Seongsu gyukatsu after the Toy Story pop-up, tablet wait: Gyuen Dang

Why we picked Gyuen Dang after the Toy Story pop-up in Seongsu

Gyuen Dang Seongsu Main Branch (규엔당 성수본점) is a Seongsu gyukatsu spot we stopped at on the way back from the Toy Story pop-up. We were so hungry that we didn't want to risk a bad meal, so we read the reviews carefully before going, and it turned out there was a good reason for its popularity. This is for anyone wondering about Gyuen Dang's opening hours, waiting tips and menu recommendations.

How does the waiting system at Gyuen Dang Seongsu work?

You enter your details on a waiting-only tablet inside the restaurant, then wait outside. It's a popular gyukatsu place, so there was a wait that day too. It was a hot summer day (T_T), so if there's a queue, I'd suggest doing a bit of shopping around Seongsu while you wait!

We waited about 10 minutes, but it was so hot that it felt like 20.. While waiting, we munched on yogurt chapssal-tteok (glutinous rice cakes) we'd bought earlier: mango, fresh strawberry and hami melon.

Inside Gyuen Dang Seongsu: interior and seating

Gyuen Dang Seongsu is a small gyukatsu restaurant with 2-person tables, 4-person tables and a bar counter, and the layout was interesting. The bar counter had no empty seats at all, so I couldn't take photos there. A wide table seems more comfortable for eating gyukatsu, but since it was full, we were seated at a table sized for our party.

Every table has a small charcoal-style grill stand. The candle they put in gave off really strong heat.

Gyuen Dang menu and prices

Gyuen Dang Seongsu has two kinds of gyukatsu: tenderloin and striploin. There are also rice bowls, udon and omurice, so it would be good to order a variety and share with your group!

For those who want a closer look at the menu, here are enlarged photos!

What we ordered

• Tenderloin gyukatsu ₩24,000
• Hamburg steak omurice ₩17,000

Gyuen Dang tenderloin gyukatsu: taste and how to grill it

The tenderloin gyukatsu came with 11 pieces for ₩24,000. The meat looked incredibly fresh.

Time to grill the gyukatsu~ They give you butter too, so you can grill it however you like. We grilled the first two pieces without butter, and for the rest we used butter because the heat was strong. Grilling was a little tricky.. T.T

Gyuen Dang also swaps out the grill plate, so do ask if you need it! We were too lazy and just ate.. It may look like that, but.. it was really tender and delicious.

What is the hamburg steak omurice at Gyuen Dang like?

The hamburg steak omurice at Gyuen Dang is ₩17,000, and we ordered it along with the gyukatsu. I'm not really an omurice person, but the hamburg steak looked so good that I tried it.

A hamburg steak peekaboo under a fluffy, soft egg blanket. The egg was so soft, I loved it!

The hamburg steak didn't taste cheap either, so we enjoyed it. I'd recommend it if you think gyukatsu alone might get boring. When I first tried the hamburg steak I thought we'd ordered well, but the gyukatsu felt even more delicious?!

We took some trendy Gen-Z-style photos like we were on a trip to Japan and ate delicious gyukatsu, so we were a little giddy.

Downsides and overall verdict on Gyuen Dang Seongsu

The ventilation in Gyuen Dang Seongsu isn't great, which was a bit disappointing T.T, but overall we were very satisfied. Please make lots of money and move somewhere better.. Next time I'm in Seongsu, I'll go to Gyuen Dang again..

Gyuen Dang is a place where you can have a really filling gyukatsu meal, and if you like gyukatsu, I recommend visiting at least once.

Gyuen Dang Seongsu opening hours and location

• Opening hours: daily 11:30-22:00
• Break time: 15:00-17:00
• Last order: 21:00
• Address: 10 Yeonmujang 7ga-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea (2nd floor)