Tonkatsu restaurant in Pangyo for dinner alone: Katsu Shokudo

I heard there was a Japanese katsu (breaded cutlet) spot near Pangyo Station that has received Blue Ribbons for six consecutive years, so I went! It was the softest katsu I have ever had in my life... Let me introduce you to Katsu Shokudo Pangyo Main Branch, a truly great Pangyo Station restaurant.

Katsu Shokudo Pangyo Main Branch, close to Pangyo Station

It is a two-minute walk from Exit 3 of Pangyo Station. It is on B1 of Alpha Dome Tower, connected not only to the station but also to the food-court floor packed with restaurants at Hyundai Department Store Pangyo.

If you drive, you get three hours of free parking in Alpha Dome Tower.

Katsu Shokudo has received a total of six Blue Ribbons ✨ It is a well-known Pangyo lunch spot among office workers, so there can be a wait at weekday lunch and on weekends.

They used to have you write your name down when there was a wait, but now you can join the queue through Catchtable.

An interior for solo diners and group meals alike

The clean, wood-toned interior has high ceilings and plenty of space between tables. The staff and owner gave such a warm welcome the moment I walked in, which made me feel great. Super friendly~~! One more requirement for a great restaurant: checked...

I came in excited for Pangyo tonkatsu and a solo meal, and I loved that there were plenty of counter seats where I could sit comfortably on my own.

It is spacious enough for groups, so Pangyo office workers could reserve ahead for a team lunch. There are high chairs too, making it a good option for a family meal. (*Reservations are available for parties of at least 4.)

A wide menu, from katsu to soba

Tonkatsu, curry, nabe (Japanese hot pot), rice bowls, udon, soba. (*With one menu item ordered per person, rice, salad, and soup refills are free.) There were so many choices that I honestly regretted coming alone. If you are looking for a Pangyo date spot, this is it... They also have a set for two.

They are also running a review event where every prize from first through fifth place looks cute, so you will probably feel happy no matter what you get. Give it a try!

A solo dinner of hire katsu set and cold soba

The hire katsu set (₩18,000): choose mini udon or cold soba. Just look at this gorgeous Pangyo tonkatsu! This was my solo dinner today, ordered with a small draft beer.

At ₩3,000 for 200 ml, it is great value—you can have a refreshing draft beer and feel just comfortably full.

It comes with a salad in bright, tangy dressing. It is soft and fluffy~ yet crisp! And so fragrant. The salad can be refilled too when each person orders a menu item.

I have always been on team old-school Korean-style pork cutlet, so I thought the sauce mattered more. But one bite of the hire katsu at this Pangyo tonkatsu spot changed my mind. Seriously, it cuts so softly even if you bite it with your front teeth—nothing gets stuck in your teeth. It is meat, but it does not even feel like meat... What were all the katsu I had eaten before?

The fragrant yuzu wasabi that cuts through the richness is the kick. It does not give you that sharp nose tingle; it is gently aromatic. Put on a little, dip it in the sauce too, and I could just faint~ I was so sad because I thought this dish came with mini curry, but it did not. Still, the yuzu wasabi + sauce + cotton-candy-like tonkatsu combination erased every bit of that disappointment.

The cold buckwheat noodles I had eaten in Korea before tended to be a little bold, with a broth that had a strong seasoned presence. These tasted like the version I had in Japan. Clean, not overpowering, and lightly seasoned—the perfect match for tonkatsu!

I will come back for nabe next time

With its easy-to-reach location and three hours of free parking, this was a great Pangyo Station restaurant for a solo meal, a Pangyo work lunch, or a weekend family outing. I only wish I had tried more than one menu item... Next time, I am coming back for nabe.