Curry and Tonkatsu

About

Popular basement diner in Yeouido serving budget-friendly Japanese-style curry, crispy pork cutlets, and spicy soft tofu stews with generous refills.

Hidden in the basement food arcade of an office building in western Yeongdeungpo, near the National Assembly, Curry & Tonkatsu (카레와돈까스) runs like a finely tuned engine for local desk workers. Despite noon queues that stretch down the hallway, the dining room operates with brisk efficiency. Orders are taken before seating, tables are set the moment guests sit down, and solo diners are welcomed with dedicated counter seats, thoughtful touches like phone stands, and aprons to guard white shirts from stray broth. The straightforward menu balances Japanese-style comfort food with Korean lunchtime staples. The signature Jabak Curry set layers a sprawling bed of rice beneath minced pork curry, scattered fried garlic chips, and a thick, crisp cutlet fried golden brown. The curry, ladled with a peppery kick if ordered spicy, coats the tender pork cutlet without entirely sacrificing its audible crunch. Condiment caddies on every table hold katsu sauce and hot mustard, letting diners tune each bite. Generous house policies allow free refills of both curry sauce and steamed rice, as well as shredded cabbage salad. The restaurant’s surprise heavyweight, however, is the jjoldubu—a bubbling red stew of silken sundubu and chewy jjolmyeon noodles. The broth carries a balanced chili heat that softens when diners crack in an optional poached egg. Ordered as a set, it comes accompanied by a warm bowl of rice and a generous side cutlet, creating a pairing of fiery, comforting soup and rich fried pork. Clean, swift, and pocket-friendly amidst Yeongdeungpo's pricier corporate lunch scene, this basement outpost offers unbeatable speed and substantial portions. Those hoping to skip the peak midday rush will find the dining floor clearing rapidly by 12:20 PM.