Gwanghwamun gyukatsu restaurant Set 3 with a jumbo double: Ichigyu

On the weekend, my husband, the kids and I went out on a rare date to the Gwanghwamun area. I figured it might be quiet since it's mostly an office district on weekends, but wow — the place was already packed by the time we got there. Definitely living up to its reputation as a well-known Gwanghwamun restaurant. After tasting it, this is the kind of place that keeps coming to mind whenever I think of proper gyukatsu and steki-don in Gwanghwamun 😍

Where Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch is, and what to walk to nearby

Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch is in the basement level of Le Meilleure Jongno Town, at 19 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. It's a 3–4 minute walk from Jonggak Station (Line 1) Exit 1 or Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5) Exit 4, so accessibility is excellent.

Nearby course: Cheonggyecheon Stream and Gwanghwamun Square are just a 5-minute walk from the restaurant, so it's a really clean route for a hearty meal followed by a stroll — a great Gwanghwamun restaurant for that.

What we ordered at Ichigyu, and how it actually tasted

Once we sat down, a neat individual mini cast-iron brazier was already set on the table. Looking at the menu, we ordered generously to enjoy it fully.

• Set 3: gyukatsu (sirloin) + steki-don + 2 canned drinks
• Extra gyukatsu double (jumbo) single item

Gyukatsu, the signature dish, is a must-order! Besides steki-don, there's also hamburg omurice, teppan chapsteak, and Japanese-style curry, so the menu works well for both a date and a family meal.

The gyukatsu at this Gwanghwamun date restaurant had a thin breaded coating like tonkatsu on the outside, but the visual alone — with that vivid red marbling inside — was eye-catching.

And here's the double (jumbo)!! Time to eat generously~~!

1. Sirloin gyukatsu: juicy after 7–8 seconds on the brazier

First, melting butter on the heated individual brazier sends out a rich, buttery aroma.

We laid the gyukatsu on the melted butter in the mini brazier and grilled it about 7–8 seconds on each side — the outside turned savory and crisp, and the inside stayed soft with juices filling my mouth. Couldn't stop eating!

The tenderness changed depending on how much we cooked it, and it was fun grilling it exactly to our own taste.

Dipping it deep into salt, wasabi, or the special sauce, with a bit of fresh wasabi on top, made it taste clean without any greasiness. If you want to enjoy plenty of meat, I highly recommend the double (jumbo) size!!

2. Steki-don, the deeper-flavored half of Set 3

Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch's steki-don is a rice bowl topped with softly grilled steak and a generous helping of crispy garlic flakes.

Popping the egg yolk that came with it and mixing it into the rice and sauce, then piling on a piece of meat, made for a really filling bite. The meat was so tender and savory too — a clean yet satisfying Gwanghwamun lunch.

Tip: claim the table QR receipt review freebie

We also took part in the receipt review event via the QR code on the table at this Gwanghwamun lunch spot. It was simple to join and we got a generous side dish in return.

Grilled golden-brown on the brazier, it was crispy outside and delightfully chewy inside — a fantastic bonus side dish.

Freshly fried, it was crisp outside, tender inside, and packed with savory shrimp meat.

Is Ichigyu Gwanghwamun worth it for a family meal?

The tidy Japanese-style spread and top-notch meat quality, followed by a perfect stroll along Cheonggyecheon Stream after the meal, made this a satisfying Gwanghwamun date spot. If you're looking for a Gwanghwamun restaurant that nails taste, atmosphere, and quality all at once, this one's worth a visit.