Pink salt katsu at Yeonsinnae katsu restaurant Katsu Monster, Seoul

Today I visited Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch, known for crispy, juicy Japanese-style tonkatsu.

I'll introduce this Yeonsinnae favorite, which works well for lunch or a solo meal.

Thick-cut, crispy tonkatsu

• Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch atmosphere and location
• Menu
• Honest review of hire katsu and modeum katsu
• Today's verdict

Where is Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch, and what is the restaurant like?

Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch is easy to reach — just a 2-minute walk from Exit 4 of Yeonsinnae subway station.

The shop was easy to spot thanks to a cute monster drawing on the sign.

The interior was kept clean overall, which I liked. There are two-top tables that are nice for coming with a friend, and window seats too, so solo diners can sit and eat without feeling awkward.

Menu at Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch

Honest review: hire katsu and modeum katsu

🍴Our order — Hire katsu (fillet), Modeum katsu (loin, fillet)

Aside from the cutlet itself, everything else in the set was the same for both orders. The tonkatsu came with cabbage salad, a fried tofu soup, kimchi, and pickled radish. Taking the first bite as soon as it arrived, this place lived up to its reputation as a Yeonsinnae tonkatsu favorite — crispy outside, moist inside.

Hire katsu (pork fillet)

First, hire katsu is made from the pork fillet cut. Whenever I eat tonkatsu, I usually only order hire katsu. It's soft and round in shape, so it's easy to eat in one bite.

The tonkatsu at Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch is so thick you can't manage it in one bite, haha. I lifted it up to eat and thought, wow, this meat is really thick! On top of that, the breading was super crispy, and the fillet inside was moist and tender — delicious.

Modeum katsu (loin and fillet)

The modeum katsu, which lets you try both loin and fillet in one dish, was great since you get two cuts at once. I usually eat fillet katsu, but trying the loin katsu today changed my mind.

Loin katsu this thick and still this tender..! On top of that, there was just the right amount of fat at the edge, which made it chewy and savory when I bit into it. For people like me who enjoy trying a variety of flavors, I'd recommend the modeum katsu, which includes the loin katsu too.

Classic tonkatsu sauce or pink salt?

Besides the classic tonkatsu sauce, there was also pink salt available.

I dipped into each alternately, and both went well with the tonkatsu.

Besides the main tonkatsu, the cabbage salad drizzled with sesame dressing was tasty too, so I put it all on top of the cutlet and finished it. It wasn't pre-dressed — you drizzle it on yourself and control the amount, which was convenient.

I prefer the savory sesame dressing over the yuzu sauce for the salad, so I was satisfied. The meat was so thick that I could barely finish half the rice — the portions and thickness really are that generous.

How busy is delivery at this Yeonsinnae tonkatsu restaurant?

While I was sitting and eating, delivery orders kept coming in nonstop! Once a packed tonkatsu order was ready, it would be placed briefly in an ice box outside the store, and a delivery rider would check and pick it up. Since delivery is clearly a big part of business here, the riders looked completely used to grabbing orders that way.

For people working around Yeonsinnae, this seems like a great menu to order for a quick and easy lunch or dinner delivery.

Is Katsu Monster good for eating alone?

I heard that plenty of customers come here to eat solo during lunchtime. With music playing in the store and lots of people around, it feels like a comfortable place to visit alone without any awkwardness.

Final verdict on Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch

"I'd recommend this to anyone who loves crispy tonkatsu made with thick-cut fillet and loin." "If you're looking for a clean, comfortable Yeonsinnae tonkatsu spot where you can eat solo without pressure, this could be it!"