Seongsu Japanese restaurant for a beef katsu date: Gyuen Dang

I visited Gyuen Dang Seongsu Main Branch (규엔당 성수본점), a great place for a satisfying meal in Seongsu. There are so many good places to eat in Seongsu, but I was craving beef katsu—crisp fried coating with tender beef—for the first time in a while, so I decided to stop by. This time, rather than choosing just one, I ordered both the tenderloin beef katsu and striploin beef katsu!

Gyuen Dang Seongsu Main Branch: Location and information

It is fairly close to Seongsu's main street, so it is conveniently located for a meal while exploring the area. The restaurant is on the second floor, so make sure you do not walk past it if it is your first visit! Hours may change, so I recommend checking before you go.

Seongsu beef katsu grilled at your table

Inside, the atmosphere feels like a Japanese restaurant, as you would expect from a beef katsu specialist. There are table seats as well as bar-style seating, so it looked good for two people or even for dining alone.

Best of all, it is fun that you can grill the beef katsu yourself on the small brazier set at the table. Instead of eating it exactly as it arrives, you can grill it a little more at a time to your preferred doneness.

The tender texture of tenderloin beef katsu

Tenderloin beef katsu ₩24,000

First up, the tenderloin beef katsu! As you would expect from tenderloin, its biggest feature is definitely its soft texture. I placed the thick-cut pieces on the brazier one by one and gave them a light grill. The meat was so tender that even people who are not fond of chewy meat should be able to enjoy it comfortably.

The contrast between beef katsu's signature crispy coating and the juicy, tender tenderloin was lovely too. Rather than grilling it too long from the start, I recommend putting on one piece at a time and cooking it to the level you like! If you love tender meat, I would recommend the tenderloin beef katsu out of the two.

What does striploin beef katsu taste like?

Striploin beef katsu ₩19,000

The other dish we ordered was the striploin beef katsu. Ordering it with the tenderloin was actually great because we could compare the two cuts as we ate. While tenderloin focuses on a soft texture, striploin is more about enjoying the beefy aroma and texture as you chew!

So rather than saying one dish is automatically more delicious, I think it comes down to your preference.

• For a tender texture → tenderloin beef katsu
• For a meatier texture and beefy aroma → striploin beef katsu

If you are visiting as a pair, I also recommend ordering one of each and sharing them, like I did.

How to grill one piece at a time on the brazier

The charm of beef katsu is definitely the fun of grilling it yourself. Place one piece at a time on the tabletop brazier, wait for it to sizzle as it cooks, then eat it right away—you can keep enjoying it warm. Personally, I preferred grilling only as much as I was going to eat rather than putting everything on at once.

Try it with salt or wasabi, which bring out the meat's natural flavor, then alternate with the sauce that comes with it so you can enjoy it without getting tired of it until the last bite.

If you are looking for a different meal in Seongsu

When you come to Seongsu, there are so many cafés and dessert spots, but when it is time to eat a proper meal, you can end up wondering where to go. Gyuen Dang was a good Seongsu beef katsu restaurant to visit when I wanted a slightly different meal instead of my usual choices.

It was especially fun to order the tenderloin and striploin together and compare them, and the tabletop grilling also made it seem like a nice date option. If you are craving beef katsu in Seongsu, give Gyuen Dang Seongsu Main Branch a visit :)