Ilsan steakhouse with half-and-half steak doneness: Upstairs Kitchen

A great Ilsan restaurant where everything was perfect: carefully seared steak, original pasta and a lovely atmosphere.

Why Upstairs Kitchen for a rainy-season lunch with Mom

Upstairs Kitchen Bamridan-gil Branch is a Western restaurant in Ilsan that I booked for a day in the monsoon season when the rain was really pouring 𖤐 I wanted to have lunch somewhere with a nice atmosphere with Mom. A friend had recommended it to me endlessly, so I'd been wanting to go for a while, and since I wanted to cheer us up with a good meal together, we headed to Ilsan.

It has over 5,000 Naver reviews and a 4.9 rating, so my expectations were really high before we even arrived. As soon as Mom stepped inside she said the interior was so pretty and she loved it, which made me feel the trip was worth it.

Upstairs Kitchen Bamridan-gil Branch: hours, location and parking

• Daily 11:30 - 21:20 (break time 15:00 - 17:00 / last order 20:30)
• Right next to the back gate of Jeodong Elementary School (2-minute walk from Jeodong Elementary School bus stop)
• Free parking for 6-7 cars at the front and side of the restaurant (if full, use the Jeongbalsan temporary public car park)
• Naver reservations available / group seating (6-10 people) and private bookings possible

Upstairs Kitchen is in the alley next to the back gate of Jeodong Elementary School, diagonally across from the Deungchon Kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) main branch. Our reservation was at 12:00, but we arrived a little early and there was plenty of parking in front, so we parked easily.

It was raining quite hard, but we could park right in front of the restaurant, so we didn't have to walk far with an umbrella. Not worrying about parking fees was a small but nice bonus too.

What is Upstairs Kitchen like on a rainy day?

The moment you open the door, you're greeted by a lovely interior and warm lighting. The cozy wood tones and accent plants blend together to create an atmosphere that feels upscale yet comfortable.

The rain falling outside the window blended in beautifully, making the place feel even more atmospheric and neat. When we arrived early, around 11:40, there was only about one table, but by the time we finished our meal almost every seat was full.

It's a perfect space for an Ilsan date, a wedding invitation get-together, or a meal with your parents.

Upstairs Kitchen menu and what we ordered

Please check the photo above for the Upstairs Kitchen menu ⸝⸝⋆ It's a solid lineup, from salads to a sirloin steak worthy of an Ilsan steak spot, handmade gnocchi (Italian potato dumplings) and a variety of pastas.

We ordered the signature sirloin steak, the flatfish minari pasta whose unusual combination I was curious about, and the guacamole salad.

Even the water served as soon as we sat down was extraordinary, with a subtle, pleasant scent of lemon and rosemary that made us feel looked after from the very start.

Guacamole salad, 15,000 won

The guacamole salad (₩15,000) was the first dish to reach the table, with avocado, grilled corn and fresh chicory blending refreshingly with the house dressing. Crunchy nacho chips are tucked inside, and they must have mixed it right before bringing it out, because there was no sogginess at all. That crunch was a truly perfect kick.

The fresh yet nutty flavor was plenty to whet the appetite before the meal.

Bruschetta 1, 6,000 won (free with a receipt review)

The Bruschetta 1 (₩6,000) was a dish we got as a free service for joining the Naver receipt review. Well-grilled sourdough is topped with rich cream cheese and a generous helping of tomato sauce.

Take a bite and the tomato's fresh juice and the smooth, nutty cream cheese come together in a rich yet perfectly harmonious way. The balance, with each ingredient's own flavor coming through, was so good that I wouldn't mind paying to order it as a standalone dish.

Flatfish and minari (water parsley) pasta, 21,000 won

The flatfish minari pasta (₩21,000) is a special signature dish you rarely see at other Western restaurants, one that makes Upstairs Kitchen an Ilsan pasta destination. Fresh clams and the fragrant scent of minari (water dropwort) melt deep into the extra virgin olive oil sauce for a clean, deep flavor.

The noodles were cooked to a nice al dente with a good chew, and the flatfish stayed intact while still moist inside. The minari wasn't too tough but tender, just right for twirling together with the noodles.

Can you order a sirloin steak cooked to two different donenesses?

The Upstairs Kitchen sirloin steak 300g (₩54,000) had a perfect sear, crisp outside and juicy inside. At a generous 300g, it was more than enough to share between two.

Mom prefers her meat well cooked, so I asked just in case whether they could cook it in two different ways, and they happily did half medium-well and half medium. I was deeply touched. Thanks to that, Mom and I each enjoyed it cooked exactly to our taste, warm and delicious down to the last piece.

The house-made whole grain sauce and chili wasabi sauce that came with it cut right through any richness, keeping everything clean and fresh.