Mapo restaurant for family yakiniku on a hot stone: Gyudo

I found a place that was honestly even tastier than what I had in Japan. It is Premium Gyukatsu Gyudo Mapo Gongdeok Main Branch, famous around Mapo Station! If you like gyukatsu, you seriously need to try this place at least once.

Right by Mapo Station Exit 1, with a weekend wait

I visited on a weekend, and there was already a wait before opening... clearly it has earned its popular-restaurant reputation haha. Register for the wait on the kiosk at the entrance, and they will call people in order. It is right in front of Mapo Station Exit 1, on B1 of the Hanwha Obelisk shopping arcade, so you are practically there as soon as you get off the subway.

Location: Unit 138, B1, Obelisk Shopping Arcade, 33 Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (1 minute on foot from Mapo Station Exit 1) Hours: Daily 11:30–21:00 (break time 15:00–17:00 / last order 14:20, 20:10) Parking: Mapo Hanwha Obelisk parking lot; free parking available

Japanese-style counter and table seating

Both outside and inside, the vibe is seriously so good haha. From the fox statue at the entrance to the noren (traditional fabric doorway curtain), it has such a Japanese feel that it almost feels like a trip. There is also a separate closet for outerwear, and the mix of counter and table seating makes it an ideal date spot.

Open the table drawer and you will find furikake toppings and Gyudo goods inside—these little details are so nice haha.

Even the tableware was so stylish. The cutlery comes in a pouch like this, and it felt as if I had arrived at a fancy ryokan (traditional Japanese inn)...!

Gyudo's signature dishes and self-bar broth

There are three signature dishes! The smoked gyukatsu set is ₩22,000, the smoked yakiniku set is ₩22,000, and niku mabushi (beef rice bowl) is ₩22,000.

The fun part is choosing your own broth at the self bar. You can pick corn silk tea, katsuobushi (bonito flakes), or tonkotsu (pork-bone broth); pour it over your rice like ochazuke (rice in tea or broth), and the finish is perfect. There is refillable kamameshi-style rice too, so there is no need to worry about running short on rice haha.

The rice comes as dolsotbap (rice in a hot stone pot), like it was cooked in a traditional cauldron. As someone who loves pot rice, this was truly the best... The grains were so wonderfully sticky that I kept eating it even without any side dishes.

A crispy smoked gyukatsu set

The smoked gyukatsu set finally arrived! The beef was so fresh and the breading completely crispy... Look at that cross-section—can you believe that color? The spread is generous too, with cabbage salad, an onsen egg (soft-cooked egg), and side dishes.

You grill the meat yourself on the warm stone, and watching it sizzle was seriously mouthwatering... The best thing is being able to cook it exactly how you want! I gave mine just a quick cook to medium-rare, added a little wasabi, and it was pure bliss.

The smoked yakiniku set my family loved

For another dish, we ordered the smoked yakiniku set. The thinly sliced beef filled the plate... Can you see that marbling?

When you put the beef on the stone, it cooks with that wonderful sizzle, and eating it right away as you grill was so delicious... This is a flavor you could never get from delivery, which makes this place worth dining out for. I went with my family, and my mom and younger sister especially loved it! It is exactly the kind of flavor women would love, I guess haha.

You can also pay with Seoul Pay or Kakao Pay! I honestly think this was even tastier than the gyukatsu I had in Japan. Premium Gyukatsu Gyudo Mapo Gongdeok Main Branch is great for dates, family meals, or even dining alone. I will be back whenever I am craving gyukatsu!