Gorae Tonkatsu Near Korea University: Incredible Value in Seoul

2024-11-24 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Prices in parentheses are approximate conversions. Read the original Korean post →

Even though Korea University is a major university district in Seoul, there aren't really many places you'd call a true "must-eat" spot. The most famous one is probably Samtong Chicken. But if you look really closely, a few places do pop up. Gorae Tonkatsu, where I went today, is one of those places. It's not some mind-blowingly delicious gourmet spot where the breading is perfect and the meat inside is a juicy, tender pink. Since it's tenderloin, it is soft, but it's pretty average.

So what exactly is Gorae Tonkatsu's strong point that makes me recommend it? It's the "price." For 11,000 KRW (approx. $8)—and they even raised it recently—you get three pieces of tenderloin tonkatsu (pork cutlet), janchi guksu (warm banquet noodles), and curry. The portion is adjusted so an adult man can finish it all, but it still feels like a very hearty meal.

When you eat it, you can definitely feel numbers 1 and 5.

A price tag with paper taped over it due to constantly changing prices. There is only one menu item: tonkatsu.

First of all, they must really care about their ingredients because the tonkatsu is made with incredibly soft meat, giving it a great texture. The breading is nothing extraordinary, but it's easy to imagine if you think of a tonkatsu where the flavor comes from the meat itself. The janchi guksu is slightly spicy, making it good for a hangover. However, the fried tonkatsu is a bit greasy, so I don't actually recommend the meal for a hangover. The curry is closer to hayashi rice (hashed beef rice) than standard curry.

When you first get your food, you worry, "How am I going to eat all this?" but as you eat, it all slowly disappears into your mouth. Since there are a lot of students, it's always bustling and noisy whenever I visit, but rather than being annoying, it feels like getting good energy. Maybe it's because I'm getting older, but anyway, it's not the sound of older folks shouting, but rather a pleasant youthful chatter. The "imonims" (aunties/female staff) who run the place change the decorations seasonally to match the college student vibe. It seems like the merchants around the university district stay young because they breathe the same air as the college students.