Spicy cheddar and mixed tonkatsu shared for two: Matsumi Songpa

I really, really love tonkatsu, but thinking about it, I don't think I've ever had it near my house. This day too I was craving tonkatsu, so on my way home from work I looked up tonkatsu places in Jamsil and found one with parking and a lot of good reviews, so I went.

Hours and location at Matsumi Seokchon Lake Main Branch

Matsumi Seokchon Lake Main Branch hours

• Mon–Sat (closed Sundays)
• 11:30–21:00
• Break time 15:00–17:00
• Last order 20:30
• Temporary closure Sep 24–26 (Chuseok holiday)

Matsumi is located near Seokchon Gobun Station Exit 4. The store isn't big, but it has a separate area for solo diners, which looked really nice for eating alone.

Is there parking?

The really, really great thing is that there's parking!! There's a lot right behind the store, and if it's full you can use the nearby Samjeon Neighborhood Park public parking lot (no parking fee support, though).

Menu at a glance

You order through the app by scanning the QR code attached to each table. There's also a Naver review event coupon for 2 free vegetable croquettes, so make sure to use it..!! (because the croquettes are so good)

Popular menu

• Mixed katsu set ₩20,000
• Maze katsu set ₩17,000
• Shrimp & tonkatsu set ₩16,000
• Spicy tantan udon ₩13,000
• Spicy cheddar tonkatsu ₩16,500

The set menus are varied and the composition is good. There are so many options that we hesitated quite a while before ordering. The new menu item Ppodon-katsu looks like a tonkatsu piled with cheddar cheese. Cold soba is also sold out..! Guess it's almost winter so the udon menus are coming out.

We ordered spicy cheddar tonkatsu (₩16,500), mixed katsu set (₩20,000), and zero-sugar cola (₩2,000).

Spicy cheddar tonkatsu ₩16,500 — how spicy is it?

First up, spicy cheddar tonkatsu~~~~ The spice level is adjustable, but I ordered it at the default level.

The cheese visual is genuinely violent. It's really just piled on — a cheese waterfall.

The cabbage salad portion is huge — maybe it's there to neutralize the spice?

The dressing is seriously so good. The meat's thick too...

True to its "spicy" cheddar name, there's a generous layer of spicy sauce underneath. Dip it deep in the sauce and take a bite.

So so so good!!!!! The savory-salty cheddar cheese and the sweet-spicy sauce go really well together, and the sauce is fairly spicy. But there's SO much cheddar cheese that it neutralizes it immediately. And if it still feels a bit spicy, one bite of salad completely resets your palate.. All I can say is it's the best.

What's in the mixed katsu set (₩20,000)

Next up, the mixed katsu set. Originally you could choose between mini cold soba and mini udon, but currently only mini udon is available.

Ah seriously, what even is this visual~~~~ You can tell just by looking that these fried items are going to be crispy. Gorgeous.. The shrimp tempura and croquettes each come in twos. Seems good for two people to order two menu items and share.

Truffle salt, wasabi, and chili paste to eat alongside the tonkatsu. Plus the standard tonkatsu sauce on every table and tartar sauce for dipping the shrimp tempura..!

Croquette and shrimp tempura

With high expectations, the croquette first..! Seriously... so good.. It's a potato-based croquette that's incredibly soft...

Next, the shrimp tempura. I love tartar sauce so much. But you have to try it with salt first.. so good. Crunch.. crisp.. it has a really clean taste. The oil must be clean too. Then dip in tartar sauce too. Pure essentials, so delicious.

The thick tonkatsu

Lastly, the tonkatsu. Thick tonkatsu~~~ The outside is super crispy and the meat is tender, but it's not without texture — it has just the right amount of chew as it melts in your mouth. Eat it with chili paste and wasabi too.

I'm so happy. The mini udon is delicious too.

Chewy, bouncy udon noodles. Since I shared this with my boyfriend, whenever the spicy cheddar tonkatsu got too spicy for him, he'd drink the udon broth, which worked really well.

Dessert snacks and even hair ties

After such a good dinner... on the way out, I noticed there were dessert snacks too.

This candy is really tasty.

There are even polo mints and hair ties. Having hair ties available is just so sweet. My hair is long, so sometimes I'm in a bind without a hair tie, and this kind of detail really touched me on the way out.

How was it as a Jamsil tonkatsu spot

It was really the best.. Actually, I've lived here for quite a while, so why did I only come now? I feel like I've lost out on all the years I didn't eat here. How do I put it — it felt like eating proper, classic tonkatsu after a long time. Honest flavor without any unnecessary flourishes.

The best part is having a place like this near my house.. and the owner was so kind too.. I've been to several tonkatsu places in Jamsil, but I've kind of been a wanderer when it comes to Japanese-style tonkatsu spots — I think I'll definitely just come here from now on. For anyone looking for a Jamsil tonkatsu place..!! This is really, definitely the one!