Gyukatsu restaurant by Balsan Station Exit 1, Seoul, with beer

A Balsan Station date spot: Ichigyu

I was looking for somewhere to eat near Balsan Station and ended up going for gyukatsu (fried beef cutlet) for the first time in a while. I eat regular pork cutlet pretty often, but gyukatsu, made with beef instead, has its own charm.

What makes gyukatsu fun is that it comes out crispy on the outside while you grill the inside to your own liking. This time I ordered gyukatsu at Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch, a Balsan favorite, and paired it with a beer.

Where is Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch, and how close is it to Exit 1?

Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch sits on Gonghang-daero in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, and it's easy to reach from Balsan Station — just come out Exit 1 and it's close by.

It's a solid location whether you're looking for a meal near Balsan Station or a date spot on the Magok side.

The easy access makes it a convenient meeting point, and it's also nice for wandering around the area after eating.

Inside Ichigyu: a mini brazier on every table

Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch overall had a clean, comfortable feel.

Every table comes with its own mini brazier for grilling gyukatsu yourself, which gives it a different vibe from a typical cutlet place.

Since you can grill the meat and eat slowly, it felt like a good spot for friends too, and well suited to a Balsan Station date meal.

There was a quiet sense of anticipation from the moment the brazier was lit and we waited for the food to arrive.

What we ordered at Ichigyu: sirloin gyukatsu and beer

We ordered Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch's signature sirloin gyukatsu.

We also ordered a beer to drink cold alongside it.

When the gyukatsu arrives, the outside is fried crisp, but the inside comes out so you can cook it to whatever doneness you like.

The mini brazier on the table had better heat than I expected, which made it easy to grill each slice one at a time.

Being able to control the doneness to your own taste is what makes gyukatsu fun, I think.

How the sirloin gyukatsu tastes: crisp coating, tender beef

Ichigyu's sirloin gyukatsu had a crisp coating with tender sirloin inside, and the contrast in texture was fun. Grill it briefly on the brazier and a savory aroma rises, making it look even more delicious.

I liked it better cooked just right rather than well done — you could really taste the beef's tender texture and flavor that way.

It went well dipped lightly in salt or paired with wasabi, and eating it with the provided sauce gave it a different flavor too.

We also ordered beer this time, and taking a sip of cold beer between bites of crispy gyukatsu made for a pretty great combo.

Is Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch good for a date meal?

Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch is a place that comes to mind when you want something different to eat around Balsan. Grilling the crisp coating and tender sirloin to your own taste made the eating process fun, and having it with beer made for a relaxed meal.

If you're looking for a Balsan Station date spot or want to properly enjoy gyukatsu around Magok or Balsan, it's worth a visit.

With the added fun of grilling it yourself, Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch had a different charm from regular pork cutlet.

If you want a different kind of meal near Balsan Station, I'd recommend Ichigyu's gyukatsu. There's fun in grilling the crisp coating and tender sirloin yourself, and it pairs well with beer — a satisfying spot for a date or a meal.