Gangnam Japanese restaurant pork cutlet set: Cheongdam Kkatsu

A pork cutlet set that is great for dining alone by Gangnam-gu Office Station

Cheongdam Kkatsu (청담까츠), Gangnam-gu Office Station Branch, is a Japanese restaurant in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul, connected to the shopping arcade at Exit 2 of Gangnam-gu Office Station—easy to get to and comfortable for a solo meal. The set comes neatly arranged on one tray.

They specialize in memil (buckwheat noodles), soba, and katsu, but the nabe hot pots, rice bowls, and udon seem nice for winter too. One order per person is required except for children, and takeaway and delivery are available.

This is Korean comfort food through and through. Great menu choice, great choice. Plenty of people were dining alone, and the private room can be reserved through Naver.

A cute neko kitty welcomes you.

Ordering the pork kimchi stew and pork cutlet set

• Pork kimchi stew & pork cutlet set — ₩14,000
• Mini udon — ₩4,000
• Zero Coke — ₩2,000

You order at the kiosk. They are running an event where you get two plump fried shrimp for writing a review, so do join in. I liked this pork kimchi stew set even more because it felt so classically Korean-meal-ish.

Pork loin katsu that brought me back

The mild pork loin was juicy, and the breading was fried properly crisp, giving it the flavor of katsu from an upscale Japanese restaurant. I enjoyed it so much last summer that I came back because I kept thinking about it.

The crunchy napa cabbage salad topped with tangy kiwi dressing refreshes the palate. The kkakdugi cubed radish kimchi and danmuji pickled radish have a pleasing crunch.

You can really tell it was cooked in very clean oil!

It is delicious pork loin katsu: crisp outside and tender inside. I think kids would eat it really well too.

The gan-gye-bap, rice mixed with egg, was such a thoughtful touch. It feels like a home-cooked meal, so it somehow wins you over. Mix the fragrant sesame oil, perilla seed–seaweed flakes, and egg yolk into it, then have it with the stew—you know what I mean.

A honey-sweet combination, and seriously filling too. Need I say more?

You can choose mini buckwheat soba or udon separately, so I ordered one right away. The broth is rich and the noodles are satisfyingly plump.

Gone in a minute, haha. Why is udon so good?

The Coke came thoughtfully with a cup of ice. Even the bottled water was refrigerated before serving—cold and refreshing.

Such an appetizing full-table spread.

Maybe because my expectations were so high, the kimchi stew tasted slightly like a ready-made product. Still, it was generously loaded with lean pork, well-fermented sliced kimchi, scallions, and other ingredients, with plenty of broth for mixing with rice. Personally, I wished it had been spicier. There are bright, peppery kimchi stews and there are heavier, somewhat muted ones; this leaned toward the more substantial kind.

The front-of-house staff and the kitchen owner were kind, and I liked how quiet it was while eating.

I recommend it as a meal spot for residents around Nonhyeon-dong and Samseong-dong, as well as nearby office workers. Since Cheongdam Kkatsu has katsu right in its name, I recommend the pork cutlet if you are choosing only one thing!

I ate well—delicious and filling. (* ´ ▽ ` *)bb

This is the cucumber bibim memil I ate so deliciously in summer: a cool specialty with savory-sweet-and-tangy seasoning and crisp cucumber! It comes with katsu on the side too.

How to get there from Exit 2 of Gangnam-gu Office Station

Because it connects directly from the subway, it was easy to get there even on a rainy day. From the entrance on the left of Exit 2 at Gangnam-gu Office Station, take the SK Hub Blue escalator up, go through the stairway passage, and it is on the left beside the pharmacy. Look for the round green sign. Coming from the Samseong-dong direction, it is opposite the Gangnam-gu Public Health Center.

SK Hub Blue parking costs ₩6,000 for 60 minutes. Parking fees... haha... I recommend public transit.

Menu and interior

The egg-marinated pollack roe mixed udon and smoked salmon buckwheat mixed noodles look so nutty and delicious too~

How to use the self-service bar

Your ordered meal is brought to the table, then when you leave, place your tray on the return counter.

The self-service bar is stocked with aprons, hair ties, children's forks, a rice cooker, candy, side plates, wasabi, pork cutlet sauce, mild mustard, salt, and perilla leaves. And yes, rice refills are unlimited.

The clean, wood-toned dining room is comfortable and cozy. The room at the back can be reserved for groups, and high chairs are available.