# Alcohol-free gyukatsu date night near Balsan Station, Seoul: Ichigyu - By Minseo Roh (https://superchart.com/en/@jongno-back-stool/) - Written Sep 22, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Gangseo, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written as part of a paid store visit sponsorship. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@jongno-back-stool/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@jongno-back-stool/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/index.md) ## In short Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch is a gyukatsu (Japanese-style breaded beef cutlet) restaurant in Gangseo, Seoul, one minute on foot from Exit 1 of Balsan Station on the 2nd floor of Hillstate Eco Magok. On an after-work dinner date without alcohol, the writer ordered the Ichigyu gyukatsu set and the steki (steak) set at 19,500 won each, added mini curry for 5,000 won and karaage & shrimp tempura for 7,000 won, and grilled each piece on the cast-iron plate at the table. Wasabi suited the gyukatsu best and the special sauce with wasabi suited the steki, and the two of them finished every plate. ## Good to know - **Location**: 2F, Room 211, 269-15 Gonghang-daero, Gangseo-gu, Seoul (1-minute walk from Balsan Station Exit 1, 2nd floor of Hillstate Eco Magok) - **Hours**: 11:30-21:30 (break 15:00-17:00, last orders 14:30 and 21:00) - **Parking**: 2 hours free - **Ichigyu gyukatsu set**: 19,500 won - **Ichigyu steki set**: 19,500 won - **Mini curry**: 5,000 won - **Karaage & shrimp tempura**: 7,000 won - **Zero cola**: 3,000 won - **Seating**: About 10 tables; full by around 7pm - **Rice**: Free refills - **Ordering**: By QR code *as written by the visitor on Sep 22, 2026* I've been dating around Balsan a lot lately — so many good restaurants and bars there, great for date nights > < ![Full table spread of gyukatsu at Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-01-ltytj-1200.webp) ![Visit photo at gyukatsu specialist restaurant Ichigyu near Balsan Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-02-1npe9-900.webp) Today after work we went on a dinner date to Ichigyu, a gyukatsu specialist restaurant near Balsan Station! It's apparently a popular spot that fills up fast in the evening. Let's get into the review! ## Where Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch is and when it opens Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch is at 2F, 211-ho, 269-15 Gonghang-daero, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, a 1-minute walk from Exit 1 of Balsan Station. Hours are 11:30-21:30, break time is 15:00-17:00, last order is at 14:30 and 21:00, and parking is free for 2 hours. - ✔️ 2F, 211-ho, 269-15 Gonghang-daero, Gangseo-gu, Seoul - ✔️ Hours 11:30-21:30 / Break time 15:00-17:00 / Last order 14:30, 21:00 - ✔️ Parking free for 2 hours Just a 1-minute walk from Exit 1 of Balsan Station, so accessibility is great! Take the escalator up to the 2nd floor of the Hillstate Eco Magok building and it's right there. ![Standing menu board at the entrance of Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-03-dqq2k-900.webp) The standing menu board out front lets you see everything at a glance — makes choosing so much easier? The straightforward pictures are great haha. ## Inside Ichigyu: about 10 tables, full by 7pm Inside Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch there are about 10 tables, and by around 7pm the place was already packed with customers. Seating isn't super plentiful, so come early during meal times. Seems pretty popular? ## Ichigyu menu and prices ![Menu board at Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-04-1molg-900.webp) ![Gyukatsu menu page at Ichigyu](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-05-1lg2v-900.webp) ![Set menu information at Ichigyu](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-06-6d59g-900.webp) ![Omurice and yakisoba napolitan menu at Ichigyu](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-07-1a7bf-900.webp) ![Side dish menu board at Ichigyu](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-08-1i3j0-900.webp) ![Drink menu board at Ichigyu](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-09-1qlen-900.webp) ![Menu signage at Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-10-1d9ei-900.webp) There's a wide range of choices beyond gyukatsu. The omurice looked good... the yakisoba napolitan looked good too... but we came for gyukatsu, so gyukatsu it is??? - Ichigyu Gyukatsu Set ₩19,500 - Ichigyu Steki Set ₩19,500 - Mini Curry ₩5,000 - Karaage & Shrimp Tempura ₩7,000 - Zero Cola ₩3,000 Ordered via QR code, done! ![QR code ordering guide on the Ichigyu table](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-11-1fepj-900.webp) ![How-to-enjoy-gyukatsu instructions at Ichigyu](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-12-18lcn-900.webp) ## How to eat gyukatsu at Ichigyu There was even a kind note on the table explaining how to eat it best. - 1. Enjoy with the special sauce - 2. Enjoy with wasabi, chili sauce, or salt - 3. Use the premium French Isigny butter in three portions to make it last - 4. Best grilled for 7-8 seconds! ![Cast-iron plate for grilling gyukatsu](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-13-pfxhc-900.webp) The whole point of gyukatsu is grilling it yourself on this cast-iron plate, right? (This is exactly why I eat gyukatsu.) There was one at every table, and they lit it right before the food arrived. ![Lit tabletop burner at Ichigyu](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-14-10oja-900.webp) ![Warm rice served in a lidded bowl](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-15-1lv3l-900.webp) The rice came out warm in a lidded bowl, and apparently it's unlimited refills! If it runs low you can just ask for more. ![Full spread of the Ichigyu set meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-16-peo51-870.webp) Everything we ordered came out together pretty quickly. Since it's a set, it all arrives as one full spread — neat, good-looking, and easy to eat. ## What comes with the 19,500 won gyukatsu set My partner's pick, the Ichigyu Gyukatsu Set! A decently large piece of gyukatsu, cabbage salad, various sauces, and clear soup — a clean, solid composition. ### Mini curry, 5,000 won ![Added mini curry order at Ichigyu](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-17-ddnwa-818.webp) ![Mini curry eaten together with rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-18-4mqsx-900.webp) The curry that came alongside was a separately added mini curry. Delicious with rice — clean and mild. Eating it with the fried food, though, I think it could've used a bit more spice. ### Steki (steak) set, 19,500 won My pick, the Steki Set! Same composition as the gyukatsu set, just a different main. I picked steki so I could steal bites of my partner's gyukatsu haha. I'd had gyukatsu before but this was my first time with steki. ### Karaage & shrimp tempura, 7,000 won My partner insisted we could finish it all, so we added this side of karaage and shrimp tempura (we really did finish it all). The shrimp tempura was surprisingly big and hearty — beyond my expectations. ## Grilling gyukatsu and steki in Isigny butter Now for the main event — grilling the gyukatsu and steki. What makes Ichigyu special is that they use French Isigny butter. You're supposed to use the butter in thirds, but I didn't know that at first and just dumped it all in^^... The sirloin came out medium-rare, and the meat looked great > < Let's grill 2 pieces of steki and 2 pieces of gyukatsu on the nicely melted butter. The butter smell is seriously deadly... ![Gyukatsu and steki grilling in Isigny butter](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-19-12jt0-900.webp) ![Sirloin steki cooking on the hot plate](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-20-1n7lz-900.webp) Tried the well-grilled gyukatsu first. For me, wasabi was the best pairing, more than salt or chili sauce. Delicious plain, and delicious with rice too! ![A piece of gyukatsu paired with wasabi](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-21-hnmur-900.webp) ![A piece of steki dipped in special sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-22-1bosp-900.webp) Grilled the steki well too — I'd highly recommend the special sauce + wasabi combo, so definitely try that. Both the gyukatsu and steki were delicious, but the steki was more my style. The meat was seriously tender. ![After-work gyukatsu date near Balsan Station with mini curry and shrimp tempura: Ichigyu](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-23-c8cpn-883.webp) There was food... now there isn't...! A couple who cleaned their plates completely, seriously, seriously full. These days Japanese food in Korea has really leveled up, and Ichigyu's gyukatsu was very similar to and just as delicious as the gyukatsu I had in Fukuoka. If you're craving gyukatsu, go to Ichigyu! ![Photo spot near the exit of Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu/balsan-station-gyukatsu-evening-date-ichigyu-24-rzs8l-900.webp) ## Why Ichigyu works for a date near Balsan Station On the way out there was a photo spot, so we took some pictures. A rare non-alcohol date~ (honestly, a beer together would've made it even better haha.) If you're wondering what to eat on a date near Balsan Station, I recommend Ichigyu. The fun of grilling it yourself is a bonus >