Gyukatsu restaurant by Apple Store Yeouido, no weekend wait: Izawa

A weekend meal with no wait at Izawa Yeouido Direct Store

Izawa Yeouido Direct Store is a gyukatsu specialist on the 2nd floor of Yeouido Jonghap Sangga, right in front of Yeouido Station Exit 5. Weekends in Yeouido usually mean packed restaurants and long waits inside IFC Mall or The Hyundai Seoul, so after stopping by the Yeouido Apple Store last weekend, I wanted somewhere quiet and unhurried — and headed straight to this branch of Izawa in the shopping complex right by the subway exit.

It's right in the building in front of Yeouido Station Exit 5, so access is excellent. Being right by the subway makes it super convenient before or after shopping, and it's a great meetup spot too. Check Naver Place for Chuseok holiday hours.

• Hours 11:00–21:00
• Break time 15:00–17:00
• 1 hour free parking: ground lot O / basement X
• 203, 204, 2nd floor, Yeouido Jonghap Sangga, 42 Yeouinaru-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul

The office-district side of Yeouido especially is quiet and calm on weekends, great for a relaxed meal. There were even signed photos in the fridge by the entrance — looks like Lim Young-woong and Hiibop have both stopped by.

Visit tip: Izawa seats you only once your whole party arrives

A sign at the entrance of Izawa says the full party must arrive before you can be seated. Since Yeouido's office crowd floods this place on weekday lunches, if you're visiting during a busy lunch hour, I'd recommend timing your arrival with your group.

Inside Izawa: atmosphere and seating

The inside of Izawa Yeouido Direct Store has a cozy feel. There are the standard 2-person tables plus window counter seats set up for solo diners.

Izawa menu and prices, from the 18,000 won gyukatsu set

Ordering is easy — just tap through the tablet at your table. Besides their signature gyukatsu set, there's also a steki set without the breading if you want something lighter, plus rice bowls and noodle dishes.

• Gyudon ₩12,000, dontoro-don ₩13,500
• Mase soba, spicy ramen, basil ramen ₩12,000 each
• Gyukatsu set ₩18,000 × 2 people (double ₩33,000 / extra meat ₩15,000)

The free mini curry that comes with the coupon

I didn't know this on my first visit, but you can get a mini curry. The curry is genuinely delicious, so grab that ₩4,000 perk too.

Sirloin gyukatsu grilled on the hot stone plate at your table

Time for the review of tender gyukatsu grilled on a little tabletop brazier, paired with spicy curry! Rice, soup, sauce, and side dishes all came neatly arranged on a tray. Use the tablet to request a plate swap, more heat, or side dish refills.

That glossy, gorgeous sirloin visual — my mouth was watering before it even hit the grill.

Thick-cut sirloin with vivid red marbling — grilled on the brazier to whatever doneness you like.

That sizzle and the smell drifting up — cook it just lightly, and the first bite gets an instant "wow."

Tender and savory, filling your whole mouth. Add a bit of sharp wasabi and it's magic — you just can't stop eating! : D

It's good with just salt, but I really loved this special yellow sauce. The cabbage dressing was great too, so refilling the salad is a must.

Izawa's curry: low expectations, surprisingly good

Honestly I didn't expect much from the curry, but the flavor and the rich sauce genuinely surprised me. Even for a spice wimp like me it was a pleasantly spicy kind of good, an absolute rice thief. The sauce bowl was generously full, so I added an extra bowl of rice and mixed it all together. Refilled the hot soup and slurped it down too.

Fresh stone plate swapped in, round two begins ^^

Why Izawa works before or after Yeouido shopping, and for dates

Izawa Yeouido Direct Store sits right along the path to IFC Mall and The Hyundai Seoul, making it perfect to stop by before or after shopping. Looking for a meetup or date spot? Come on a quiet weekend and skip the waiting stress.