Tonkatsu in Hongdae, Seoul: ₩8,000 soba set add-on at Katsu Monster

I finished up my errands in Hongdae and it was right around lunchtime — I was hungry, but you know how picking a menu is honestly the hardest part haha. In moments like this I prefer something that lets me taste a few different flavors at once, and at Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch I found exactly the kind of menu I was looking for.

What is Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch like, and can you eat alone?

Katsu Monster Yeonnam Main Branch doesn't feel like a formal Japanese restaurant — it's casual and clean, so it was comfortable to eat there. It'd be a good spot if you're looking for a lunch place on a date in Yeonnam-dong, or want a filling meal near Yeontral Park.

The atmosphere also isn't intimidating for solo diners, so it could work well for anyone looking for a place to eat alone in Yeonnam-dong.

What comes in the triple katsu cold soba set, and the ₩8,000 add-on

My pick was the triple katsu cold soba set! As the name suggests, it lets you taste loin, fillet, and cheese katsu all at once, which makes it basically my favorite menu for someone like me who takes forever deciding on just one thing haha. The triple katsu itself comes with 1 piece of loin, 1 piece of fillet, and 1 piece of cheese katsu (seaweed rice roll — no wait, cheese-stuffed pork cutlet), so you can compare three flavors on one plate. The actual menu description also frames the triple katsu as a way to enjoy three cuts at once.

And for just ₩8,000 more, you get a whole bowl of cold soba (mul-naengmyeon-style buckwheat noodles) added on! Eating tonkatsu alone can start to feel a bit greasy partway through, but having cold soba alongside made the combination really work.

How the loin katsu tasted

The loin in Katsu Monster's triple katsu was a great cut for really tasting that nutty, clean tonkatsu flavor. The breading was crispy and the meat inside was juicy, so the texture on the first bite was great, and it didn't feel too oily so it was easy to eat all the way through. Freshly fried tonkatsu really is best eaten while it's still warm! With crispy breading and juicy meat, it felt like a solid, classic loin katsu.

How the fillet katsu tasted

And personally, what I liked even more was the fillet! It's noticeably softer and lighter than the loin, going down much more easily. If you like tonkatsu but find it a bit heavy when it's too oily, I think you'd really like the fillet katsu. Loin brings the nutty flavor, fillet brings the soft, light flavor — eating them alternately definitely kept things from getting boring.

How the cheese katsu tasted

And of course, the cheese katsu! It's made with a whole block of cheese, so one bite brings a big rush of nutty, cheesy flavor. It felt completely different from the loin or fillet, and I was glad I'd ordered the triple katsu instead of picking just one. Honestly, if I had to choose between cheese katsu and loin, I'd end up giving up one or the other haha — and it turns out Katsu Monster's cheese katsu, made with whole mozzarella, is actually a popular item here!

Is the cold soba set worth adding?

And the cold soba I added to the set that day — this combo was genuinely great. A couple bites of tonkatsu, then a sip of the cold soba broth, and my palate felt refreshed enough to go right back to the tonkatsu haha.

The cold, clean broth with springy noodles paired well with the crispy tonkatsu — each dish made up for what the other was missing. If eating tonkatsu alone feels a bit much for lunch, but just noodles feels a bit lacking, I'd really recommend the triple katsu plus cold soba combo.

How was the spicy curry at Katsu Monster?

I also tried the spicy curry, and it turned out to be more of a hidden gem than I expected haha.

Tonkatsu can start to feel a little greasy partway through, and mixing a bit of spicy curry into the rice at that point suddenly brought my appetite right back! The spice level wasn't overwhelming — it worked more as a way to cut through the richness of the tonkatsu when eaten together, which I liked.

How to order this Yeonnam-dong tonkatsu lunch

Cycling through tonkatsu, then cold soba, then curry rice, I looked down and the plate was nearly empty haha. Personally, I find this kind of meal — where you eat small amounts of several things instead of sticking to one dish — much more satisfying.

If you're someone like me who takes forever to pick just one menu item, don't overthink it — go with the triple katsu haha. The nuttiness of the loin, the softness of the fillet, the rich cheesiness of the cheese katsu, plus cold soba on the side, and finishing it all off with spicy curry — being able to enjoy so many flavors in one meal was pretty satisfying for me. If you're looking for good food in Yeonnam-dong, especially if you like tonkatsu, this is a place worth a visit.