Samjeon-dong tonkatsu: aged hire katsu with icy cold soba, Pine Katsu

Where is Pine Katsu Jamsil Main Branch, and what are its hours?

Pine Katsu Jamsil Main Branch (파인카츠 잠실본점) is a tonkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurant at 35 Baekjegobun-ro 21-gil, Unit 101, Songpa-gu, Seoul (according to the map attached to the original post). Its clean, modern exterior makes it easy to spot from far away.

• Hours: daily 11:30–21:00
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Last order: lunch 14:30 / dinner 20:30
• Parking: the space in front of the restaurant may be tight, so call ahead or use a nearby public car park.

As the weather heats up, I keep craving cold noodles and crispy fried food together. So I finally went to a Samjeon-dong tonkatsu spot in Jamsil that I'd had my eye on for a while.

It's Pine Katsu Jamsil Main Branch, famous by word of mouth for the textbook crispy-outside, juicy-inside katsu! The combo I ordered, aged tenderloin katsu and cold soba, was honestly one of the best ever, so I can't wait to tell you about it. An honest account of a life-changing katsu, starting now!

What are the atmosphere and seating like?

Inside, Pine Katsu feels cozy and tidy, like a proper Japanese restaurant. There are bar seats that are great for dining alone, plus comfortable tables for four.

I ordered Pine Katsu's signature aged tenderloin katsu and the summer favorite, cold soba (chilled buckwheat noodles)!

How does the aged tenderloin katsu (hire katsu) taste?

Pine Katsu's aged tenderloin katsu has a very thin, crispy coating and tender meat with nothing tough about it. It arrived with rosy, juicy meat, and the look alone was overwhelming. One bite and I couldn't help saying "wow."

The coating isn't rough, it just crumbles lightly. The inside, probably thanks to the long aging, isn't tough at all and is soft enough to melt away after just a few chews.

The clean, nutty juices that burst out with every bite are superb. Any gamey smell is completely gone, leaving only the pure, clean flavor of the meat.

Tip: the best order for eating tenderloin katsu

• For the first piece, dip it lightly in just the Himalayan pink salt to taste the meat itself.
• For the second, top it with sharp fresh wasabi for a clean finish!
• Last, have it with the special tonkatsu sauce and mustard, and you can keep eating without getting tired of it.

Does the cold soba go well with tonkatsu?

Pine Katsu's cold soba is the perfect partner to cut through the richness of the katsu. It comes in a big bowl with shaved ice floating on top, and it looks cooling just to see.

The katsuobushi (dried bonito) based broth is neither too salty nor too sweet, with deep savory flavor. Thanks to the ice, it stays intensely cold down to the last bite.

The noodles aren't the type of soba that snaps apart. They're springy and chewy, which makes them fun to eat. Mix in grated radish, wasabi and chopped scallion to taste for a sharp but clean flavor.

A bite of hot, crispy tenderloin katsu, then a slurp of cold soba: this hot-and-cold combo was just perfect.

Final verdict: would I go back to Pine Katsu Jamsil Main Branch?

My rating is ★★★★★ (5/5). Pine Katsu Jamsil Main Branch serves food that is true to the basics yet has real depth. The combination of aged tenderloin katsu, a textbook crispy-outside, juicy-inside cutlet, and cold soba that blew the heat away was an excellent choice.

The restaurant is clean and the staff were friendly, so I felt good through the whole meal. If you're looking for a truly great tonkatsu near Jamsil or Jamsil Saenae, I strongly recommend Pine Katsu! I'm planning to go back soon for the cheese katsu. 💛