Early dinner date, gyukatsu with pickled ginger in Cheonan: Izawa

Where is Izawa in Cheonan Sinbu-dong, and what are the opening hours?

Izawa Cheonan Sinbu-dong Branch is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) specialist on the 2nd floor of the building right in front of Sinbu Culture Park, across from Cheonan Terminal. It has a reputation as a great gyukatsu spot for dates, and I'd only ever walked past it, so today I finally went with my partner to grill our own gyukatsu on a little brazier.

Being across from Cheonan Terminal, it's easy to get to. There are tons of restaurants and things to do around here, so lots of people pass through. It's right in front of Sinbu Culture Park, so it's easy to find, and the restaurant is on the 2nd floor.

• Hours 11:30 - 21:00
• Break time 14:40 - 16:30
• Last order 19:50
• Closed every Monday
• July days off 7/28 - 7/30 (Tue, Wed, Thu)

Be sure to check the July days off.

There's a menu board at the building entrance, so you can browse the menu in advance. The prices on it haven't been updated, though, so use it only to see what kinds of dishes there are.

What is Izawa Sinbu-dong like, and is there a wait at 5:30 pm?

Izawa has a calm feel, with soft lighting and neat wood-toned tables laid out simply. We arrived at 5:30 pm, when it was still quiet, so we were seated right away with no wait.

Sinbu-dong is always lively, which also means it takes some thought to find a restaurant with a nice mood. This is such a popular spot near Cheonan Terminal that there can be a wait on weekends and at dinner peak, so I'd recommend going a little early or aiming for an early dinner.

There are some Japanese-vibe decor pieces too, and wet wipes and napkins are kept at the counter.

Every table has a small brazier, meant for grilling gyukatsu and stekidon (steak rice bowl). Today we came for the gyukatsu.

Gyukatsu is a Japanese compound of gyu (beef) and katsu (cutlet). The outside is fried crisp while the inside stays rare or medium rare and juicy. You grill it yourself on the mini brazier.

What's on the Izawa menu?

Beyond gyukatsu, the menu has a good variety: stekidon, rice bowls (donburi), mazesoba (brothless mixed noodles), basil ramen and more. A notice says they don't sell donkatsu (pork cutlet).

They also run a Naver receipt review event, so be sure to join in and get a mini curry tasting.

Rice and cabbage salad can be refilled. Just ask the staff; we got a salad refill too.

How much is the Izawa gyukatsu set, and what comes with it?

The gyukatsu set is ₩17,000 and the double set is ₩29,000, and extra meat is ₩12,000 for both. The point of this visit was to have Izawa's signature gyukatsu for dinner, so the two of us ordered two gyukatsu sets without a second thought.

• Gyukatsu set ₩17,000 (extra meat ₩12,000)
• Double set ₩29,000 (extra meat ₩12,000)

Not long after we ordered, the gyukatsu sets arrived, neatly arranged one per person on trays. Along with the gyukatsu in its thin, crisp, reddish coating came cabbage salad, rice, miso soup, kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) and two sauces. It made my mouth water just looking at it.

The gyukatsu is only lightly fried on the outside, so you can see the fresh, bright-red marbling of the beef. It's full of juice. You don't eat it as is; you put as much as you want on the mini brazier at your table and grill it yourself. The instructions are posted on the restaurant wall.

How do you grill gyukatsu on the mini brazier?

At Izawa, staff light the brazier at your table, and then you place the gyukatsu pieces one at a time on the heated mini grill and cook them as much as you like. I liked mine fully cooked.

With a satisfying sizzle, the savory smell of beef fat spreads and gets your mouth watering. You can grill it lightly until the pinkness just fades, or, if you want a crunchier texture, grill it until golden.

Grilling piece by piece at your own taste and pace is fun, and it's perfect for a date, since you can chat and take your time.

Top your gyukatsu with pickled ginger instead of wasabi

Lots of people top gyukatsu with wasabi, but I tried pickled ginger instead. Give it a go. It's surprisingly refreshing.

Izawa gyukatsu for a Cheonan Sinbu-dong date: final verdict

If you're looking for a date restaurant in Cheonan Sinbu-dong that won't let you down, I confidently recommend Izawa's gyukatsu set, which almost anyone of any age should like. It was a great meal: a clean, tidy atmosphere, grilling the meat yourself, and the cozy chatter while the beef cooks.

Izawa Cheonan Sinbu-dong in 3 lines

• Near Cheonan Terminal and the Sinbu-dong downtown, it's easy to reach and has a cozy, great date atmosphere.
• The signature gyukatsu set, crisp outside and moist inside, has a wonderfully soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Grilling it yourself on the mini brazier is fun, and it's a nice meal to enjoy while chatting with your partner.