Spicy chashu ramen and beef gyukatsu in Gwangmyeong: Hoka Hoka

Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch: gyukatsu and ramen near Cheolsan Station

I've always loved gyukatsu (Japanese-style breaded pork or beef cutlet) so I go around trying it in different places! This time I heard there was an authentic Japanese ramen and gyukatsu specialist called 'Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch' near Cheolsan Station in Gwangmyeong, so I hurried over.

To cut to the chase, this was a Cheolsan Station spot I really enjoyed — the sirloin gyukatsu had great texture, and paired with the clean, spicy chashu ramen it was a very satisfying combo! Hahaha.

• A cozy, tidy Japanese restaurant located at Exit 3 of Cheolsan Station
• Thick-cut gyukatsu with the breading clinging tightly, keeping the sirloin's juices intact
• Spicy chashu ramen in a rich yet clean pork-and-chicken broth loaded with chashu

If you're looking for a Cheolsan Station restaurant that checks these boxes, I recommend Hoka Hoka Main Branch! Haha.

How to get to Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch, and where to park

Hoka Hoka Main Branch is about a 3–4 minute walk (299m) from Exit 3 of Cheolsan Station on Line 7, so it's easy to reach by subway. For parking, it's best to use a nearby public lot.

The building does have mechanical parking, but getting in and out can be a bit of a hassle, so if you're driving, I'd recommend just using the public parking near Cheolsan Station or a paid lot at a nearby shopping building for peace of mind!

Inside Hoka Hoka: the room and the bar counter for solo diners

Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch has floor-to-ceiling windows along the front and side, giving it a really open feel. I visited in the evening and it had that calm, tidy atmosphere typical of a Japanese restaurant. The staff were friendly too, so it's a comfortable place to eat.

Besides regular tables, there's also bar seating, which looked good for solo dining.

The ceiling details and little decorative touches gave it a nice, understated Japanese-restaurant feel, and the interior was clean overall.

There's a tablet order pad at every table, so you can order easily while looking at photos. (They're also running a receipt review event, so it might be worth joining in for a little extra! Haha.)

Since it was dinner time, a ton of delivery orders were coming in too! Haha. Confirmed Cheolsan Station favorite.

Hoka Hoka menu prices and what to order together

True to being an authentic Japanese restaurant, Hoka Hoka has gyukatsu along with various types of ramen, rice bowls, set menus, and sides.

From Japanese ramen to gyukatsu to rice bowls, they even have good-value set menus, which would be great for sharing with a group. After some deliberation, here's what we ordered:

• Gyukatsu (130g): ₩19,000
• Spicy chashu ramen: ₩12,500
• Side fried rolls (1 portion): ₩2,500

Complimentary sides and sauces at Hoka Hoka

There are various sauces and pickled radish on the table so you can dip and pair them with the main dish once it arrives! Haha.

Before the main dishes came out, we got thin, crispy sweet potato tempura as a complimentary side — sweet and tasty, and after just one bite my expectations for the main dishes shot right up! Hahaha.

And here it is, haha, the main dishes! They came out one after another without too big a gap, which made it easier to eat both together. 😍🤎

The sirloin gyukatsu had its breading clinging tightly to the meat — crispy on the outside with juices still intact inside — while the spicy chashu ramen had a clean broth with no off smell and generous, thick-cut chashu. A great combo of two dishes. Let's start with the gyukatsu first, shall we?

What is the 130g chuck flap gyukatsu like?

At some gyukatsu spots, the breading falls apart in shreds, or the meat is too thin to give any real bite, right? Hoka Hoka's gyukatsu had a nicely substantial cut of meat with the breading clinging tightly, so the texture was really good.

This was my first time trying sirloin gyukatsu at Hoka Hoka, and the rich juiciness and nutty flavor characteristic of the cut really came through — I enjoyed it a lot. Haha.

Spicy chashu ramen: does the chashu smell?

Next up, the spicy chashu ramen. Honestly, I'm not usually a huge fan of Japanese ramen because of the characteristic chashu smell.

Hoka Hoka's chashu had very little of that smell I usually notice, and it was clean besides — plus there was way more chashu than I expected! Hahaha.

The pork-and-chicken-based broth was rich yet spicy and clean, and it was the perfect match right around the point when the gyukatsu started feeling a bit heavy. Mixing the rice that came with the gyukatsu into the ramen broth worked great too.

I was curious so I also ordered the side dish — spring-roll style fried rolls stuffed with meat, crispy outside and moist inside, a nice light addition.

Is Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch worth a visit?

If you want to enjoy nutty sirloin gyukatsu together with a spicy, clean chashu ramen near Cheolsan Station, Hoka Hoka Gwangmyeong Main Branch is the place. 😊

The clean atmosphere makes it look great for dates or meetups too. And with such friendly service, it made the meal even more pleasant — if you have a meal to eat near Cheolsan Station, I'd recommend giving it a try.