I think I'll remember Jeongseong Katsu as a go-to Buldang-dong restaurant in Cheonan whenever I'm craving tonkatsu.

If you like tonkatsu, this is worth a visit when you're looking for a Buldang-dong restaurant in Cheonan.