Noryangjin Japanese rice bowls at Gyudongjip, Dongjak

After work I was sooo hungry, so I came back to this Noryangjin favorite, Gyudongjip. It’s in Noryangjin’s food alley, and we genuinely come here all the time—because it never lets us down. A restaurant we trusttt.

What is the weekday evening wait like at Gyudongjip in Noryangjin?

When we arrived, there was outdoor waiting seating. It seems to start filling up around 6:00 to 6:30 p.m., so we usually come around 5:30 if we can. Today too, we got in right away with no wait—faster and different from everyone else, haha.

Inside Gyudongjip and the restroom atmosphere

There were quite a few people inside. Even on a weekday evening, everyone was quietly enjoying their food. The fact that it’s packed every time we come feels like proof that it’s a good spot.

Open this curtain and there’s a sink, plus the restroom door.

I popped into the restroom before getting seated, and it was clean and decorated so cutely. The curtain detail was low-key adorable, and it was thoughtful that mist and amenities were neatly arranged in a basket beside the sink.

Took a selfie too.. 💗 The Christmas wreath on the mirror is ridiculously cute lol.

These are the single-person tables. It’s a nice Noryangjin date spot that’s also great for eating alone, since each table has its own kiosk for easy ordering. Cutlery and side dishes are already set out too.

Before heading to our table, I poured myself a glass of iced tea from the self-service bar. With lots of ice, it totally chased away the heat.

This is meant for after the meal, but I have it before and after hehe ^_^

The chashu-don set and gyudon spread we chose at Gyudongjip

The prices are sooo kind. I think this every time: no matter how stuffed we get, it doesn’t go over ₩15,000 per person. On the set-meal screen, the gyudon spread, yukhoe-don set, and sous-vide chashu-don set all looked so good that choosing was hard.

First, this is the new yukhoe bibim soba—soba noodles mixed with raw beef. It’s apparently a spicy, tangy seasonal menu, so I absolutely need to try it next time. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t really experiment and always orders what I know, so I stuck with my usual.

There are lots of sides too, so it’s easy to add karaage or shrimp tempura. In the end, we started light with our usual chashu-don set and gyudon spread.

A satisfying gyudon set with shrimp tempura and udon broth

The ⭐️gyudon set⭐️ arrived, and it was nicely set up with shrimp tempura and an egg. The udon broth here is seriously delicious, so for me it’s soba <<<< udon. We added one piece of shrimp tempura, and it paired so well with the gyudon and udon.

Ordering just one thing somehow feels a little lacking, and this is perfect for a balanced carbs-protein-fat meal. Even the noodles were satisfying, so it was just right for two people to share.

The soft-boiled egg that came as a side. It was nicely bouncy and in the perfect state for mixing into the bowl.

Crisp-outside, juicy-inside chashu-don with wasabi and grated daikon

Okay, moving on—chashu-don!!! The browned exterior alone looked packed with juices, and ahhh it was sooo delicious. This is the part that makes me more satisfied every single visit.

My companion’s chashu-don set. Personally, the chashu-don was tastier today. It looked tempting from every angle, and the thickness of that meat was no joke.

Anyway, if it’s your first time here, you have to try the chashu-don and gyudon. Pairing the sauce with wasabi and grated daikon for a little kick is one of this place’s special touches.

I picked up a piece of chashu-don and wow—the outside was crisp while the inside was moist and tender. My companion said it was insanely good and clapped like a seal.

A filling meal for a hungry weekday evening

We rushed over because we were hungry, and once again Gyudongjip didn’t disappoint ^ㅠ^ It was a day of filling up properly on a weekday evening. Next time, I need to try that new yukhoe bibim soba too. Hehe!