Japanese restaurant at Seoul Station: 12-slice steki & curry, Ichigyu

On a weekday the place was filled with office workers from nearby rather than travelers, which says a lot about how popular it is with Seoul Station locals. I had steki and curry at Ichigyu. It's not the usual pork cutlet: premium-tasting striploin grilled over a brazier, so I was extra excited. Below I'll cover Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch, plus my review of the steki set and mini curry.

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch: opening hours, parking and directions

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is a 2-minute walk from Seoul Station Exit 10. It's open daily 11:30–21:30 with a break from 15:00 to 17:00. Last orders are at 14:00 and 20:30, and there's paid dedicated parking.

• Transit: Seoul Station Exit 10 (Lines 1 and 4, AREX, Gyeongui-Jungang Line, GTX-A), 2 minutes on foot
• Hours: daily 11:30–21:30 (last order 14:00 and 20:30)
• Break time: daily 15:00–17:00
• Parking: paid dedicated parking available

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is on B1 of the LG Seoul Station Building, 101 m on foot from Exit 10. You can take the escalator to the right of the main entrance down to B1, but since I came from Seoul Station, I used the stairs closer to Exit 10.

Downstairs there's a directory of the shops, and from those stairs you just go straight to reach Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch.

What is the atmosphere like at Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch?

It never feels like a basement restaurant, since the ceilings are high and it's airy. Because it specializes in gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet), the Japanese-style posters and interior add extra atmosphere, and I thought it would be nice for a date too.

True to Ichigyu, every table has a personal brazier, and the tables are spaced widely. Even though it's a place where you grill meat, there was none of that greasy smell, so I was comfortable. Next, the menu.

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch menu and how to order

You order and pay on the tablet at each table. Signature gyukatsu and steki lead the menu, followed by rice and noodle dishes like steki-don (steak rice bowl) and yakisoba (stir-fried noodles). I ordered the steki set I was curious about, plus the recommended mini curry. If you eat a lot, doubles and extra meat are available too, so check the menu.

What comes with the steki set: the spread and personal brazier

Only a few minutes after ordering, the steki set and mini curry arrived as a generous spread. Besides the steki itself, there were several side dishes, soup and a heaping bowl of rice, so Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is a good pick if you want a proper filling meal.

The staff then lit the personal brazier, so I could eat the meat warm at my own pace. If the flame goes out or weakens, a staff member notices and relights it without being asked, just so you know.

Ichigyu steki set: are 12 striploin slices enough for one?

Even the basic steki set comes with twelve thick-cut striploin slices, so it was plenty for one adult woman. The striploin was neatly arranged with Ichigyu's special sauce, which boosts the flavor even more.

Beef is good however you eat it, but brushing on the special sauce and grilling made it saltier and more flavorful, so even tastier.

Even just rubbing the portion butter that comes with it on the brazier and grilling the striploin that way makes it melt in your mouth.

Steki instead of gyukatsu when you want no batter

Gyukatsu has a layer of batter, so it can feel a bit heavy. Besides gyukatsu, Ichigyu has steki, which is just meat with no frying, so I think it could work even when you're on a diet.

Nutty butter, Ichigyu's salty special sauce and striploin that melts in your mouth: I can't imagine anyone disliking that combination. If you're looking for a Seoul Station restaurant everyone will like, try Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch.

Ichigyu mini curry: can you dip the striploin in it?

The Ichigyu mini curry may be called mini, but it's as hearty as a bowl of rice, so I'd also suggest sharing it with others.

Mixing it into the firm rice the classic way was good, but lightly dipping the striploin in the curry, like Japanese katsu, for a spicy kick was also tasty, so try it depending on your taste.

Steki set at Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch: final verdict

I tried the steki set and mini curry at Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch. The moment the steki arrived, the marbling told me it would be good, and sure enough it was tastier and more tender than I expected. It was a busy weekday lunch, yet all the staff were friendly, and the Japanese-style atmosphere in the middle of Seoul Station felt different. If you're looking for a Seoul Station restaurant, give Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch a visit.