Busan tonkatsu dinner with YBD assorted cuts: Hets Jeonpo

A tonkatsu dinner after work in Jeonpo

After work, I went for dinner at Hets Jeonpo Branch, a great tonkatsu spot in Jeonpo! With its crisp breading and thick, moist meat, it was a lovely place to stop by when I was craving Japanese-style tonkatsu. That day, I ordered hire katsu and assorted katsu to enjoy the different textures and flavors of each cut, haha.

I visited on a Wednesday evening and arrived around 7:30 p.m. I got in right away without waiting, and used a nearby public parking lot.

The restaurant had a neat gray-and-silver atmosphere. It is centered around bar seating, so it seemed perfectly fine for dining alone, too. It was a nice place to drop in for a tonkatsu meal after work.

Ordering YBD hire katsu and assorted katsu

That day, I ordered YBD hire katsu, YBD assorted katsu, and one piece of sasami katsu as a side. I had originally wanted the YBD upper loin katsu, but it was already sold out when I arrivedㅠㅠ I was a little disappointed since it was the dish I had wanted, but this time I went with hire and assorted cuts. I was curious about the YBD listed on the menu, and the restaurant's guide explained that it is pork crossbred from Yorkshire, Berkshire, and Duroc pigs. After reading about the meat, I was even more curious about how the tonkatsu would taste, haha.

The savory chew of the assorted katsu loin

First up was the loin katsu from the assorted katsu! It had thick lean meat alongside a layer of fat, so its savory flavor built as I chewed. It even reminded me of the richness you get from pork belly, though it did not feel overly greasy to me. Once I got through the crisp coating and bit into the meat, there was a deep juiciness, with the lean and fat blending smoothly together. I could enjoy both the meaty chew and the savory richness.

Hire katsu that melted in my mouth

And then there was the hire katsu, which I especially enjoyed! When I picked it up with my chopsticks, even the cross-section looked moist. One bite was so tender that “melts in your mouth” was the first phrase that came to mindㅠㅠ Since it is tenderloin, I wondered if it might be dry, but not at all. The contrast between the crisp outside and moist interior made each piece fun to eat.

The loin was great for its fatty savoriness and chew, while the hire was more memorable for its soft texture. If you are torn between cuts, I think the assorted katsu is a good way to compare them.

Tonkatsu accompaniments and soup

There was no unpleasant meat odor, and it went well with salt, wasabi, or tonkatsu sauce. Salt was great for tasting the meat itself, while wasabi added an appealing sharpness. The truffle oil, hutsu, and mustard combination offered yet another flavor, so I alternated the accompaniments piece by piece, haha.

I also liked the jang-guk (clear savory soup) that came with the meal. It had a pleasantly spicy kick, making it nice to spoon up between bites of tonkatsu. The combination of rich meat and punchy broth worked so well that I kept reaching for it.

Sasami katsu and final thoughts on dinner

I added one piece of sasami katsu as a side because I remembered really enjoying chicken katsu in Tokyo before and wanted to try it. Still, I had expectations based on that meal, and perhaps because the other tonkatsu that day was so good, the sasami katsu felt a little plain by comparison. Pork katsu suited my taste better.

Overall, it was a satisfying dinner because the meat itself tasted good and had great texture. As someone who loves tender tonkatsu, the hire katsu was the one that stayed with me most, haha. Next time, I want to visit a little earlier and try the YBD upper loin katsu I missed this time. If you are looking for tonkatsu or a date-night meal in Jeonpo, pick the cut that suits your taste at Hets Jeonpo Branch!