Gwanghwamun gyukatsu booked on CatchTable, extra butter tip: Ichigyu

A review after demolishing gyukatsu at a solo-dining favorite near Jonggak Station

Why I chose Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch for gyukatsu in Gwanghwamun

I visited a gyukatsu spot that's apparently super hot in Gwanghwamun right now. Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch is a gyukatsu specialty restaurant on the basement floor of Lemeilleur Jongno Town.

With the nice weather lately, so many people head to Gwanghwamun for dates, right~! But when you actually try to go, parking near Gwanghwamun is tough and you're always agonizing over where to eat without regrets ㅠㅠ

So this time I went to a famous gyukatsu specialty spot that nails both atmosphere and taste haha

Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch booking and parking: how to skip the wait

Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch takes reservations in advance through CatchTable, so I could walk straight in without waiting. Aren't you always worried about long waits on weekends or in the evening? Thanks to my reservation, I didn't have to worry about that at all.

And parking support right in the middle of Gwanghwamun...! Free parking for a full 2 hours totally won me over.

Before you go: the key details on Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch

• 📍 Location: 19 Jong-ro, B123, B1F Lemeilleur Jongno Town, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• 📆 Closed: open every day / break time 15:00 - 17:00
• 🕙 Hours: 11:00 - 21:30, last order 20:30
• 🚉 Transit: Line 5 Gwanghwamun Station, Line 1 Jonggak Station
• 🚗 Parking: in-building parking, 2 hours free
• 📢 Free karaage or mini curry for Naver notification subscribers

Inside Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch: solo diners and families alike

Walking in right at my reservation time, the interior was quiet and cozy, which made it great for a date too~

There were really a lot of solo diners, and surprisingly a lot of families with kids too! Guess it's a menu everyone loves regardless of age haha

Ordering is simple — just use the QR code on the table~

What we ordered, and is extra butter worth it?

We went all out and ordered two Ichigyu gyukatsu, karaage and fried shrimp as sides, zero cola, zero cider, and even extra butter~!

By the way, some of you probably wonder whether to add extra butter when ordering. Each menu item comes with one butter as a default, so it was plenty even without adding more~! I'd only recommend adding extra for those who want it extra rich and buttery!

Ichigyu gyukatsu: grilling the beef cutlet yourself on a tabletop brazier

Following the guide on how to enjoy gyukatsu properly, let me scoop out the rice for you~!

Surprisingly, Ichigyu serves the rice in what looks like a hitsumabushi bowl haha. Rice refills are free, so just ask if you want more~

Melt the butter on your personal tabletop stove~!

Seriously, it looks so gorgeous. The fresh-looking gyukatsu arrives and gets placed right on the personal stove~!

Wow, the juices burst out and it truly melts in your mouth ㅠㅠ So delicious ㅠㅠ

There are three sauces: wasabi, chili sauce, and salt. I'd recommend trying them to your taste~! Maybe because the gyukatsu is a bit oily, even a generous amount of wasabi wasn't spicy at all. Love it, love it~

Sides at Ichigyu: karaage & fried shrimp, and drinks with an ice cup

The karaage and fried shrimp we ordered as sides! Crispy through and through. Just a heads-up, the shrimp comes fried head and all~ haha

They brought us an ice cup for the drinks, so we could keep sipping something cold all the way until we left haha

Overall verdict on Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch

It's fun to grill it yourself, and the space is so pleasant that it's perfect for a date or a solo meal! With convenient parking and reservations too, there's really no reason not to go~!

Who Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch is best for

• Anyone looking for a good restaurant near Gwanghwamun with free parking
• Anyone who wants a hassle-free visit with no waiting, using CatchTable
• Anyone looking for a clean-vibed place that's good for both dates and solo dining

💡 One-line review — If you're craving good gyukatsu in Gwanghwamun, definitely pay a visit to Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch~!