Garlic chipotle katsu set in Ssangam-dong, Gwangju: Jeongseong Katsu

Jeongseong Katsu, Cheomdan Branch is the place that comes to mind whenever I want pork cutlet in Cheomdan. This wasn't my first visit either — I've been here more than three times now, and somehow whenever I'm craving katsu, this is the spot that pops into my head first.

This time I ordered a Western-style pork cutlet and a garlic chipotle pork cutlet set. Personally, when I come to Jeongseong Katsu I like picking two different styles instead of sticking to one menu, so I can really feel the difference in flavor between them.

Jeongseong Katsu, Cheomdan Branch opening hours

Jeongseong Katsu, Cheomdan Branch is open Mon–Sun 10:00–21:00. Break time is 15:00–16:00, and last order is at 20:00.

Where is Jeongseong Katsu, and is there parking?

This Cheomdan katsu favorite is located near Cheomdan General Hospital, and you can use the building's parking lot, which makes it easy to visit. The parking entrance is at the back of the building, and they give up to 2 hours free on a visit, so you can eat without worrying about the meter.

It's still hot summer, so cold buckwheat noodles paired with pork cutlet feels like a great combo.

What we ordered at Jeongseong Katsu

I ordered one pasta and one pork cutlet! When you come to Jeongseong Katsu, I recommend ordering this way — it lets you taste a wider range of dishes!

I say this every time I come, but Jeongseong Katsu really has a lot of genuinely delicious menu items! Pork cutlet, rice bowls, pasta, and even katsu dishes mixed and matched with different combinations — you could visit every day for a month and still eat something different each time! During lunch hour it's packed with office workers, and a lot of orders go out for delivery and takeout too.

Western-style pork cutlet (gyeongyangsik donkkaseu)

First, the Western-style pork cutlet has a familiar flavor that somehow keeps you coming back for more. The cutlet is fried crisp with plenty of sauce poured over it, carrying that comforting taste unique to old-school Western-style katsu — easy to eat and hard to dislike.

These days you see a lot of thick, juicy Japanese-style cutlets, but sometimes you just crave this style where you dip generously into sauce. The sauce and cutlet pair especially well together, and before you know it, eating it with rice, the plate is almost empty. Personally, I'm a fan of this style of cutlet.

Garlic chipotle pasta with the katsu set

And this time I properly tried the chipotle pasta for the first time. The pasta has that distinctive chipotle kick — slightly spicy with savory depth — and coming with the crispy cutlet on the side makes it a hearty, satisfying plate.

Western-style, Japanese-style, and now pasta too — it's great that you can enjoy three different menu styles just by coming to Jeongseong Katsu.

Piled high with cheese.

Eating it together with the noodles, the sauce's depth combined with the nutty richness of the cheese was better than expected. A flavor you keep reaching back for.

In between, some bites of crispy pork cutlet too.

And then more of the sauce-drenched Western-style cutlet — switching back and forth between dishes made the meal feel varied and fun.

Why this Gwangju katsu spot is worth three visits

Above all, the reason I keep coming back to Jeongseong Katsu is that it's not a special-occasion place you visit once — it's somewhere you casually turn to when you're simply craving pork cutlet on any regular day. You know those days in Cheomdan when you're trying to decide what to eat and suddenly think, 'maybe katsu today'? That's exactly the kind of place this is. I enjoyed the meal again this time, and I'm sure I'll naturally end up here again the next time I'm craving pork cutlet.

If you're in Ssangam-dong or Cheomdan in Gwangju and want to try everything from Japanese-style to Western-style pork cutlet, Jeongseong Katsu, Cheomdan Branch is worth a visit. I've already been more than three times, and personally I remember it as a great spot to keep coming back to.