Balsan Station Japanese restaurant for butter-grilled sirloin: Ichigyu

Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch

I heard Ichigyu, a great spot for a Balsan Station date, had newly opened, so my husband and I went for dinner! Even on a weekday, it was full of people on dates, family dinners, and get-togethers with friends—it almost felt like Balsan's newest hot spot?

Location, hours, and parking

• Address: Room 211, 2F, 269-15 Gonghang-daero, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (lot address: 797-14 Magok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul)
• Hours: Daily 11:30–21:30
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Last order: 14:30, 21:00
• Parking: Available from B1 to B5. First 120 minutes included; ₩1,500 per additional 30 minutes, maximum ₩66,000

A wood-toned dining room

Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch, a lovely place for a Balsan Station date, had such a clean, comfortable interior! The wood tones made it feel a little like being on a trip to Japan, while all the guests chatting gave it the lively feel of a market.

What else is on the menu besides gyukatsu?

As you can probably tell from the name, gyukatsu (Japanese breaded beef cutlet) is Ichigyu's main specialty! Along with the best-selling gyukatsu sirloin and steak sirloin, there were plenty of Japanese meal options: hamburger steak omurice, steak rice bowls, teppan chopped steak, Japanese curry, yakisoba, Napolitan pasta, cold soba with shrimp tempura, and karaage with shrimp tempura. It would be great for either lunch or dinner in Balsan!

There were value set menus for two, but we did not need two drinks, so we ordered à la carte instead. Honestly, I nearly lost my mind(?) over the neat plating and that bright-red sirloin, haha.

Steak sirloin ₩19,500

Steak sirloin (ステーキ サーロイン) / ₩19,500 One of Ichigyu's signature dishes, this steak sirloin was a style I had never tried before. Rather than being breaded and fried, it was a light, straightforward steak made with lean beef.

The visuals really say it all, right?? ㅠㅠㅠㅠ 💗 At Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch, the beef arrives medium rare so you can cook it to your liking. Even though it was medium rare, there was absolutely no off smell—its freshness stood out instead.

Gyukatsu sirloin ₩19,500

Gyukatsu sirloin (牛カツ サーロイン) / ₩19,500 This Balsan gyukatsu sirloin came with richly nutty sirloin and a house sauce marked by fragrant garlic and a little tang!

That cross-section is seriously incredible ㅠㅠㅠㅠ 💗 The steak and gyukatsu look different, but they shared one thing in common: they looked SO delicious!!!

The Isigny butter brazier combination

A point that people looking for Japanese food near Balsan Station—or gyukatsu fans—will go wild for! You portion out premium French Isigny butter, place it on the little brazier to melt, then cook the gyukatsu and steak over it. The sizzling personal mini brazier was just the right size for two people to grill together. Melting a little Isigny butter onto the grill and cooking the beef on it gave it seriously unbelievable flavor 👍🏼

I had eaten gyukatsu several times at Japanese restaurants around Balsan Station, but it was my first steak like this, so I was curious! It did not have the crunch of a fried exterior, but I was honestly surprised by how tender and nutty it was—it practically melted right in front of my mouth! It was delicious dipped in Ichigyu's house sauce, and the three sauces served alongside it—wasabi, chili sauce, and salt—each brought out a different flavor. It was so good over rice, too 💗

The gyukatsu, wrapped in a crispy coating, was exactly crispy outside and juicy inside!! So it was less light than the steak, comparatively, but even nuttier 💛

How to make the steak and gyukatsu sirloin at Ichigyu even more delicious!! Do not just melt the Isigny butter on the grill—take a little at a time and put it right on top of the beef. Seriously ㅠㅠㅠㅠ the butter's flavor and the sirloin's flavor combine(?) and a party starts in your mouth.. 💛

Adding mini curry and white rice

Mini curry (ミニカレー) / ₩5,000 White rice / ₩1,000 We also added mini curry and white rice separately at Ichigyu. With rice on the side like this, it was the perfect hearty, filling meal for two, haha.

The mini curry was not overly salty, with that unmistakable Japanese-curry aroma, and it had lots of beef too—nice and savory with a proper chewy texture, haha. Personally, I thought dipping the sirloin in salt was the best way to enjoy its nuttiness and flavor! But the various sauces and French Isigny butter let you discover all sorts of different charms, so if you love Japanese food, please do visit—whether it is for lunch, dinner, a date, a gathering, or a work dinner :)