Pangyo Station gyukatsu after work: truffle gyudon and steki, Ichigyu

A rainy walk home from work, and dinner at Ichigyu in Avenuefrance, Pangyo

On a rainy evening after work, I had dinner with my coworkers at Ichigyu (이치규) Avenuefrance Pangyo. It kept drizzling on and off and the sky was gloomy, so we decided to eat in Pangyo before heading home. If you don't want to go far, the area around Pangyo Station is the most convenient, and Avenuefrance, with its many good restaurants and plenty of choices, is the easiest option.

How to get to Ichigyu Avenuefrance Pangyo

Ichigyu is on the 2nd floor of the Avenuefrance shopping street, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Pangyo Station (Gyeongganggseon and Shinbundang lines). Take the outdoor escalator or the indoor elevator up to the 2nd floor, and Ichigyu is at the end of the corridor. The signs are clear, so even as a first-timer I had no trouble finding it.

How long was the wait at evening peak?

I joined the waitlist on Catch Table at the evening peak and was 1st in line, and I think we got in after about 10 minutes. It had been a long time since I'd had gyukatsu, so I was so excited!

Once we sat down, the staff first lit the brazier where you cook your gyukatsu yourself. It uses solid fuel, so there's no smoke and the flame lasts a long time, which I thought was neat~

White rice comes by default at Ichigyu, and you can get refills when you finish. They seem to serve one bowl per person, and the portions were really generous. We each had a Coke Zero to go with the meal~ When you're eating something rich and oily, a fizzy drink is a must.

Stamina Steki (₩17,000)

Ichigyu's Stamina Steki (스테미나 스테키) is ₩17,000: one big, great-looking chunk of steak topped with butter, a beautiful sight. You pour the sauce that comes with it over the top and eat them together. Sizzling on the iron plate, it looked so delicious~

Truffle gyudon (₩16,000): how did it taste?

The truffle gyudon (규동, beef rice bowl) is ₩16,000, and the truffle oil comes stuck into the bowl like a plant fertilizer vial, so the presentation was both cute and showy. It was so covered in chopped green onions that you could hardly see the beef,,,! Even by looks alone, it was a really hearty bowl.

Squeeze the truffle oil around the bowl with the dropper and mix it all up, and you get a faint truffle aroma along with the juices of the beef. The seasoning was just right and not overwhelming, so I was very happy with it.

Striploin gyukatsu (₩19,000) and the mini brazier

The striploin gyukatsu is ₩19,000, and it's crispy-outside, juicy-inside personified. It comes with a cabbage salad, soup, basic side dishes, sauces, and butter to melt on the brazier.

The mini brazier is a good size for one or two people to share. You put on a piece of gyukatsu at a time and cook it as much as you like. After grilling my first piece I spotted the butter and hurriedly melted it,,, brushed on, the nutty, sweet aroma is a work of art!

Add the cabbage salad that comes with the gyukatsu and the refillable rice, and you finish a very filling, satisfying meal. The table setting is tidy and the food comes out quickly, so tables turn over fast, which made the wait worth it.

Which sauce should you dip Ichigyu's gyukatsu in?

Dip it in Ichigyu's special soy sauce topped with wasabi, and it doesn't feel greasy and cuts the richness. You can taste the meat juices just as they are.

Dipping it in salt or chili sauce is also excellent, depending on your taste. Personally, the chili sauce was the best…!

The friendly owner and staff made the meal even more comfortable and relaxed. Come to Ichigyu Avenuefrance Pangyo for good-quality gyukatsu!!

Ichigyu Avenuefrance Pangyo opening hours

• Hours: Daily 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Location: 25 Dongpangyo-ro 177beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Avenuefrance 2nd floor, Unit 220