Gwanak beef cutlet restaurant with tabletop grilling: Izawa

I went to an insanely good restaurant near Seoul National University Entrance Station and had to leave a review. It’s Izawa Sharosugil Branch, the original gyukatsu (Japanese breaded beef cutlet) spot.

Izawa Sharosugil Branch location and hours

📍 Izawa Sharosugil Branch Address: 🏢 28 Gwanak-ro 14-gil, 2nd floor, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, South Korea (1603-1 Bongcheon-dong / near Exit 2 of Seoul National University Entrance Station) Hours: ⏰ Daily 11:30–21:30 (Last order 20:30 / weekday break time 15:00–17:00)

If you have to wait, Izawa Sharosugil Branch even offers mini momil (buckwheat noodles) or drinks as a service.

Izawa Sharosugil Branch is on the second floor, so just follow the stairs up. Since it was lunchtime, I saw group gatherings, friends, and couples—but I went by myself >_<

The gyukatsu set and basil ramen I ordered alone

So, what did I order?

Basil ramen Gyukatsu set They were both things I’d never tried before, but the reviews were good, so I ordered them with high expectations.

🥩 Personal tabletop brazier grilling: This original gyukatsu specialty restaurant lets you place lightly fried gyukatsu and steki-don (beef steak rice bowl) on a mini personal brazier and cook them yourself to your preferred doneness. 🍱 Japanese set-meal specialist: It offers a varied Japanese menu including gyukatsu sets, steki-don, and mazesoba (mixed noodles), with the rich, tender texture of beef intact. 🚶 A Sharosugil date-course stop: Located on the main street of Sharosugil near Seoul National University Entrance Station, it is great for a date or group meal in a neat, clean atmosphere.

How I grilled the gyukatsu on my personal brazier

Because gyukatsu is cooked on a personal brazier, it makes eating fun too, so I thought it would be interesting. It felt a bit like taking on a one-person serving at a Korean barbecue place? Hahaha. I found it a little difficult to eat nearly raw, haha, so I definitely cooked it—and by the end, I think I had it almost well done.

You can choose according to your taste, so I recommend grilling as you go and finding the doneness you like~

At last, the gyukatsu set arrived. Look how pretty the meat inside was! This gyukatsu set from Izawa Sharosugil Branch felt genuinely fresh.

You grill the gyukatsu on your personal brazier, but if you put too much on at once, the heat seems to transfer too well and it can burn. So I ate mine in three batches~ During the second batch, the grill plate started burning, so for the last one I asked them to replace it.

They can replace the grill plate, so if it seems to be burning, call a staff member and ask for a new one.

Even though it was my first time trying it, it was seriously so delicious—oh my goodness, it made me think I need to come to Seoul more often. It was also something I had never eaten in Anyang, and Hongi said they had tried it in Pangyo~ I was really glad my first gyukatsu was at Izawa Sharosugil Branch, because if a food you try for the first time is bad, you think, “Ah, maybe this just isn’t for me.” But my first gyukatsu was so, so delicious that I was happy the whole time I ate it.

The unexpectedly perfect match: basil ramen

If you like ramen, I really, really want to recommend the basil ramen.

Izawa Sharosugil Branch could sell basil ramen alone and still become a restaurant with a line out the door.

Basil ramen was a menu item I had never even considered. I’d had basil pasta, but basil ramen? I’ve been really into basil lately and was curious, so I ordered it—and finished every last bit.

I couldn’t imagine what it would taste like. It was very light and clean, and I wondered whether it would work with ramen—but it went together incredibly well. It was clean, with basil flavor and an extra layer of umami. Personally, even if I come alone next time, I’ll absolutely order it this way again. The two dishes I ordered alone today were both such delicious picks that it would be hard to give either one up; I was so satisfied with both.

Solo-dining space and side-dish refills

On top of that, the atmosphere was comfortable even when dining alone, with plenty of room for a solo meal. I was happy with the space, and both the owner and staff were incredibly kind.

When I asked for side-dish refills, they gave me this much, haha.

There is salt somewhere on the table, but I only found it when I was almost done. The sauce with the gyukatsu was delicious too, but if you are looking for salt, just know it is on the table^^ At the original gyukatsu spot Izawa in Sharosugil, I’d recommend the delicious menu for everyone—whether you are alone, with friends, or having a family gathering.