Seoul Station gyukatsu family lunch on personal braziers: Ichigyu

We went shopping near Seoul Station with the family over the weekend! Wanting a clean, proper meal, we stopped by Ichigyu at Seoul Station.

Around Seoul Station there are always so many people passing through and so many restaurants that it's hard to decide where to eat lunch. With its tidy set-meal format and gyukatsu and steak dishes that everyone from kids to grandparents can enjoy, it was a great pick for a weekend family meal.

For anyone looking for a good Seoul Station lunch spot, or wanting a proper Japanese meal before or after traveling or on a weekend outing, here's everything on Ichigyu's signature menu, prices, and tips for eating it well!

Where Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is and what the restaurant feels like

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is on the basement floor at 98 Huam-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, right next to Seoul Station, so access couldn't be easier. Step inside and you're greeted by the clean, orderly interior typical of a proper Japanese restaurant.

There are 2-top and 4-top tables as well as a bar counter, so it works well both for solo diners and for families like us who came on a weekend to enjoy a relaxed lunch.

The modern yet warm wood-toned interior made for a comfortable atmosphere throughout the meal.

Ichigyu menu and prices: gyukatsu set and steki set, 19,500 won each

Ichigyu is a set-meal style Japanese restaurant where you grill the meat yourself on a personal brazier!! Neither the kids nor my husband had ever been to a place like this, and they were so into it! The menu is substantial enough for a weekend lunch while still feeling like being treated.

• Gyukatsu set: ₩19,500 — Ichigyu's signature dish, using beef flap steak coated in a thin, crispy batter that's crunchy outside and juicy inside.
• Steki set: ₩19,500 — a refined beef steak set, lightly seared on the outside while keeping the juices of carefully selected beef locked in.
• Mini Kirin draft beer: ₩4,000 — a premium Kirin draft in a light, not-too-much size, perfect for wetting your throat between bites during lunch.

After ordering, they light up the personal brazier for you like this!

The mini beer — isn't it adorable? Truly a one-gulp size, but it's lunchtime after all!! A full pint felt like a bit much, so I treated it more like a drink substitute ^^;;;;;; excuses, excuses.

And finally, the dishes arrive!

They coat the meat with the provided butter, letting it melt slowly.

Even the sound is great — sizzzzle — and it's grilling!

Family review: gyukatsu set, steki set and a mini Kirin draft

Our family ordered the two signature dishes — the gyukatsu set and the steki set — plus a mini Kirin draft to sip lightly alongside the meal.

Not long after ordering, a neat spread arrived along with a personal mini brazier. Rice, miso soup, salad, diced radish kimchi, pickled mountain chili, and the special sauce, wasabi, and salt to go with the meat were all set out — it was a treat just to look at.

1. Crispy outside, tender inside: the Ichigyu gyukatsu set

The gyukatsu was striking just to look at, with the deep red of the meat showing through. The thin batter let both the fragrant fried coating and the beefy aroma come through at once. Since it's served rare, you get to grill it on your own brazier exactly to your liking, which is a real draw.

2. Juicy and clean-tasting: the Ichigyu steki set

The steki set is one I'd strongly recommend for anyone who prefers the heavier, cleaner flavor of meat on its own. It comes sliced to a nice thickness, and after lightly searing it on the brazier, one bite fills your mouth with savory juices. With no batter, it's much lighter and cleaner, making it easy for kids or elderly family members to enjoy without feeling heavy.

3. The best call of the meal: the 4,000-won mini Kirin draft

At lunchtime, finishing a full glass of beer in broad daylight can feel like a bit much, right? Ichigyu's 'mini Kirin draft beer' read that feeling perfectly. The cool, smooth foam and carbonation of Kirin draft cut right through the richness of the meat, doubling the satisfaction of the meal.

There's a review event running right now — write a Naver review and you get a free shrimp tempura! It was a different kind of treat and we happily devoured it ╰(*°▽°*)╯

How to grill Ichigyu's gyukatsu for the best result (tips)

Here are a few tips for enjoying the gyukatsu and steki sets at Ichigyu even more.

• Preheat the brazier, then grill briefly: place the meat on the heated mini brazier and cook each side for just 10-15 seconds. Overcooking makes it tough — medium-rare is the most tender.
• First bite with plain wasabi and salt: to taste the meat's natural savoriness, try a light dab of salt with a bit of fresh wasabi on the first bite. The sharpness and clean flavor pair beautifully.
• Use the special soy/mustard sauce: dipping into the accompanying special sauce adds a salty savoriness that goes perfectly with rice.
• Pair with rice and cabbage salad: grill the meat, place it on rice, and top with wasabi to make it like a beef sushi. Mixing in the tangy dressed cabbage salad along the way keeps it from feeling repetitive and adds a clean freshness.

See that empty plate! We ate every last bite happily.

If you're looking for a clean, proper Japanese set meal near Seoul Station — especially if you have kids — I highly recommend Ichigyu Seoul Station for a weekend lunch! Between the fun of grilling the meat yourself to your own taste and enjoying the tender gyukatsu and steak alongside a cool mini draft beer, the whole family can enjoy a satisfying meal.