Solo dinner near Balsan Station: sirloin gyukatsu set with Kirin beer

I booked a room near Balsan Station and was trying to figure out what to eat for dinner that would really shake off a full day's work stress, so I went to Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch for some rich, savory gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet)! I paired the sirloin gyukatsu set with mini curry, a fried egg, and the ultimate combo — Kirin draft beer — for a fantastic dinner haha.

A gyukatsu spot I visit once a month

I first fell in love with Ichigyu at the Gangnam Station branch and I've been a once-a-month regular ever since! They have all kinds of menu items — steak, yakisoba, omurice — but somehow I always circle back to the classic gyukatsu set haha.

Freshly grilled hot sirloin gyukatsu with a cold, frothy draft beer — it's the perfect dinner recommendation near Balsan Station.

Location and atmosphere of Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch

Walk straight from Exit 1 of Balsan Station (Line 5) and you'll find this Japanese restaurant on the 2nd floor. The underground parking lot is free for 2 hours :)

The place is spacious with plenty of tables and seats, so even ordering a lot doesn't feel cramped! I visited around 8pm on a weekday when the crowd had thinned out a bit, but a few tables were still drinking until closing :)

Ichigyu menu and prices

• Sirloin gyukatsu (basic) ₩19,500
• Mini curry ₩5,000
• Fried egg ₩1,000
• Butter ₩1,000
• Kirin draft beer ₩8,000

They're also running an event where posting a review with your receipt before you eat gets you free fried shrimp! I'd already ordered several sides plus extra butter, so I skipped the event this time haha.

Sirloin gyukatsu basic set, 11 slices of sirloin

Ichigyu's signature gyukatsu set, made with beautifully colored, tender sirloin. It usually comes sliced into 11 pieces :)

For anyone doubting whether one person can really finish all this food, here's the plate wiped completely clean as proof... haha.

How many seconds should you grill it for?

The gyukatsu comes out medium-rare, so grilling it for about 7-8 seconds tastes best! It's fun trying the three sauces — wasabi, chili sauce, and salt — one by one to find your own ultimate combo haha.

With the French Isigny butter, I'd portion it into three and let it melt on the plate beforehand, then lay the gyukatsu on top — that way you get its rich, nutty flavor along with the meat.

Gyukatsu with Isigny butter and Kirin draft beer

The sight of gyukatsu sizzling on the Isigny butter, with a Kirin draft standing by right beside it, honestly felt like the perfect dinner scene.

My best combo was clean, crisp wasabi, which cut right through the richness of the gyukatsu :)

The fun part is trying the classic gyukatsu sauce, the chili sauce, and the salt all in turn, then picking your own favorite.

Mini curry + fried egg = omurice vibes

As a Korean, rice is life, so I combined the mini curry with the fried egg to make a bowl that felt just like omurice, and enjoyed it thoroughly.

1.8 servings solo, and reasons to come back

That's how I wiped out about 1.8 servings all by myself ^^ Once you've tried Ichigyu, you'll find yourself coming back without fail — so if you're looking for a good gyukatsu spot in Seoul, I highly recommend it haha.