Irwon-dong tonkatsu with a ₩3,000 curry add-on: Sioldon Irwon Branch

What is Sioldon Irwon Branch like?

Sioldon Irwon Branch (시올돈 일원점) is a tonkatsu restaurant on the Irwon food street in Irwon-dong. I was looking for a place for lunch or dinner near Samsung Seoul Hospital and ended up here! ☺️ (It's on the Irwon food street.)

I really like tonkatsu, so I came with high hopes, and from the first bite I thought, "I have to come back here" ☺️ It was just so good...

Sioldon Irwon Branch is close to Samsung Seoul Hospital, so it's handy for a meal before or after a hospital visit, and I'd also recommend it to anyone in Irwon-dong looking for tidy Japanese food or tonkatsu. The inside is spacious and pleasant, so I felt comfortable staying a while, and the staff were friendly, so the whole meal was a happy time.

Sioldon Irwon Branch hours and parking

• Address: 12 Irwon-ro 9-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 1st floor
• Hours: 11:00-20:30 (break time 14:30-17:00)
• Parking: in front of the restaurant (only about 3-4 cars!)

What is the atmosphere at Sioldon Irwon Branch?

The restaurant is clean and pleasant, with generous space between tables. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was how tidy and comfortable it felt.

The tables are spaced generously, so it didn't feel cramped at all,

and I was impressed to see many people dining alone as well as families visiting comfortably.

Above all, the whole place is kept clean, so I enjoyed eating the entire time.

How do you order at Sioldon Irwon Branch?

You order at a kiosk, and once you sit down they bring the food to your seat, haha.

How was the special sirloin katsu at Sioldon?

This time I ordered the special sirloin katsu (特等심카츠) and the cheese katsu! The special sirloin katsu passed the test on looks alone.

The thick-cut cutlet is really crispy outside and moist inside, and true to the special sirloin cut, it was juicy, with a rich meaty flavor the more I chewed.

The breading isn't too thick either, so I could really taste the meat, and it never felt greasy, so I enjoyed it to the last bite.

The special sirloin katsu with just a light dip in salt brings out the true flavor of the meat, and personally that was my favorite way to eat it.

Is the cheese katsu at Sioldon too rich?

The cheese katsu at Sioldon Irwon Branch doesn't have too much cheese, so it balances well with the meat. If you like cheese, I think you'll be really happy with it.

The moment you cut it in half the cheese stretches out, and it looks so appetizing. Nutty cheese with crispy tonkatsu is a combination that never fails.

It's not the overly cheesy, heavy kind; it balances well with the meat, so I enjoyed it down to the last piece.

The side dishes and sauces served alongside are neatly presented and go well with the tonkatsu, which made the meal even more satisfying.

Is the ₩3,000 curry add-on at Sioldon Irwon Branch worth it?

The kicker at Sioldon Irwon Branch is the curry!!!! I added curry for ₩3,000, and the curry is honestly a total rice thief 🥹

All the way through I kept thinking, "I get why this place is popular." I was curious about the curry too, so I added it for ₩3,000, and I was really glad I did. It isn't the usual side curry; it's good enough to order on its own, haha.

Mixing it into the rice 😭😭😭😭 ugh, I want to eat it again. It has a deep, rich flavor with real savory depth, so it's great with rice, and dunking the crispy tonkatsu in it was the absolute best combo.

The nutty tonkatsu and the rich curry go so well together, which made it an even more satisfying meal. Next time I visit, I'll definitely add the curry again!!!!!!

Is Sioldon Irwon Branch worth going back to?

If you're looking for a place to eat near Samsung Seoul Hospital, or want good tonkatsu in Irwon-dong, I really recommend Sioldon Irwon Branch.

There are so many tonkatsu hotspots these days, but it's been a while since I was happy with everything: the quality of the meat, the crispiness of the breading, and the clean atmosphere. Next time I really want to try the mixed katsu set (모듬카츠정식) and the kimchi cheese nabe (kimchi cheese hot pot) that many people recommend.

Taste, atmosphere and cleanliness all satisfied me at Sioldon Irwon Branch! If you like tonkatsu, I hope you'll visit at least once.