Yeonsinnae tonkatsu: mixed katsu & piled-high cabbage, Katsu Monster

Where is Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch?

Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch (카츠몬스터 연신내점) is a tonkatsu spot right at the start of the alley when you come out of Yeonsinnae Station Exit 4 or 5 and turn in. I want to introduce it as a place near the station that's generous for the price and not greasy. It's the only tonkatsu restaurant in this alley, so you won't have trouble finding it.

Is Katsu Monster good for a solo meal or a date?

It's a cozy little place with solo bar seats and about three two-person tables, so it works for a solo lunch and for a date. The inside is tidy and neat, which makes it a good date spot too. The staff were friendly and attentive, so the whole meal felt relaxed.

The space isn't big, but it's cute and well put together. With solo bar seats and roughly three two-person tables, it felt just right for anyone looking for a lunch place in Yeonsinnae or coming to eat alone without any pressure.

Delivery drivers kept coming and going the whole time I ate. There were lots of delivery containers stacked on one side of the shop, so I guess it's already a well-known delivery spot in the area!

You order at the kiosk, and with the solo seats, coming alone at lunchtime is no problem.

Katsu Monster menu and prices

Katsu dishes at Katsu Monster run from ₩12,000 for rosu katsu (loin cutlet) to ₩18,000 for the triple katsu set. Here's the lineup:

• Rosu katsu (loin) ₩12,000
• Hire katsu (tenderloin) ₩14,000
• Cheese katsu (mozzarella) ₩15,000
• Mixed katsu (loin + tenderloin) ₩16,000
• Mix katsu A (loin + cheese) ₩17,000
• Mix katsu B (tenderloin + cheese) ₩17,000
• Triple katsu set (loin + tenderloin + cheese) ₩18,000
• Cold soba (buckwheat noodles) ₩10,000
• Cold udon ₩10,000

There are also set menus and a variety of side dishes.

How was the mixed katsu?

The mixed katsu comes with both loin and tenderloin, and it was the textbook crispy-outside, juicy-inside cutlet: crunchy coating, moist meat with no gamey smell. I was amazed by the sheer amount and look of it the moment it arrived. With that value and solid portion, I'd happily recommend it to anyone wanting a clean, Japanese-style katsu meal in Yeonsinnae.

The tenderloin in particular was soft and juicy, and tasted best with a little wasabi or salt on top. It was filling enough that I was really satisfied. If you're looking for a hearty, clean tonkatsu place near Yeonsinnae, I'd recommend it.

Demi-glace sauce and salt: how to dip?

The demi-glace sauce doesn't shout, so you can really enjoy the flavor of the cutlet itself. Often either the sauce or the wasabi is so strong it spoils the tonkatsu, but here they blended harmoniously and seemed to lift the flavor. Dip your last bite in salt for a clean finish.

The coating was really clean and crispy, and that crunch the moment you bite in was a big part of the charm. The meat held its juices, a textbook "crispy outside, juicy inside." It was moist and tender with no off smell, and even without sauce it was mild and tasty.

Katsu Monster cheese katsu: how much cheese?

The amount of cheese in the cheese katsu was no joke! The moment I lifted a piece with my chopsticks, soft, nutty cheese came flowing out, and the flavor filling my mouth and the chewy texture were excellent.

Side dishes and the bowl of shredded cabbage

The sides are a salad of shredded cabbage, danmuji (yellow pickled radish) and kimchi, and the tonkatsu comes with udon broth. What I liked most was that they give you a whole bowl of shredded cabbage. I love shredded cabbage, and at tonkatsu places I usually have to ask for refills two or three times, so getting that amount at once felt really thoughtful.

Sauces are tonkatsu sauce, wasabi and salt. They're set out by the table, so just spoon what you like into your dish.

Would I go back to Katsu Monster?

Generous portions, easy prices and great flavor: it has it all, so I plan to stop by regularly whenever I'm working in Yeonsinnae. Crispy coating, juicy meat and stretchy cheese, all perfect. That's Katsu Monster Yeonsinnae Branch!