Gwanggyo gyukatsu restaurant: two cuts at Gyuen-dang

My husband and I used to travel to Japan often—our last trip before I got pregnant was even to Sapporo. We have not been to Japan once since then, and maybe that is why I keep seeking out Japanese food lately. I had especially been thinking about the gyukatsu I ate in Japan, so last weekend my husband and I went to Gyuen-dang Avenue France Gwanggyo Branch. We used to come to Avenue France in Gwanggyo for meals now and then on weekends, but it had been a while.

Gyuen-dang Avenue France Gwanggyo Branch location and parking

It is on the first floor of Atti Zone at Avenue France Gwanggyo, Units CB19 and 20, B1, 85 Central Town-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. It is open daily from 11:30 to 22:00, with a break from 15:00 to 17:00 and last orders at 21:00. You can use Zone D24 on Avenue France's second basement level.

Since Gyuen-dang is in Avenue France Gwanggyo, parking is super convenient. Parking is supported for up to four hours. The restaurant is on the first floor, so it was easy to find, too. There is a small waiting area just inside.

As you would expect from a popular Avenue France Gwanggyo restaurant, there were quite a few tables, although they did feel a little close together. There were lots of four-person tables, so it looked perfect for families, too. My husband and I sat at a window table.

Ordering tenderloin and sirloin gyukatsu

Gyuen-dang's main dishes are gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) and omurice. My husband ordered the tenderloin gyukatsu (₩24,000), while I ordered the sirloin gyukatsu (₩19,000), and we added Ramune soda (₩4,000). We also received mini okonomiyaki through the review event.

Each gyukatsu order comes with rice, soup, salad, and sauces.

Gyukatsu grilled with melted butter over a brazier

You melt butter on the tabletop brazier, then place the meat on it and grill it yourself. Grill each side for 15 to 20 seconds, judging from the cut surface. The heat was stronger than I expected, so it browned quickly, which was nice. If the solid fuel burns out during your meal, just let the staff know and they will refill it; they can replace the grill plate, too, if needed.

We ate the grilled gyukatsu with three accompaniments: wasabi, salt, and the house sauce. The breading was crisp on the outside while the meat stayed juicy inside—exactly that crispy-outside, tender-inside texture.

The tenderloin was clean-tasting and incredibly soft, almost as if the meat melted away. The sirloin was soft as well, but naturally a little richer than the tenderloin because of the cut.

I usually prefer sirloin to tenderloin, so I ordered the sirloin and enjoyed it just as much as I had hoped. My husband said he liked the tenderloin gyukatsu a little better. Both cuts were tender and delicious, so I think it comes down to personal preference.

Mini okonomiyaki and Ramune soda

The mini okonomiyaki we received through the review event had a pleasantly chewy texture, and we enjoyed that too.

It was my first time trying Ramune soda! I fumbled with the cap for quite a while because I did not know how to open it, haha, but it went well with the gyukatsu and tasted great.

I had really been missing the gyukatsu I ate in Japan, but Gyuen-dang was satisfying enough to make me think I did not need to go all the way to Japan! If you are looking for Japanese food near Gwanggyo Jungang Station—especially if you love gyukatsu—I recommend Gyuen-dang Avenue France Gwanggyo Branch. My husband and I promised to try the omurice next time.