Seoul Station gyukatsu restaurant, 7,000-won karaage add-on: Ichigyu

While looking for somewhere to eat dinner near Seoul Station, I went for gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) at Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch. It was fun grilling the meat myself, and the atmosphere felt fine whether you're eating solo or on a date. Today I'll share my review of this dinner spot near Seoul Station.

Where is Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch, and is there parking?

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is about a one-minute walk from Exit 10 of Seoul Station on Line 4. I actually arrived by train that day and came here for dinner. Being so close to Seoul Station makes it convenient for an after-work dinner or a meal before or after taking the train. Paid parking is available in the building, but it's ₩1,000 per 10 minutes, so worth keeping in mind.

Inside Ichigyu: atmosphere and seats for solo diners

The interior is decorated in an overall wood tone, and a meat-shaped model hangs near the entrance, giving it the feel of a proper gyukatsu specialty restaurant.

Most of the seating is tables for two or four, and each table has its own mini brazier for grilling the gyukatsu.

The seats aren't packed too tightly together, so it's comfortable to chat with company while eating. Around 7pm on the weekday I visited, the restaurant was about a third full, with a mix of pairs and solo diners.

I came alone and it didn't feel awkward at all — there were plenty of solo diners, but also plenty of couples, so it seemed like a fine choice for a dinner date too. There's a Catch Table waitlist kiosk at the entrance.

Ichigyu Seoul Station menu and prices

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch offers a range of sets and à la carte dishes centered on gyukatsu. The signature sirloin gyukatsu and steak sets come in Basic (₩19,500) and Double (₩32,000), with extra meat for ₩14,000 and extra butter for ₩1,000.

À la carte options include hamburg omurice (₩17,000), steak-don (₩19,500), iron-plate chop steak (₩18,000), and Japanese curry (₩13,000). Noodle dishes are yakisoba Napolitan (₩12,000) and cold soba with fried shrimp (₩11,000).

Side dishes included fried egg (₩1,000), karaage & fried shrimp (₩7,000), and mini curry (₩5,000). Drinks ranged from Kirin draft beer (₩4,000) to soft drinks (₩3,000), ramune soda (₩4,000), and Suntory highball (₩8,000). I ordered the gyukatsu basic set (₩19,500) and the karaage & fried shrimp side (₩7,000).

Sirloin gyukatsu basic set, 19,500 won: grilling it on the brazier

I arrived just after 7pm on a weekday and got seated right away with no wait. Less than 10 minutes after ordering, the gyukatsu set arrived — rice, fried tofu soup, gyukatsu, salad, along with wasabi, gyukatsu sauce, chili, and salt.

First, I brushed butter onto the mini brazier and grilled the gyukatsu piece by piece to my liking. The butter provided was Isigny butter.

At first I cooked it a bit more, then tried searing just the outside the next time — and for my taste, lightly seared brought out the juiciness and tender texture much better.

The meat wasn't tough at all and was easy to eat with a tender bite. After trying it with sauce, salt, and wasabi one by one, my personal favorite combination was lightly seared gyukatsu with salt and wasabi together.

Mixing in the cabbage salad and pickled vegetables here and there also cut through the richness.

Karaage & fried shrimp side, 7,000 won

The karaage & fried shrimp side came with two pieces of fried shrimp, karaage, crispy crackers, and dipping sauce.

The shrimp, fried whole including the head, was crispy outside and springy inside, and the karaage had that same crispy-outside-juicy-inside texture that paired well with the gyukatsu. The basic set alone might be a little light on portion, but ordering the side alongside it made for a satisfying, filling dinner.

Is Ichigyu Seoul Station worth it for a solo dinner?

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is a place close to Seoul Station where you can comfortably enjoy grilling your own gyukatsu. My personal favorite was lightly seared gyukatsu with salt and wasabi. It felt totally comfortable to eat dinner alone here, and it also seemed like a fine choice for a couples' date. If you're looking for a dinner spot or gyukatsu near Seoul Station, it's worth a visit.