Gangnam gyukatsu restaurant tenderloin set, 15-minute wait: Ichigyu

I went to Ichigyu, a famous gyukatsu spot near Gangnam Station, for a weekday lunch!!! 😊 I love gyukatsu and have tried it in Fukuoka, Kyoto and other places, but Ichigyu genuinely blew me away — I kept letting out little gasps the whole meal. It's great for a date, or for whenever you want a hearty, high-quality Japanese meal, so I'm introducing it as a Gangnam Station must-visit 💕

How long is the weekday lunch wait at Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon?

Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon has a wait even on weekday lunches ⏳ I figured a weekday lunch would be a bit more relaxed, so I showed up without a reservation — but true to its reputation as a Gangnam Station hotspot, there was already a line by the time I arrived ㅠㅠ

There were already 3 parties ahead of me, and more people kept arriving while I waited. I registered on-site using the Catch Table kiosk at the entrance and waited a bit.

Luckily the turnover wasn't too bad, so I got seated after about 15 minutes! ✨ If you're visiting during peak hours, I'd recommend putting your name on the Catch Table waitlist right away!!

QR code ordering and the atmosphere inside Ichigyu

Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon uses a table QR code ordering system 📱 Once I was seated, I noticed a QR code sitting alongside the printed menu!! Scanning it with my phone let me browse the menu and place my order right there — a smart system that meant I could look at menu photos and decide at my own pace without calling a server 👍

What I ordered that day

• 🥩 Tenderloin gyukatsu set
• 🍺 1 Kirin draft beer

Gyukatsu with an ice-cold draft beer is a combo that can never fail!!!🍻

What comes with the gyukatsu set and how to grill it

After ordering, while I waited with anticipation, the rice arrived first!! At most Japanese restaurants rice comes in a regular bowl, but Ichigyu had a nice touch — the piping hot rice came in a small pot, meant to be scooped out with a rice paddle yourself!

It stayed warm as if freshly cooked, and even the rice itself tasted a cut above~~😋

Next, the staff lit the solid fuel under my personal brazier, and the gorgeous-looking tenderloin gyukatsu set arrived!! The staff kindly walked me through how to enjoy it best!

Tips for grilling Ichigyu's gyukatsu just right

• Coat the personal brazier's grill plate with butter 🧈
• Place the tenderloin gyukatsu on the grill and cook it to your liking
• Once the meat is cooked to your preference, enjoy it with the special sauce, wasabi, or salt 🧂

As the butter melted on the brazier, a savory aroma drifted up, and I couldn't help but salivate while grilling!

How does the tenderloin gyukatsu taste?

The biggest strength of Ichigyu's tenderloin gyukatsu was that it never turned tough, even grilled on the brazier. The moment I finally popped a well-grilled piece into my mouth, the meat truly melted away 🤩

Being tenderloin, it stayed completely tender even after grilling, and when eaten just lightly cooked, savory, rich juices burst out in my mouth!!

The harmony between the crispy breading on the outside and the moist meat inside was perfect!

Adding a touch of the wasabi that came alongside and dipping it in the special sauce brought together the meat's savoriness and the sauce's umami — I never got tired of it~~

That experience of the tenderloin practically melting away... was the best!

Finishing the meal with a cold Kirin draft beer

As you eat more gyukatsu, the combination of meat and butter can start to feel a bit rich toward the end, but a sip of Kirin draft beer resets everything! It feels refreshing right down to the bone!🧊 The cold draft beer cleaned my palate so well that I enjoyed every last bite without any heaviness~~

This combo is one I really want to recommend to everyone who visits!😉

Final verdict: is Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon worth it?

Ichigyu near Gangnam Station didn't fall short in taste, atmosphere, or hospitality!!💕

• 💕Atmosphere & service — the clean, tidy setup and thoughtful explanations made me feel well taken care of
• 💕Taste — the juicy, tender tenderloin gyukatsu, the warm rice pot, and the cold draft beer made an unbeatable combo 🥩
• 💕Recommendation — I'd highly recommend it as a Gangnam Station date course, or a clean, hearty meal with friends!

If you want to try truly delicious gyukatsu near Gangnam Station, don't hesitate to visit Ichigyu!

On-site Catch Table waitlist available, QR code ordering, personal brazier provided 🔥