Gwanganli has no shortage of places to eat. Walk in any direction from the beach and you’ll find cafes, seafood joints, and Korean BBQ spots competing for your attention. That’s exactly what makes it hard to commit to just one place for lunch — and Gwanganli tonkatsu, specifically, isn’t a category most visitors even know to look for. On a recent weekday visit, a friend and I decided to skip the usual suspects and try something that kept popping up in local recommendations: a small restaurant called HETZ, tucked right next to Gwangan Station.
Gwanganli (officially Gwangan 2-dong) sits within Suyeong-gu, one of Busan’s central coastal districts on the southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula. While most international visitors gravitate toward Haeundae about 20 minutes east, Gwanganli has built its own identity as a more laid-back, local-leaning neighborhood. The beach here stretches 1.4 kilometers with the Gwangan Diamond Bridge framing the horizon, and the backstreets behind the main coastal road are packed with independent restaurants that don’t typically appear in English-language guides. HETZ is one of them — a tonkatsu spot that has quietly earned a following among Busan residents but remains almost invisible to foreign travelers.
The Essentials: Location, Hours, and Practical Info
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Restaurant | HETZ |
| Address | 10, Suyeong-ro 575beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan (Room 103) |
| Hours | Daily 11:10 AM – 8:30 PM (Break: 3:30 – 5:00 PM / Last order: 3:00 PM, 8:00 PM) |
| Getting there | Busan Metro Line 2, Gwangan Station Exit 4 or 6 — a 1-minute walk (about 70 m) |
| Parking | Jiwoo Parking Tower next door (₩1,000 / ~$0.67 / €0.57 subsidy from the restaurant). Closed Sundays. |
| Reservations | Walk-in only, but you can join the waitlist via Catch Table and pre-order while you wait. Foreign visitors without a Korean phone number can sign up through Catch Table Global using just an email address. |
Why HETZ Stands Out: Jeju Black Pork & YBD
The name HETZ comes from a German word meaning “fun” or “amusement.” The owner chose it hoping guests would associate the restaurant with an enjoyable, lighthearted meal. That philosophy shows in the details — but what actually draws the crowd is the pork.
HETZ builds its entire menu around domestically raised Korean pork, split into two lines. The first uses Tamra Black Pork from Jeju Island, a heritage breed known for its chewy texture and deep flavor. The second features YBD pork — a cross of Yorkshire, Berkshire, and Duroc breeds — which accounts for just 0.3% of Korea’s total pork output. Instead of relying on heavy breading or thick sauces, the kitchen lets the quality of the meat carry each dish.
That focus on the cut itself, rather than what goes on top of it, is what separates this place from the average tonkatsu restaurant. It also explains why people are willing to wait on a Tuesday afternoon.
Navigating the Waitlist & The Counter-Style Interior
We arrived around 1:30 PM on a weekday, well past the lunch rush, and the restaurant was still completely full. Five groups were already on the waitlist ahead of us. We put our names in through Catch Table — which lets you pre-order your food while waiting — and wandered to a nearby convenience store to kill time with iced coffees. If you don’t have a Korean phone number, the Catch Table Global app lets you register with just an email, so you can get on the waitlist without any hassle. About 20 minutes later, the staff called to let us know our table was almost ready.
If you’d rather spend that wait somewhere more comfortable, VACA Coffee Lounge is a 10-minute walk from HETZ. It’s a neighborhood spot popular with locals for its orange americano, sandwiches, and housemade pudding, and there’s an interior garden that gives it a different feel from the typical Gwanganli cafe.
Walking inside, the space surprised me. I expected the usual bright, casual tonkatsu-shop look, but HETZ goes with muted grays and black throughout. The seating is arranged in a long counter-style layout facing the open kitchen, similar to an omakase bar. The number of seats is limited, which keeps things intimate. You can watch the chef bread and fry each cutlet in real time, and that adds a layer of anticipation to the meal.
The Highlight of the Menu: YBD Hire Katsu
Here are the key items from the menu. HETZ offers more, but these are the ones that matter most for a first visit.
| Menu Item | Price (KRW) | Price (USD) | Price (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| YBD Hire Katsu (tenderloin) | ₩15,000 | ~$10 | ~€8.50 |
| YBD Rosu Katsu (loin) | ₩13,000 | ~$8.70 | ~€7.35 |
| Jeju Black Pork Rosu Katsu | ₩14,000 | ~$9.35 | ~€7.90 |
| Meat Curry (side) | ₩3,000 | ~$2 | ~€1.70 |
| HETZ Yuzu Highball | ₩6,000 | ~$4 | ~€3.40 |
We both went with the YBD Hire Katsu — the tenderloin cut. The set comes with rice, soup, and a fresh salad with a homemade dressing.
Each set includes rice, soup, and a salad with the house’s own dressing.
Flavors, Textures, and the Perfect Bite
The first thing I noticed was the breading. It’s thin — almost delicate — and fried just enough to hold its shape without absorbing excess oil. There was no greasiness on the plate or on my fingers, which is rare for tonkatsu.
The tenderloin itself had a fine, smooth grain. Each bite was soft and clean, without the chewiness you sometimes get from loin cuts. The YBD breed gives the meat a subtle richness that sits somewhere between lean and fatty — enough flavor to register without being heavy.
What stood out most was how little the dish needed. The table comes set with salt, wasabi, and a house-made dipping sauce, but a light touch of wasabi on top of the cutlet was all it took. The pork carried enough depth on its own that drowning it in sauce would have been a waste. That’s not something I say about most tonkatsu places.
My friend also ordered the chicken skin gyoza fry and a HETZ yuzu highball. The gyoza had a satisfying crunch — a good drinking snack — and the highball was citrusy and refreshing, balancing out the richness of the fried pork without overpowering it. Together, the combination turned what could have been a quick lunch into something that felt more like a proper sit-down experience. Unfortunately, the chicken skin gyoza fry has since been removed from the menu, which is a shame — it paired well with the highball.
The chicken skin gyoza fry we ordered during our visit — sadly no longer on the menu.
The Subtle Touches That Set HETZ Apart
A few things stuck with me after we left. The portion size felt considered — enough to leave full, but not stuffed. The kitchen clearly controls how much oil goes into each batch. Even the complimentary candy handed out at the end felt intentional, like a quiet punctuation mark on the meal.
A small candy to end the meal. A quiet touch that fits the overall vibe of this place.
There’s no background music competing for your attention, no TV screens, no cluttered walls. It’s the kind of place that trusts its food to do the talking, and based on the line outside on a random Tuesday, that trust seems earned.
Next-Time Picks & Gwanganli Travel Tips
I’d go back for the Jeju Black Pork Rosu Katsu. The loin cut from Tamra Black Pork reportedly has a chewier, more pronounced flavor compared to the YBD tenderloin, and I’m curious to see how it compares. I’d also consider arriving about 30 minutes before the 11:10 AM opening — the staff confirmed that peak lunch hours fill up fast, and even weekdays see consistent waitlists.
If you’re the kind of traveler who normally skips restaurants with a line, I get it. I’m usually the same way. But HETZ is one of those rare Gwanganli tonkatsu spots where the wait matches what ends up on the plate. The pork is a clear step above what you find at most cutlet restaurants in Busan, and the atmosphere makes it easy to slow down and pay attention to what you’re eating.
If your visit falls on a Friday or Saturday evening between late June and mid-October, the Millak Ocean Cinema is a great way to wrap up the night. It’s an outdoor screening right on the Gwanganli waterfront where tickets cost just ₩3,000 (~$2 / €1.70) — and if you keep your receipt from any Gwanganli shop or restaurant, you can get that refunded, making it essentially free.
For a place to stay within walking distance, Gwangalli W Hotel is about 15 minutes on foot from HETZ, sits right on the beachfront, and offers direct views of the Gwangan Diamond Bridge at a price point that undercuts most hotels in the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of pork does HETZ use for its tonkatsu?
HETZ uses two types of premium Korean pork. The YBD line features a cross of Yorkshire, Berkshire, and Duroc breeds, which makes up just 0.3% of Korea’s total pork production. The other line uses Tamra Black Pork, a heritage breed raised on Jeju Island. Both are sourced domestically and prepared with minimal breading to highlight the natural flavor of the meat.
How long is the wait at HETZ in Gwanganli?
Even on weekdays, expect to wait around 15 to 30 minutes during lunch and dinner hours. The restaurant has limited counter-style seating, so turnover is slow. You can join the waitlist through the Catch Table app and pre-order your meal while you wait, which helps speed things up once you’re seated.
Where exactly is HETZ located, and how do I get there?
HETZ is at 10, Suyeong-ro 575beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan (Room 103). From Busan Metro Line 2, take Gwangan Station Exit 4 or 6 and walk about 70 meters — it takes roughly one minute on foot. If you’re driving, the Jiwoo Parking Tower next door offers parking with a ₩1,000 (~$0.67 / €0.57) subsidy from the restaurant. Note that the parking tower is closed on Sundays.
What should I order at HETZ for the first time?
The YBD Hire Katsu (₩15,000 / ~$10 / ~€8.50) is the most popular choice and a solid starting point. It’s a tenderloin cut with a fine, smooth texture and light breading. If you prefer something with more chew and fat marbling, the Jeju Black Pork Rosu Katsu (₩14,000 / ~$9.35 / ~€7.90) is worth considering. Pair either with the HETZ Yuzu Highball (₩6,000) for a well-rounded meal.
Does HETZ accept reservations?
HETZ operates on a walk-in basis only. However, you can use the Catch Table app to join the digital waitlist once you arrive in the area. The app also allows you to place your order in advance, so your food is prepared as soon as your table opens up. If you don’t have a Korean phone number, the Catch Table Global version lets you sign up with just an email address.
Is HETZ suitable for solo diners or travelers who don’t speak Korean?
Yes. The counter-style seating is comfortable for solo diners, and the menu is straightforward enough to navigate with photos or a translation app. Ordering through Catch Table is also available in multiple languages. The intimate, quiet atmosphere actually makes it a relaxed spot for eating alone.
What else is there to do near HETZ in Gwanganli?
Gwanganli Beach and the Gwangan Diamond Bridge are a 10 to 15 minute walk from the restaurant. VACA Coffee Lounge, known among locals for its orange americano and garden seating, is about 10 minutes away on foot. On Friday and Saturday evenings from late June through mid-October, the Millak Ocean Cinema screens movies right on the waterfront for just ₩3,000 (~$2 / €1.70), with receipts from local businesses qualifying for a full refund.