익선돈
About
Tonkatsu in Ikseon-dong hanok alley.
Step through익선동's back lanes on a weekday afternoon and you'll find red-brick facades that look more Milan than Jongno. The dining room at 익선취향 unfolds in sections: street-view tables up front, then a half-level rise into hanok-beam ceilings, and finally a U-shaped counter wedged against a tile-roof sightline. It's a strange, vertical geography that somehow works—groups cluster in the upper reaches, couples claim the window light. The kitchen sends out their signature steak on cast-iron: tender enough to cut with the side of a fork, napped in a reduction that tastes like it's been on the stove since morning. The mashed potato side is smooth, no lumps, faintly buttery. Grilled vegetables—eggplant, tomato, a fat slice of garlic—come piled high, a generous counter to the richness of the beef. Over at 코토코토익선, the aesthetic leans quieter. The place operates like a neighborhood canteen: solo diners sit comfortably at two-tops, no one minds if you're alone with a book. The signature move here is the kotokoto set—bukkake udon in cold dashi alongside a mini shogayaki rice bowl, the pork sweet-glazed with ginger. There's a self-serve rice station near the entrance; regulars know to bring their bowl back for seconds. The lime udon gets ordered constantly—wide ribbons tossed with scallion oil, fried garlic, ground pork, finished with a wedge of lime you squeeze tableside. It's not trying to be fancy; it's trying to be something you'd make at home if you had better knife skills and more patience. Reserve through Catch Table if you're coming on a weekend—both spots fill quickly, and walk-in waits can stretch past thirty minutes during lunch and dinner pushes. Most places here take cards only, and English menus are standard. Parking is a block away in a public lot with space for thirty-plus cars. Come between 11:30 and 15:00 to dodge the evening crowd, but note that some kitchens close for a break from 15:00 to 17:00. If you're at 익선취향, order the steak medium; the kitchen knows what it's doing.
Menu
- Pork Cutlet₩12,000
- Taste Steak
- Whole Pork Belly Rose Pasta
- Spicy Cream Pasta with Pork Jowl
- Tornado Omelette Rice
- Edam Set
- Sea Urchin Aglio Olio Pasta
- Porcini Truffle Cream Homemade Gnocchi
- Pollack Stew₩24,000
- Pork Loin Cutlet
- Tossed Udon
- Assorted Sashimi
Local tips
- Reserve via CatchTable in advance—weekends at popular restaurants like 무위낙원 book up quickly.
- Try the signature steak with mashed potato side at 익선취향—portions are generous and knife-tender.
- Visit during lunch hours (11:30-15:00) to avoid evening waits; some places have 15:00-17:00 break time.
- English menus available at 어담익선 and some locations; staff are accustomed to foreign visitors.
- Park at nearby public lots (30+ spaces available)—no dedicated restaurant parking in narrow hanok alley.
Details
- 종로3가역
Opening hours
- Sunday
- 15:00–00:00
- Monday
- 15:00–00:00
- Tuesday
- 15:00–00:00
- Wednesday
- 15:00–00:00
- Thursday
- 15:00–00:00
- Friday
- 15:00–00:00
- Saturday
- 15:00–00:00