Seoul Station gyukatsu cooked to your own doneness: Ichigyu lunch

I was looking for somewhere to eat lunch near Seoul Station when gyukatsu came to mind, so I went to Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch. There are so many restaurants around Seoul Station that I usually agonize over where to go, but that day I wanted something a little different from my usual choices, and gyukatsu caught my eye right away!

Where is Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch?

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is at B116, B1F, 98 Huam-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul. I visited on a day when I had a lunch appointment near Seoul Station, and while looking around for a place to eat, this spot turned out to be a convenient location to stop into.

During lunchtime I saw quite a few nearby office workers coming in to eat, and plenty of pairs dining together too. If you're setting up a meeting or planning a date near Seoul Station and need a lunch spot, I think this one is worth adding to the list.

Gyukatsu grilled at your own table, to your own doneness

The dish I had that day was gyukatsu. At other places I've been before, gyukatsu usually came out already cooked to some degree, so it was a bit of a novelty that at Ichigyu you grill it yourself.

Since you grill it as much as you like right at the table, you can adjust the doneness to your own taste. I tried it lightly grilled at first, then kept grilling it a little more each time, and comparing them like that let me figure out exactly which doneness suits my palate — that part was fun.

During lunch hours, food coming out late can really cramp your schedule when it's busy, but that day, even with quite a few customers around, the food came out fast — I liked that.

How the Isigny butter-grilled gyukatsu tasted

Grilling the gyukatsu myself turned out to be more entertaining than I expected. At first I was careful not to overcook the meat and make it tough, but grilling it little by little let me get it to exactly the texture I wanted.

Grilling it in Isigny butter added a nutty, savory richness compared to just grilling the meat plain, and it made the flavor noticeably deeper. Grilling one piece at a time and eating it right away was especially memorable — you get the warm meat and the buttery aroma together.

Since I was visiting for lunch and had plans afterward, I also appreciated that the food came out fast, which took the time pressure off. I think this would work well for office workers looking for a good Seoul Station lunch spot.

And since it's a grill-it-yourself setup, I thought it would be nice for a date too — grilling pieces for each other while chatting? Haha, that thought crossed my mind.

It seemed like it would suit a slightly different kind of date too, if you want something more than just sitting down, eating, and leaving.

How do you book a table at Ichigyu?

There are two ways to reserve at Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch: Naver Reservation and Catch Table. Since there were quite a few customers when I visited during lunch, I think it's worth checking ahead if you're going during a busy time slot. Especially if you're visiting during the lunch hour when a lot of office workers near Seoul Station come by, or if you're on a tight schedule like a date, it's a good idea to check availability before you head over.

Even on the day I visited, customers kept coming in steadily, but since the food comes out quickly, it wasn't much of an inconvenience for a lunch meal. If you're looking for a Seoul Station restaurant where you can grill your own gyukatsu, Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is worth a visit. If you're searching for a good Seoul Station lunch spot or a Seoul Station date spot, give it a look!