Seoul Station Japanese restaurant: butter-grilled gyukatsu at Ichigyu

If you work around Seoul Station, you’ll relate to the lunchtime dilemma. I had a delicious lunch with a friend who works nearby ✨ There are quietly so many good restaurants around Seoul Station because the area is packed with office workers, and this was especially perfect for lunch! Delicious and not something you have every day, yet not too heavy for midday either! We decided on gyukatsu (Japanese beef cutlet) and visited Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch, a Seoul Station favorite.

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch for lunch

B116 on the first basement floor, 98 Huam-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul. The LG Seoul Station Building basement has quite a few restaurants, and Ichigyu—known for its truly tasty gyukatsu—is especially popular for Seoul Station lunch ✨ Sure enough, at lunchtime the basement was full of nearby office workers. Still, tables turn over quickly, so I don’t think you need to worry about a long wait.

It is quiet, yet there is the cheerful sizzle of meat grilling, creating an atmosphere that feels a little like being in Japan.

From gyukatsu to Japanese home-style dishes

The menu at Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch starts with its signature gyukatsu and includes a range of Japanese home-style dishes such as steak set meals and omurice. Office workers looking for a Seoul Station lunch probably get tired of spicy pork, sundae-guk (Korean sausage soup), and kimchi stew, so I think treating yourself to a slightly special lunch like gyukatsu once a week would lift your mood ☘️

• Basic gyukatsu ₩19,500
• Karaage & fried shrimp ₩7,000

Gyukatsu grilled on a personal brazier with melted butter

Ichigyu’s gyukatsu is crisp outside and moist within. And gyukatsu is all about the fun of grilling it on your own little brazier, isn’t it~? 🦦 Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch even provides butter, adding extra richness to the meat. This Seoul Station restaurant is also wonderfully generous with portions. Even the basic gyukatsu came with so much meat that it felt as though we had added an extra serving.

We each had a basic gyukatsu plus a side, and were so full that we could not even manage dessert at a café. Turn on the personal brazier, then when the pan has heated up, add the butter and let it melt. The buttery fragrance starts to waft up and already has you salivating; then place pieces of gyukatsu on the pan and the sizzle-sizzle-sizzle of grilling meat makes you even hungrier. From this point on, you start getting impatient, haha.

I prefer mine lightly cooked, so I grilled each side only until it turned slightly brown. Dip the nicely grilled gyukatsu in sauce, add wasabi, and take a bite—ahh. It is a different feeling from simply grilling beef. The meat is lightly crisp yet moist inside, and its juices fill your mouth. So delicious 💘

First, savor the meat on its own; on the next bite, have it with rice, or just dip it lightly in salt—I was properly enjoying a Seoul Station lunch. When you come to Seoul Station for a date, you may wonder what to eat, but I think everyone would enjoy Ichigyu’s gyukatsu without much room for disagreement! Ichigyu’s gyukatsu is not tough at all and is very tender, so it also seems like a good lunch choice with children around Seoul Station.

Karaage and fried shrimp on the side

Karaage (Japanese fried chicken) and fried shrimp make such a great side ✨

There are many Japanese restaurants around Seoul Station, but surprisingly few that serve gyukatsu. If you choose gyukatsu for a Seoul Station lunch instead of sushi or Western-style Japanese fare, be sure to add a side too! It is also great for sharing when you visit with a group. The fried shrimp was made with very large shrimp, fried beautifully crisp from head to tail, while the karaage was fried just right so it stayed moist rather than dry.

Personally, I recommend having it with wasabi rather than tartar sauce. The sharp wasabi cuts through the richness of the fried food, making it even tastier! If you are looking for Seoul Station lunch or a good Seoul Station restaurant, visit Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch for a slightly special meal—I also recommend it as part of a Seoul Station date 💘