# Sunday lunch wait at a Gwanghwamun gyukatsu spot: Ichigyu Gwanghwamun - By Sein Kwon (https://superchart.com/en/@euljiro-narrow-noodle/) - Written Sep 15, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Jongno, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written as a paid visit sponsorship. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@euljiro-narrow-noodle/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@euljiro-narrow-noodle/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/index.md) ## In short Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch is a Japanese gyukatsu restaurant on the first basement floor of Lemeilleur Jongno Town in Jongno, Seoul. On a Sunday lunch visit, after a few parties ahead in line, the writer grilled gyukatsu (sirloin) and the steki set (sirloin) at 19,500 won each on the tabletop brazier, then added a 200ml mini draft beer for 4,000 won and a mini curry for 5,000 won. Ordering one gyukatsu and one steki and grilling them in turns was the most satisfying combination at Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch. ## Good to know - **Address**: B123, B1, Lemeilleur Jongno Town, 19 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul - **Hours**: Mon–Sun 11:00–21:30 - **Break time**: 15:00–17:00 - **Last order**: 20:30 - **Gyukatsu (sirloin), standard**: 19,500 won - **Steki set (sirloin), standard**: 19,500 won - **Kirin mini draft beer, 200ml**: 4,000 won - **Mini curry**: 5,000 won - **Seating**: Many tables for two, 4–5 tables for four - **Ordering**: QR code ordering at every table - **Price reference**: ₩19,500 ≈ $14.5 · ₩4,000 ≈ $3 · ₩5,000 ≈ $3.7 (2026-09-15) *as written by the visitor on Sep 15, 2026* I went to Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch, located in the Lemeilleur building in Gwanghwamun!! ## Where is Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch, and what are its hours? Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch is at 19 Jongno, B1 B123, Lemeilleur Jongno Town, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Hours are Mon–Sun 11:00–21:30, with a break time from 15:00–17:00, and last order at 20:30. ![Entrance of Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch on B1 of Lemeilleur Jongno Town](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-01-o59go-966.webp) When I was on assignment in Gwanghwamun last year, I basically visited this Lemeilleur building once a day — did you know the basement of this building is packed with real hidden gems haha. Take the escalator down to B1 and Ichigyu is right there. ![Front of the Ichigyu store visible from the escalator going down](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-02-1ajyl-966.webp) This area is mostly office workers, so I figured most restaurants here would only open on weekdays, but Ichigyu is open on weekends too, Saturday and Sunday~ ![Sign showing Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch is open on weekends](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-03-o1npj-966.webp) ## How long was the Sunday lunch wait at Ichigyu Gwanghwamun? I visited on a Sunday for lunch, and since it was lunchtime there were a few parties waiting. If you're looking for a Gwanghwamun lunch spot, I'd recommend booking ahead through Naver Reservations. ![Front of Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch with a Sunday lunch wait](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-04-1gex0-966.webp) ![Waiting area at Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-05-1d8o8-966.webp) ### Seating and mood inside the basement restaurant There are a lot of 2-person tables and about 4–5 tables for four, so it looked good for a group lunch too~~ The spacing between tables was fairly wide, so I could eat comfortably without feeling crowded~ ![2-person table at Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch with wide spacing](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-06-ntfgj-966.webp) ![4-person table and interior of Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-07-a2g48-966.webp) The interior was completely clean and comfortable ![Menu board for the gyukatsu set at Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-08-q6ots-966.webp) ![À la carte menu board with Napolitan and cold soba](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-09-16rkd-966.webp) ## What is on the menu at Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch? Besides the main gyukatsu, Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch's à la carte menu also has Napolitan and cold soba, so it looks like you can pick according to your taste. I want to try the Napolitan sometime. ![Sign for the extra thin-sliced mochi and cheese event](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-10-7r1b0-966.webp) They were also running an event where you could get extra thin-sliced mochi and cheese added on. I looked it up and heard that the owner learned to make gyukatsu directly in Japan, and that really raised my expectations. How good could it be, right? ![QR code order sign at the table and the tabletop grill](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-11-1ailo-966.webp) I wanted to try a variety, so I ordered the gyukatsu (sirloin) and the steki set (sirloin). You order through the QR code at each table, and one grill comes out per 2-person table. The grill totally gives off Japanese vibes 🙏 ![Ichigyu grill set on a 2-person table](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-12-1m9xd-966.webp) The rice comes out first after ordering, and maybe because the plating was so thoughtfully done, even the rice somehow tasted better haha. ![Rice and side dishes served first, plated](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-13-1fy96-1200.webp) ## Gyukatsu (sirloin), 19,500 won: 6–7 seconds on the brazier The gyukatsu (sirloin) is ₩19,500 as a basic order. It comes with four sauces — salt, wasabi, meat sauce, chili sauce — plus Isigny butter to go with the grilled meat. Ugh — it looks so good... I haven't had gyukatsu in years, so it was truly a while since I'd had this. ![Gyukatsu (sirloin) served with four sauces and Isigny butter](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-14-kq3ek-966.webp) I was amazed at how the inside still looked so tender no matter how it was fried — with gyukatsu you get to grill it yourself to your taste, which was also fun. ![Cross-section of the gyukatsu showing the tender inside](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-15-3v53z-966.webp) Watching just the surface lightly cook on the grill made my mouth water. It said grilling for about 6–7 seconds tastes best, so I tried it that way first, soft as it was. Dipping it in wasabi was seriously delicious, ㅜㅜ ![Gyukatsu lightly cooking on the surface over the grill](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-16-6s8kn-966.webp) Next time I grilled it a bit longer, and the meat was still soft even then, ㅠㅠ completely juicy. Being sirloin, it was surprising that it didn't get tough even at that level of grilling. ![A piece of sirloin gyukatsu still juicy after longer grilling](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-17-1bra7-966.webp) ## How was the steki set (sirloin) at 19,500 won? The steki set (sirloin) is also ₩19,500 as a basic order, and comes with the same setup as the gyukatsu set. If you visit Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch, I really recommend ordering one gyukatsu and one steki. ![Full spread of the steki set (sirloin)](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-18-15zdj-966.webp) ![Plate of steki set (sirloin) meat](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-19-5xli0-966.webp) ![Steki sirloin meat placed on the grill](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-20-n89bj-966.webp) Since gyukatsu is the main dish, I didn't expect much from the steak, but this was just as good in its own way. The wasabi was good, but for me, dipping it in salt suited my taste better!! ![A piece of steki dipped in salt](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-21-1v2v1-966.webp) ![Grilling gyukatsu and steki alternately on the grill](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-22-ypjty-966.webp) Taking a bite of gyukatsu and then grilling and alternating with the steak — it was so good I wanted more. ![Gyukatsu and steki set served together on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-23-wrtxq-966.webp) ## Adding the 200ml mini draft beer and mini curry The Kirin draft mini beer, 200ml, is ₩4,000. Tada~~~~ Such a great thing about this place — they also sell draft beer... Having a smaller size just right for cleansing your palate between bites was really nice. ![A glass of Kirin draft mini beer, 200ml](https://img.superchart.com/images/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu-24-er9nf-966.webp) Mini curry, ₩5,000. You can't not order curry with gyukatsu — I love curry to begin with, and it pairs so well with gyukatsu that I had to try it. It was delicious with rice, and also great dipped in the gyukatsu sauce. The bits of crunchy garlic flakes inside were exactly my kind of thing — I really recommend everyone order the curry too... If you're looking for a good lunch spot near Gwanghwamun, I definitely recommend giving Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch a try~~~~ ## Where it is - Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch (이치규 광화문점) - 19 Jongno, B1 B123, Lemeilleur Jongno Town, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 종로구 종로 19 르메이에르종로타운 지하1층 B123호 - 37.5708344, 126.9798606 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%9D%B4%EC%B9%98%EA%B7%9C%20%EA%B4%91%ED%99%94%EB%AC%B8%EC%A0%90/@37.5708344,126.9798606,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@euljiro-narrow-noodle/ichigyu-gwanghwamun-sunday-lunch-gyukatsu/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt