Yeonnam-dong tonkatsu & cold soba broth to the last sip: Katsu Monster

This is the story of Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch, a tonkatsu spot that caught the eye of two tonkatsu lovers while we were aimlessly wandering around Yeonnam-dong.

Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch hours and reservations

Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch is open every day from 10:30 to 21:00, and you can reserve through Naver Reservation.

How to get to Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch

Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch is a 6-minute walk from Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station. That said, if you come out on Line 2, it takes longer than that.

Katsu Monster sits in a tucked-away corner of Yeonnam-dong, so you have to follow the winding alleys carefully. Follow the map and you'll see a tonkatsu logo, but you need to go a little further in than the sign before the shop appears. It's in a semi-basement. There are also outdoor seats, so it would probably be nice for drinks outside when the weather is good.

Inside Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch: is it okay to dine solo?

The inside of Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch feels like a slightly hip tonkatsu restaurant. It's not huge but cozy, and it looks like it can hold about 5 groups. Out of frame on the right, there's a long bar table. There was a solo diner when we visited, too.

Katsu Monster menu and ordering the set for two

This is the menu at Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch. We ordered the set for two with fillet katsu, loin katsu and cold soba. You pay at your seat using a kiosk.

Each seat has its own utensil holder and sauces. Take only as much as you want, to your own taste ~ I took a little salt, wasabi and tonkatsu sauce.

Katsu Monster loin katsu review

The loin katsu came out first! Katsu Monster's loin katsu is cut big and thick. One bite and your mouth is full of tonkatsu. The breading was just right, thin and crispy, which made it work even better. Sometimes the breading is so thick it's hard to eat, but Katsu Monster had a good ratio of meat to coating.

The loin katsu was tender but also had a chewy texture, so it tasted good and was fun to chew, if that makes sense. My favorite way to eat it was dipped in wasabi with a little salt. The tonkatsu sauce went well with it too, of course ~

Katsu Monster fillet katsu review: how is it different from the loin?

The fillet katsu comes in two pieces. Katsu Monster's fillet katsu is sliced thin and easy to eat in one bite. It felt more tender, so one bite let you enjoy the texture fully.

The fillet katsu's texture is so soft. Compared with the loin, which has a bit more chew, the fillet is much softer, so people who don't like chewiness would probably prefer it. Of course, the loin was also really tender 🙃 Salt with wasabi suited the fillet too, but maybe because it's mostly lean meat, the tonkatsu sauce went really well with it.

Katsu Monster cold soba: is a tonkatsu restaurant side dish any good?

It's been getting hot lately, so I crave cold dishes and try to pick one at every meal. Today's cool pick was cold soba ~ It's topped with plenty of shredded seaweed, plus a moderate amount of other toppings, apart from the wasabi.

I mixed it up quickly and took a bite right away. And Katsu Monster is great at katsu, but the cold soba is also so good. First, the broth is insanely savory. It's not super icy, yet you keep drinking it. It's moderately sweet and salty, with well-balanced seasoning. The noodles were cooked perfectly too. Cold soba sometimes arrives soggy, but these were springy and just right. I slurped it all down in no time.

Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch overall verdict

The fillet was tender, and the loin was tender yet chewy. Both were so good, but personally the loin suited my taste slightly more. Since this is a tonkatsu hotspot, I honestly didn't expect much from the cold soba, and not expecting anything made it taste even better. It felt like a cool palate cleanser between bites of tonkatsu!

If you're looking for good tonkatsu in Yeonnam-dong, I recommend Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch.