Gangdong tonkatsu dinner with cold soba: Riae Premium

It had been a while since I’d had tonkatsu, so I was looking around for a good pork-cutlet place near work when Riae Premium, a popular Olympic Park spot, caught my eye. Their tonkatsu was so juicy and tender that I left very satisfied, so here’s my meal recap.

Riae Premium Olympic Park Branch information

• Daily 11:00–20:00; break time 15:00–16:00; last order 19:30
• Takeout, delivery, and reservations available
• Waiting chairs and high chairs available
• Free parking at Olympic Park P4

An interior that works for solo diners, too

The first thing that stood out inside was the number of counter seats. They looked great for one or two people, and it seemed easy to eat alone at lunch or dinner without feeling awkward. Each seat also has table ordering, so you can conveniently order from where you’re sitting.

Besides the counter seats, there is a row of tables on the other side. There were tables for two and four, though the spacing between tables was a little disappointing.

The restaurant was quite spacious and felt clean overall. Even though I came for a slightly late dinner after getting off work, there were lots of customers. I quickly took some photos when people had cleared out before I left after finishing my tonkatsu.

There are two entrances, one on each side, and delivery orders seemed to keep coming in. They also had plenty of high chairs, so it looked suitable for family visits.

The menu and table ordering

Riae Premium’s tonkatsu menu included à la carte dishes such as Signature Premium Top Loin Katsu for ₩22,500, Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Katsu for ₩22,000, Riae Signature Menchi Katsu for ₩20,000, Tenderloin Katsu for ₩19,000, and Loin Katsu for ₩18,500. Alongside the individual dishes, there were also Katsu Combination sets that mix two kinds.

The table-order screens also had information about the restroom and Wi-Fi. For takeout, you can order on the tablet at your table and let the staff know. The menu was varied, with loin katsu, tenderloin katsu, fish katsu, curry, and more; if one tonkatsu seems a little insufficient, adding a side would be a good idea. Side options included fish katsu, mini cold soba, Black Tiger shrimp, and potato croquettes.

Cold soba tonkatsu set and Zero Coke

When you’re eating something greasy, Zero Coke is no longer optional—it’s essential! You can order cups of ice according to your party size, and we asked for two. Zero Coke was ₩2,500. I loved the thoughtful touch of preparing ice cups.

The cold soba tonkatsu set costs ₩19,500. It comes with cabbage salad, pickled peppers, kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), pickled radish, wasabi, and tonkatsu sauce. They gave us plenty of wasabi to add to the cold soba, too.

Riae Premium’s naengmomil (cold buckwheat noodles) is just right for summer. Taking a bite of buckwheat noodles soaked in the cold broth, the refreshing flavor spread right through my mouth!! Cold soba really is a summer specialty.

The noodles were chewy, while the savory, subtle aroma unique to buckwheat came through, making them easy to enjoy simply. Add wasabi to your taste and they become even better! The springy noodle texture was especially good.

The broth had a salty umami depth with a gentle sweetness, and its flavor grew richer the more I ate it with the noodles. I kept slurping up bite after bite and before I knew it, the bowl was empty—it was such a clean, addictive flavor. I think cold soba is perfect when you have no appetite.

This is the tenderloin katsu that came with the cold soba set! If you’re debating whether to get tonkatsu or cold soba, order the cold soba tonkatsu set and have both! You won’t regret that choice. Even though it comes with the cold soba set, you get a generous five pieces of katsu. Drizzle the salad dressing from the table over the cabbage salad, too.

Filet mignon hire tenderloin katsu set

The filet mignon hire tenderloin katsu set costs ₩19,000.

The hire katsu came with more sauces for dipping the tonkatsu, including ponzu sauce, truffle sauce, and tonkatsu demi-glace sauce. Pickled peppers, pickled radish, kkakdugi, and cabbage salad come with it as standard. Truffle sauce with tonkatsu—what an intriguing combination!

The tenderloin (hire) katsu was completely crispy outside and moist inside. The exterior was fried crisp, so that pleasant crunch hit first when I bit in. I was absolutely starving after work, and I exclaimed the moment I took a bite!

Inside, the tenderloin (hire) katsu was moist and soft, melting in my mouth without any dryness. It had a clean flavor, but the gentle meaty aroma and nutty richness of the pork were still there, so it was delicious even without sauce! The contrast between the crispy coating and tender meat made every piece incredibly satisfying. The meat itself was so tasty that it was great plain, but I still felt I had to try all the different sauces that came with it.

Enjoying tonkatsu with each sauce

First, I tried it simply with a little salt. I also dipped it in yuzu ponzu sauce, which was tangy, sweet, and refreshing and went so well with the tonkatsu. Then there’s the classic demi-glace sauce for tonkatsu! A flavor that simply can’t be bad~

Still, my favorite of all is dipping it in salt and adding just a little wasabi. Isn’t tonkatsu without wasabi like sweet red-bean bread without the red-bean filling?

A combination with Black Tiger shrimp

The Black Tiger shrimp we ordered with the tenderloin (hire) katsu was ₩5,000 for one shrimp. True to its name, the Black Tiger was enormous!

Riae Premium’s Black Tiger shrimp was plump and packed with meat, so its bouncy texture came through properly from the first bite. As a shrimp lover, I absolutely loved it. The more I chewed, the more the shrimp’s naturally sweet and nutty flavor came out; it was mild but full of flavor. It was also fun to eat because the shrimp was so substantial, and ordering it with the tenderloin katsu made for a pretty satisfying combination.

A meal from cold soba to Black Tiger shrimp

From the cold soba to the tenderloin katsu and Black Tiger shrimp, I enjoyed every dish, making this an overall very satisfying meal. Riae Premium is a good place to visit when you want a clean yet filling meal. If you’re looking for a good restaurant in Seongnae-dong, I recommend stopping by at least once.

Location: 46 Seongnae-ro 18-gil, 1F, Unit 1-1, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea