Yeonnam-dong izakaya patio date: MB9 wagyu and shrimp at Gusa Yeonnam

What is Gusa Yeonnam like?

Gusa Yeonnam (구사 연남) is a Japanese teppanyaki izakaya (Japanese pub) in the Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong area, and I hear it was started by an owner born in 1994. The signature dishes are wagyu and okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancake) grilled right on the teppan, and there are outdoor seats that are lovely when the weather is good.

• Wagyu and okonomiyaki grilled right on the teppan
• Outdoor seats that are lovely in good weather
• MB9 wagyu skirt steak that is easy to eat and tender
• Tomato-flavored okonomiyaki and classic yakisoba

The address is B1, Yeontral Tower, 6 Donggyo-ro 30-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station. It is open daily 12:00–24:00 with last order at 23:00, and there is a break time Mon–Thu 15:00–17:00. There is no parking, but takeout and reservations are available, restrooms are separate for men and women, and there is Wi-Fi.

How to get to Gusa Yeonnam, and the outdoor seats

You'll find Gusa Yeonnam by heading down the Yeonnam-dong alleys toward the Gyeongui Line Forest Park.

It's not far from Hongik Univ. Station, so lots of people seem to come for dinner after strolling around Yeontral Park~

There are also seats outside in front of the shop, and on a nice day like lately I bet the vibe there is great. I ate on the patio too!

What is the atmosphere inside Gusa Yeonnam?

Step inside and there are posters with a Japanese izakaya feel here and there, and at the front by the teppan you can watch the cooking.

Watching teppan dishes get grilled right in front of you is half the fun, so I think sitting at the teppan would be great too~

The mood suited a Yeonnam-dong date, with food and drinks together!

What did we order at Gusa Yeonnam?

You order with the QR code at your table, and this is what we got.

• MB9 wagyu skirt steak ₩22,900
• Tomato okonomiyaki ₩17,900
• Classic yakisoba ₩15,000
• Cola ₩3,000
• Cass beer ₩6,000

With one meat dish, one teppan dish and noodles, we got a nicely varied spread without leaning too far in one direction~

You can even get grilled shrimp through the review event, so be sure to join in~

Complimentary side: cabbage

Once you sit down, cabbage comes out as a free side, and the sauce is so good I wanted a refill!

While you sip cola and beer with the side dish, the food comes out quickly~!

What does the MB9 wagyu skirt steak taste like?

The MB9 wagyu skirt steak (₩22,900) is served sizzling on the teppan, with stir-fried bean sprouts on the side. I think I ordered it medium-rare? Anyway, I recommend medium-rare!

The first bite just melted 🤤 It's well seasoned so you can eat it on its own, and even with just wasabi or salt the beef flavor came through! There's no greasiness at all, and with the bean sprouts it is unbelievably good..😭

How is the tomato okonomiyaki different from regular okonomiyaki?

The tomato okonomiyaki (₩17,900) at Gusa Yeonnam is a thick okonomiyaki topped with plenty of tomato sauce, so it tasted a little different from the usual kind.

Eaten warm off the teppan, it was moist inside, and behind the salty sauce the fresh tomato flavor was strong, so it was lighter going down than I expected.

Taking a bite of wagyu and then a bite of okonomiyaki gave a fresh, richer taste together~! It even felt a bit like pizza, more than I expected❗

Is the classic yakisoba good with drinks?

The classic yakisoba (₩15,000) at Gusa Yeonnam comes with a fried egg on top of various vegetables and noodles, stir-fried with cabbage and shrimp.

The noodles are chewy and the sauce soaks in well, so you taste the savory umami right from the first bite.

Ordered with a meat dish, it works as a filling meal and goes well with drinks too. Carbs are a must, after all!

What does the review-event grilled shrimp look like?

We also ate the grilled shrimp we got from the Gusa Yeonnam review event.

The shrimp come grilled in the shell, so they give you disposable plastic gloves and you peel them yourself. Peeled while warm, the shrimp had a springy bite and you could taste the grill aroma. They're even better dipped in that sauce😆 Peeling is a bit of a hassle, but it was nice to grab one now and then between dishes~👍🏻

Overall verdict: would I go back to Gusa Yeonnam?

Gusa Yeonnam was a good place to watch dishes cooked right on the teppan while having a meal. The MB9 wagyu skirt steak had a lovely tender texture, and the tomato okonomiyaki stuck in my memory for its tomato flavor.

Personally, I highly recommend ordering the MB9 wagyu skirt steak! And on a nice day, I recommend the outdoor seats~

• Would I return: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Drawbacks: nothing in particular~
• One-line summary: A Yeonnam-dong Japanese izakaya where wagyu grilled right on the teppan, tomato okonomiyaki and yakisoba made for a nicely balanced meal

Recommended for

• People looking for teppan dishes in Hongdae
• People who want wagyu and okonomiyaki together
• People looking for a Yeonnam-dong date spot
• People who want an izakaya vibe on an outdoor patio
• People who want a meal and drinks in one stop