Mapo Japanese teppanyaki with beef intestine: Gusa Yeonnam

Where is Gusa Yeonnam?

My friend and I went to Gusa Yeonnam (구사 연남), on a quiet alley in Yeonnam-dong, for teppanyaki. We walked in the direction of Yeonnam-dong from Hongik University Station Exit 3, and the restaurant was on B1 of Yeontral Tower at 6 Donggyo-ro 30-gil.

The area around the entrance already felt cozy.

What were the interior and table spacing like?

Although it is underground, the restaurant felt pleasant inside. Small decorative items were placed around the space, making it fun to look around.

The lighting and neat interior created a warm atmosphere. The generous space between tables was comfortable too.

Can you watch the teppanyaki cooking process?

From the counter seats, I could watch the teppanyaki being prepared right in front of me. The rich smell of butter and sounds of ingredients cooking made the wait enjoyable. The staff and owner were also kind.

What did we order, and how much was the mentaiko udon?

The menu had several kinds of yakisoba, okonomiyaki, and set menus. We ordered Hanwoo beef small intestine teppanyaki and mentaiko udon, and chose cherry ade to drink.

We added pork belly and shrimp to the mentaiko udon. Its base price was ₩15,000, and the two add-ons totaled ₩6,000, making our mentaiko udon ₩21,000.

The cherry ade arrived first and was a red-colored drink. Its sweet, tangy cherry flavor and carbonation made it a nice palate cleanser during the meal.

What did the Hanwoo beef small intestine teppanyaki taste like?

The Hanwoo beef small intestine teppanyaki arrived on a hot griddle.

The well-grilled small intestine was crisp outside and moist inside.

The more I chewed, the more I could taste the rich flavor of the fat, while the house sauce gave it a clean finish. I did not notice any unpleasant odor, so I enjoyed it to the last bite.

How was the mentaiko udon with added pork belly and shrimp?

I liked the mentaiko udon with added pork belly and shrimp.

The salty mentaiko (pollock roe) sauce, with its popping texture, coated the plump udon noodles well. The flavor of golden-brown pork belly and the springy texture of shrimp came together for a rich savory taste.

Would it suit a date meal too?

I visited with a friend this time, but the warm lighting and tidy interior made me think it would also suit a date meal. Watching the teppanyaki cooking and the kind service stayed with me too. Next time, I would like to try the yakisoba and okonomiyaki that I did not have this time.