Japanese restaurant near Seoul Station: Furato Shokudo Seoul Square

I went to Furato Shokudo Seoul Square Direct Store (후라토식당 서울스퀘어 직영점) near Seoul Station to eat with a friend. We both ordered the gyukatsu set and grilled each piece on a small tabletop brazier. Compared with the busy station, Seoul Square felt a little calmer.

How do you get to the restaurant from Seoul Station?

I followed the route from the area around Seoul Station Exit 9 toward Seoul Square. As soon as I entered Seoul Square, the restaurant was on the left before the escalator, so it was easy to find. It is on basement level 1.

Was there a weekday lunch wait?

There was a wait when I visited at weekday lunch. At the time the original post was written, Naver reservations for one to four people were listed as available.

The hours listed at the time were daily from 11:00 to 20:50. The break was from 15:00 to 17:00, with last orders at 14:30 for lunch and 20:20 for dinner. Takeout, delivery, and parking were also listed as available, and valet was listed at ₩5,000.

What is on the menu besides gyukatsu?

Gyukatsu was the main item, and there were rice bowls, omurice, and steak set meals as well. There were also seasonal dishes such as soba and udon, so dining companions could choose different dishes.

What is the seating like for one or two diners?

The interior was bright and neat with wood tones. There were two- and four-person tables, though I mostly saw tables for two. It looked comfortable for dining alone, and the table did not feel small when my friend and I sat together.

You could order at the table using a tag or QR scan. It was convenient that additional orders worked the same way. During my visit, there was also a listed event offering mini karaage (Japanese fried chicken) or a drink after writing a Naver receipt review and having it confirmed.

How was the gyukatsu set served?

My friend and I each ordered gyukatsu, and we shared one mini brazier between us.

We ordered drinks too. The drink menu included zero cider and yuzu cider, and separate cups of ice were provided.

The food arrived while my friend and I were chatting briefly. The gyukatsu had bright red meat visible beneath a thin breaded coating. I could grill one piece at a time on the brazier at my own pace.

The set came with rice, jang-guk (clear soup), and three sauces. Our table also received butter as a service item. We melted it on the brazier, and staff came around to check whether the flame had gone out and relight it.

How was the gyukatsu grilled on the brazier?

A rich, nutty aroma spread as the butter melted. The heat was stronger than I expected, so it was better to cook one or two pieces at a time rather than putting several on at once.

I prefer mine well done rather than undercooked, so I grilled it a little longer. The crisp coating and cooked beef felt mild and straightforward, like tonkatsu. But if it is grilled too long, it can lose moisture and become dry, so the cooking time needs attention.

I also liked placing a piece of gyukatsu over rice and eating it like sushi.

I ate it with several sauces, but wasabi suited my taste best. It cut through the richness and went well with the crisp gyukatsu.

How were the karaage and fried shrimp ordered alongside it?

I thought gyukatsu alone might feel a little lacking, so we also ordered karaage and fried shrimp as sides. I liked being able to eat both fried items together.

The fried shrimp was springy with a crisp exterior. The karaage was not greasy or tiring to eat for my taste, so it went well alongside the gyukatsu.