Tonshou (톤쇼우) is one of the most famous tonkatsu restaurants in Korea, especially if you have ever searched for where to eat in Busan.
I live in Seoul, so Tonshou had been sitting on my Busan list for a while. I finally went during a recent Busan trip, and honestly, my expectations were pretty high. Maybe a little too high.
The tonkatsu was clearly different from the usual Japanese-style pork cutlet I get in Korea, and the first few bites were genuinely memorable. Toward the end, though, I did feel the richness more than I expected, so I want to keep this review honest without making it sound like I hated the meal. I didn’t.
Getting Ready for the CatchTable Wait
Tonshou is known for having a serious wait. Same-day waiting opens through the CatchTable app at 11:00am, and I had heard stories of people waiting three or four hours.
That is why I had the Naver clock open before 11. It felt a little dramatic for lunch, but if you have tried booking popular restaurants in Korea, you know the small panic of watching the seconds change before reservations open.
One thing I would definitely prepare before 11:00am: choose your menu in advance. CatchTable asks you to select what you are ordering before it lets you register for the wait, so if you start reading the menu only after the waiting opens, you can lose time.
I registered as number 27, then quickly checked out of my hotel and headed toward Tonshou. From the moment I joined the wait to the moment the food came out, it ended up taking about an hour and a half.
Why I Chose the Main Branch
Tonshou has branches in busier Busan areas like Gwangalli and Nampo, but I usually prefer going to the original or main branch when I am trying a famous place for the first time.
That is why I booked the Busandae main branch instead of choosing the branch closest to the main tourist areas. I had also heard that the main branch can sometimes have a slightly more manageable wait, which helped make the decision easier.
Inside Tonshou
The inside is all bar seating. The kitchen is in the middle, the dining seats wrap around it, and the waiting seats line the wall behind the people eating.
As a waiting guest, it was actually comfortable because I could sit down inside. As someone eating, though, I did feel a tiny bit aware that people were waiting right behind me. It was not uncomfortable enough to ruin the meal, but it is good to know if you prefer slow, private meals.
We ordered two Berkshire K rosu katsu, which is one of the popular choices here. The menu I saw put it in the mid-₩10,000 range, so it felt like a normal sit-down tonkatsu price rather than something especially expensive.
Berkshire K is a Korean black pork brand, and Tonshou uses it for this rosu katsu. The menu describes it as pork raised around Jirisan, which is part of why this dish feels more specific than a standard pork cutlet order.
When I was registering on CatchTable, I was too rushed to look carefully, but the menu was bigger than I expected. There were other tonkatsu cuts, sandwiches, curry, fried sides, and drinks.
I still think choosing your main order before the waiting opens is the safest move. You can always look around once you sit down, but that first registration step moves quickly.
The Meal Starts With Cold Corn Soup
Before the tonkatsu came out, they served a small starter soup. Since it was summer, mine was a cold corn soup.
This was unexpectedly one of my favorite parts of the meal. It was smooth, lightly sweet, and cold in the exact way I wanted on a hot Busan day. I finished every bit of it.
The Berkshire K Rosu Katsu
After about an hour and a half from joining the wait, the Berkshire K rosu katsu finally arrived.
Tonshou is known for frying the pork at both low and high temperatures, then adding a smoked aroma as part of its signature style. For me, though, what stood out most was still the texture. The crust had a light, delicate crispness that felt different from the denser breading I usually get with tonkatsu. The pork itself was soft and juicy, with that slightly pink center that makes the plate look very Tonshou.
The first bite was honestly impressive. The crust was crisp without feeling hard, and the meat was much softer than I expected.
But as I kept eating, the richness started to build. It was still well-made, but the full portion felt a little heavy for me by the end. I also expected the smoked aroma to be stronger, and it came through more subtly than I had imagined.
So if you are going for a big smoky flavor from start to finish, I would keep expectations a little softer. The texture was more memorable to me than the smoke.
They serve truffle salt on the side, and my favorite way to eat the first few pieces was with a little wasabi and a dip of that salt.
That combination made the pork taste cleaner and brought out the sweetness of the meat. For the first few bites, it really did feel like I understood why people talk about this place so much.
Each seat also has sauces and seasonings, so you can try a few different combinations as you eat.
I appreciated having options, especially because rosu katsu can get rich. The sauces helped add variety, but for me, they did not completely reset the heaviness once I started feeling full.
The cabbage salad came with yuzu dressing, and this was better than I expected. It was crisp, fresh, and bright enough to balance the pork more naturally than the heavier sauces.
I liked it enough to refill it once. If you are ordering the Berkshire K rosu katsu, I would not ignore the cabbage. It helps.
Was Tonshou Worth It?
I think part of my slight disappointment came from having such high expectations. Tonshou is talked about so much that it is easy to walk in expecting one perfect, life-changing plate of tonkatsu.
For me, it was not that. The first few bites were excellent, the texture was clearly different, and I am glad I tried it. But the richness built up faster than I expected, and the smoked aroma was more subtle than I thought it would be.
Would I recommend Tonshou? Yes, especially if you are curious about famous Busan restaurants or you really like tonkatsu. I would just go with realistic expectations, choose your menu before the CatchTable wait opens, and try not to plan your whole day around it unless you are comfortable waiting.
For me, it was worth trying once. It was not my personal best meal in Busan, but it definitely has its own style.
Where to Find It
Tonshou Busandae Main Branch (톤쇼우 부산대본점)
Area: Busandae / Pusan National University area, Busan
Good for: famous Busan tonkatsu, Berkshire K rosu katsu, a bar-seat lunch with a serious wait.
Tip: Same-day waiting opens on CatchTable at 11:00am. Choose your menu before the waiting opens so you can register quickly.
Open Tonshou Busandae Main Branch in Google Maps →
Visited in July 2026. Waiting rules and menu details can change, so check CatchTable before you go.
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