Basic vs double gyukatsu sets with free rice refills in Wonju: Ichigyu

I'd been craving crispy fried gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) for a while, so I headed to Ichigyu Wonju. The outside is crispy while the inside stays pink, and you grill each slice yourself on a personal tabletop stove — which makes eating here fun in itself.

Where is Ichigyu Wonju, and what are the hours?

• Location: 51 Neungna-dong-gil, 135, 136-ho, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
• Hours: 11:00–21:30 (break time 15:00–17:00)
• Parking: use the underground parking at the Lotte Cinema building

What Ichigyu Wonju looks like from outside

This Wonju favorite sits inside the building that houses Lotte Cinema. If you're driving, you can use the underground parking there, so parking wasn't a hassle despite being a downtown restaurant. It's also convenient if you're grabbing a meal before or after a movie, or just looking for lunch or dinner nearby.

Inside Ichigyu Wonju: tables with personal grills

The interior is done up in wood tones, giving it a natural Japanese-restaurant feel. The tables weren't cramped, and there was seating for everything from two people up to larger groups.

There were plenty of other diners when we visited, but it felt clean and comfortable rather than crowded. Each table has its own small stove, so you can grill your gyukatsu to whatever doneness you like.

What's on the menu at Ichigyu Wonju

Gyukatsu is naturally the main event at Ichigyu. The gyukatsu set comes in basic or double, and beyond that there's a good range — steki set, hamburg omurice, steak-don, hot-plate ham steak, Japanese curry, and more.

There are side dishes too, like karaage, mini curry, and fried egg, which looked like good add-ons to the mains.

One basic and one double gyukatsu set for two people

There were two of us, so we ordered one basic gyukatsu and one double.

The gyukatsu set came with rice, soup, and a few light side dishes. Cabbage, gyukatsu sauce, and wasabi were also served, so you could mix and match to your taste with each slice. Eating meat alone can get a bit heavy after a while, but the cabbage cleared the palate nicely between bites — a great pairing.

Rice refills are free, which is great if you want to eat until you're full!

On the plate sat the crispy fried gyukatsu with shredded cabbage, wasabi, and sauce, and the whole spread — warm rice, soup, and sides — came out neatly together.

How you grill the gyukatsu yourself at the table

It doesn't come fully cooked from the start — instead, you grill it yourself on the stove in front of you, as much as you like. Lay a slice down, flip it briefly on each side, and the surface turns golden while the inside stays moist.

The breading wasn't thick either, so you could really taste the texture and flavor of the meat. A certified Wonju favorite 👍🏻

How much more beef does the double set give you?

True to its name, the double came with a much more generous portion. It nearly filled the plate, so if you usually eat a lot or really want to dig into gyukatsu properly, the double is worth choosing.

Even just from the photos, the portion difference from the basic set was obvious. The outside was fried crispy, while the cut cross-section looked moist and tender.

Grilling one slice at a time on the stove meant we could eat it warm from start to finish, which was great. A little wasabi on top cut through the richness and brought out the clean flavor of the meat even more.

The biggest highlight of Ichigyu's gyukatsu is definitely grilling it yourself on your own stove. You cook each slice to whatever doneness you prefer.

Grilling one piece at a time, matched to how fast you're eating, meant even the last bite came out warm.

Free shrimp tempura for a receipt review

🎁 Receipt review event — write a receipt review and you'll get a free shrimp tempura, so it's worth taking part if you can.

Is Ichigyu Wonju worth a visit?

This Wonju favorite, Ichigyu, satisfied on every front — a clean interior, easy parking, and the fun of grilling your own gyukatsu. You can choose the portion between basic and double, and the free rice refills make it a filling meal too. It's a great spot to come back to whenever a gyukatsu craving hits in Wonju :)