Yeouido gyukatsu restaurant that splits momil broth for kids: Izawa

A great restaurant for a Yeouido date.

I went to Yeouido last week and stopped by Izawa Gyukatsu Yeouido Direct Store for a delicious dinner! My husband loves gyukatsu, so we're always hunting down good gyukatsu spots in Seoul, and it turns out Izawa was actually the very first brand to introduce gyukatsu in Korea, back in 2015! You could really taste the care and aging know-how that's gone into it over the years — if you're heading to Yeouido, I'd definitely recommend giving it a try :)

Where is Izawa Yeouido Direct Store, and what are the hours and parking?

Izawa Yeouido Direct Store is at 42 Yeouinaru-ro, Units 203–204, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (Yeouido-dong, 2nd floor of Yeouido Jonghap Sangga). It's just 71m from Exit 5 of Yeouido Station, Lines 5 and 9 — right in front of the exit, so it couldn't have been easier to find.

• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Last order: 20:30
• Parking: Enter the surface lot next to Exit 5 of Yeouido Station (1 hour supported)

What does the inside of Izawa Yeouido feel like?

The thing I liked most the moment I walked into Izawa Yeouido Direct Store was the atmosphere! The whole space was wrapped in slightly dim, warm, soft lighting that felt cozy and upscale at the same time. Restaurants that are too brightly lit can feel a bit much sometimes, but here the lighting was never overdone, creating a quiet mood that was perfect for focusing on each other and talking. Thanks to that soft ambiance, it felt like stepping into a special space — I'd strongly recommend this as a Yeouido date restaurant!

The three dishes ordered at Izawa Yeouido

Looking at Izawa's menu, besides gyukatsu there were plenty of signature dishes too — steaks, ramen, mazesoba, rice bowls, and more. After much deliberation, we settled on three dishes!

• Gyukatsu set (sirloin)
• Dontoro-don (pork jowl rice bowl)
• Pan-momil

Gyukatsu set (sirloin) grilled on the mini brazier

This is Izawa's signature dish, the gyukatsu set. Carefully selected beef sirloin is coated in a thin, crispy batter and fried medium-rare, so the outside is crunchy while the inside stays soft and moist. When you place the bright red slices onto the mini grill on the table, there's a sizzle and the smell of savory beef fills the air — it's fun to watch and fun to grill, and it really added to the special Yeouido date-night mood!

Grilling it to your preferred doneness and taking a bite, the batter is so thin there's zero greasiness, and the sirloin inside is so tender it practically melts in your mouth. Dipped lightly in the special sauce or topped with a touch of wasabi, the savory juiciness of the meat mingles with the sharp wasabi kick, and you just keep going without ever getting tired of it. I think this is a dish anyone, of any age, would love.

Dontoro-don, the pork jowl rice bowl at Izawa

Dontoro-don is a rice bowl piled with pork jowl, known for its chewy texture and fine marbling. What really surprised us when the dish arrived was the amount of meat! Usually with rice bowls you end up with just rice left near the end, but with Izawa's dontoro-don, every spoonful still had meat packed in — the portion was seriously generous.

The special seasoning sauce is just sweet enough without being overpowering, and mixing it all together with the rice, pork jowl, and crunchy cabbage makes for a perfect match. The meat has a satisfying bite while staying tender, so I think kids would really enjoy this dish too!

Pan-momil served with two dipping broths for sharing with a child

Last up was pan-momil (cold buckwheat noodles), which we craved for something cool and refreshing. We ordered it to share with our child, and the owner kindly and thoughtfully prepared two separate bowls of broth for us. It was a small gesture, but that kind of warm attentiveness made the whole meal feel even better :)

Dipping the chewy buckwheat noodles into the broth topped with a thin layer of ice was the perfect way to cleanse the palate after the gyukatsu and dontoro-don. The broth's seasoning was just right, with a deep flavor — the perfect choice as summer wound down!

Is Izawa Yeouido worth it for dinner with a kid?

True to the aging know-how and recipes Izawa has built up since 2015, the quality of the gyukatsu was on another level, and grilling it ourselves to our own taste on the mini grill made for a satisfying meal :) If you're looking for a delicious, carefully made meal near Yeouido Station, or a special date restaurant with your partner, be sure to visit Izawa Yeouido Direct Store!