Riding the momentum from Sambaekjip, I started exploring the restaurants around Sinsa Station. Part two is Hanseong Tonkatsu. It is a place with some history, so of course it is good, but I was curious how well a Japanese dish like tonkatsu could be done in Korea.

Tonkatsu

There are other things on the menu, but I ordered the tonkatsu. As of August 2014 it was 8,500 won. The portion is generous, so it did not feel all that expensive. They sell draft beer too, so having one with it seemed like a good idea. The breading is the thick type and very crunchy, which is not my favourite style, but anyone used to Korean-style tonkatsu would have no problem with it. The meat is good quality and cut thick, so there is a nice chew and the savoury richness of the fat, and the flavour is really excellent. The one thing is that they use way too much pepper, which gives it a sharp kick, and I did not care for that. That is just because I am not a big pepper fan, so if you do not mind pepper it will not matter to you.

Rice, soup and side dishes

It is a classic old-guy joint where you can have a meal and a drink with it (my kind of place..). As with any place that has stayed popular for a long time, plenty of the customers are regulars, and the friendly atmosphere made me like it even more. But the pepper on the meat is a bit much, so I do not think I will be back. Dure Guksu in Apgujeong was really good too, but I remember I stopped going because they used so much pepper.

한국어로 읽기日本語で読む