Limited sashimi katsu at Gangdong tonkatsu restaurant Tonka, Seoul

If someone asks me where to eat in Gangdong, I don't hesitate — Amsa's Tonka. I've taken my self-proclaimed "tonkatsu king" friend Namgu and a bunch of others here, and everyone claps and raves about how good it is. This was already my third visit.

Finding Tonka: no sign out front

Tonka is a tonkatsu specialist on Sangam-ro 5-gil in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, near Amsa Station — don't be startled that there's no sign! Weekends are always packed, so this time I went on a weekday, timed right for the evening opening.

Inside Tonka: counter seats facing the kitchen

Tonka is set up mostly with counter (dachi) seats, so it really feels like stepping into a small tonkatsu shop in Japan. I got there right at opening and there were still seats, but ten minutes after I sat down the place was completely full. My first visit was about three months ago, and it's clearly gotten a lot more popular since then.

Every time I come, I feel it again — the owner is so kind that I'm in a good mood before I've even eaten. It's magic.

Tonka menu and prices

Tonka has three menu items in total:

• Tonkatsu ₩15,000
• Special loin katsu (limited quantity) ₩18,000
• Sashimi katsu (limited quantity) ₩14,000

The limited menus always seemed to be sold out before, but this time I finally got to try both the special loin katsu and the sashimi katsu.

Fried to order right in front of you

Once you order, they fry it right in front of you in clean oil, and the crisp sound when they cut the cutlet is enough to make you hungrier just listening to it.

Sashimi katsu, ₩14,000 (limited quantity)

The sashimi katsu is the reason I love Tonka. Ever since I tried sashimi katsu at Imakatsu in Tokyo, I've been counting down the days until my next Tokyo trip — and honestly, without exaggeration, this tastes just like the real thing. The first bite left me speechless.

When you hear "chicken breast," you naturally picture something dry, but this melts in your mouth like it's premium Korean beef. I think that's partly because the coating isn't thick at all.

Namgu, trying sashimi katsu for the first time, kept asking how chicken breast could possibly taste this good — please, just trust me and try it once. Please. Lately whenever Namgu visits my neighborhood, he keeps chanting that we have to go eat sashimi katsu.

Special loin katsu, ₩18,000 (limited quantity)

Just as delicious as the sashimi katsu — Tonka's special loin katsu. It's a special cutlet made from cuts the owner personally selects and fries beautifully —

"Crispy outside, juicy inside" might as well have been invented for this katsu. Since it comes with several different cuts, alternating bites keeps it from ever getting monotonous, and you can honestly demolish the whole plate. I kept eating without even noticing I was full.

The best cut at Tonka: hirekatsu (tenderloin)

Among them, my absolute favorite is this tenderloin katsu (hirekatsu)... it's really sad that only two pieces come with the set. I wish they'd make a menu with just this cut. Writing this is making me crave it again, so I'll have to go eat it again soon.

The loin isn't just lean meat — the balance of fat and meat is just right, giving it both nutty richness and a clean finish. The owner is clearly a cooking genius.

Salt or sauce? How to eat tonkatsu at Tonka

I also tried it dipped in the special sauce that comes with it. It's delicious plain, and delicious with salt too, but if you want a slightly sweeter flavor, I'd recommend dipping it in the sauce ♥

Verdict: why Tonka is worth a third visit

I usually love hunting for new restaurants and rarely go back to the same place twice, but Tonka is the kind of place that keeps popping into my head the moment I walk away — that's why I've already visited three times, my favorite spot in Amsa. If you're looking for the best tonkatsu restaurant in Gangdong-gu, you will genuinely regret it for life if you don't go to Amsa's Tonka... (I'm serious)