11 AM open-run gyukatsu and shrimp tempura in Sinnonhyeon: Ichigyu

Today's post is about Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch, a Sinnonhyeon lunch spot I stopped by for lunch after a doctor's appointment nearby!

The gyukatsu comes out crispy-fried and you grill it yourself at your own tabletop grill as much as you like, so it's fun to eat and the meat turns out tender and delicious. The interior felt cute and clean, like you'd stepped into Japan, so it seemed like a good date spot in Sinnonhyeon too.

The Sinnonhyeon lunch spot I visited was Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch, so let me leave a detailed review :)

Location and parking at Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch

Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch is just a 4-minute walk from Exit 4 of Sinnonhyeon Station, so it was really convenient to get to by public transit! It's on the 2nd floor of the building, so if it's your first visit, check the sign on the ground floor before heading up!

Parking

There's no parking at the restaurant, so I had to use a nearby public parking lot. Also, waits can happen during weekday lunch hours or on weekends, so I'd recommend booking through Naver Reservation in advance!

Inside the restaurant on an 11 AM open run

We happened to visit right at the 11 AM open since we were coming from a nearby hospital! Thanks to that we got seated right away with no wait! Once inside, the space felt more spacious than I expected, with quite a lot of tables set up.

Overall it had a clean vibe with the feel of an actual restaurant in Japan, so it seemed good not just for a simple lunch but also as a Sinnonhyeon date course. Best of all, we visited in the middle of summer and the inside was cool and comfortable, which was great :)

Since we arrived a bit early, we could eat at a relaxed pace, but the place can get crowded during lunch hour, so if you're looking for a Sinnonhyeon lunch spot, I'd recommend going a little early too!

Menu and prices

• Sirloin gyukatsu ₩19,500
• Hamburg omurice ₩17,000
• Steki don ₩19,500
• Steki set ₩19,500

Ichigyu wasn't just about gyukatsu — they had a variety of Japanese-style dishes ready, from steki (steak) to rice bowls to omurice! But the signature menu item was, of course, the gyukatsu :)

Ichigyu gyukatsu, the fun of grilling it yourself

You can choose your gyukatsu cut, and the standout feature is that you grill it yourself right at the table to your preferred doneness. That day, we ordered the Ichigyu gyukatsu :)

The gyukatsu comes out neatly plated as a full spread, and it was mouthwatering just to look at. The outside is fried crispy, but the inside comes out still red, so you grill it bit by bit on your personal tabletop grill to your own taste.

The moment we put the Isigny butter on, the smell was amazing, and the sizzle the second the meat hit the grill was even better...

Grilling piece by piece meant we could eat it warm all the way through, plus there's the fun of grilling it yourself, so it's perfect for a Sinnonhyeon date menu too! The meat wasn't tough at all, it was tender, and the combination of the crispy coating and the meat worked really well.

Eaten together with rice, it made for a satisfying meal, and it felt like a proper meat lunch from the start of the day !!!

I got why gyukatsu is the signature menu. It was a great Sinnonhyeon lunch spot to look for when you want something a bit more special than an ordinary lunch near Sinnonhyeon.

Plus a side of shrimp tempura

The shrimp tempura we ordered as a side was also delicious — the shrimp were plump and full :) Close to the station, a clean interior, and satisfying self-grilled gyukatsu — this place had it all!

If you're looking for a Sinnonhyeon restaurant or you love gyukatsu, I think Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch is well worth a visit :)