Seoul Station Japanese restaurant for gyukatsu and steki: Furato

Since I often have meals near Seoul Station, I visited Furato Shokudo Seoul Square Direct Store (후라토식당 서울스퀘어 직영점) inside Seoul Square. It was my first time trying gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet), so my husband and I tried the gyukatsu and steki set meal one each. Even though we cooked both on the same brazier, the difference in texture and our preferences was clear.

Where is Furato Shokudo Seoul Square Direct Store?

The restaurant is on B1 of Seoul Square, making it easy to stop by when I was near Seoul Station. The address is B1F-4, B1, 416 Hangang-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

The hours listed in the original post were 11:00–20:50 daily, with a break time from 15:00 to 17:00. Last orders were listed as 14:30 for lunch and 20:20 for dinner, and parking was noted as available.

What was the lunch wait like, and how do you register?

Even though I arrived before the 11 a.m. opening time, there was already a line in front of the restaurant. As soon as the doors opened, the dining room filled with guests, and I saw many office workers wearing name badges coming in for lunch.

There was a Catchtable kiosk on site where I could register for the waitlist. When it is busy, I thought it could be a good idea to put your name down first and look around nearby.

What are the interior and table layout like?

The interior was not especially large, but the tables were arranged closely to fit the space. The floor-to-ceiling windows made the dining room clearly visible, so I could see how busy it was even while passing by.

The kitchen and cashier were in the middle of the restaurant. It was not a fully open kitchen, but from what I could see through the open doorway, it seemed to be kept clean.

What did we order, and how did ordering work?

We ordered a set consisting of gyukatsu, a steki set meal, and two soft drinks. We also received mini karaage (Japanese fried chicken) for writing a Naver review.

To order, I placed my phone on the black panel at the table; it tagged automatically and opened the menu. I had used QR ordering before, but this method was new to me and felt a little unfamiliar.

How do you cook the meat on the mini brazier?

Each table had a mini brazier, and once the food arrived, we lit the candle inside it and cooked the meat. Cooking it myself felt unfamiliar at first, but it was enjoyable to cook small pieces to the doneness I wanted.

The gyukatsu arrived with its exterior partly cooked. I put it on the brazier and cooked it a little more at a time, changing the level of doneness as I ate.

How did the gyukatsu and steki set meal differ?

It was my first time trying both dishes, and I preferred the steki while my husband liked the gyukatsu more. His usual preference for tonkatsu and fried foods showed through again.

What was the texture of the gyukatsu like?

The gyukatsu was crisp and nutty on the outside, while the inside was moist and tender. At first, I thought it would be fully fried and crisp like tonkatsu, but it felt closer to cooking juicy beef a little more at a time.

What did I like about the steki?

Because the steki had no breading, I could taste the meat's texture and flavor more directly. It was tender to chew with a distinctive beef aroma, and I also liked being able to cook it gradually on the brazier and eat it warm.

Salt, wasabi, chili sauce, and a sweet soy sauce were available to accompany the meat. For me, the meat flavor came through best when I seasoned it with salt and added a little wasabi. The wasabi's sharpness cut through the richness, making it easier to eat.

Was the mini karaage a good side?

The mini karaage we received for writing a review was familiar karaage rather than a distinctive house specialty. It was crisp outside and tender inside, making it a nice bite to have between the gyukatsu and steki.

How was the Isigny butter add-on?

I could add Isigny butter for ₩1,000. When I put it on the brazier with the meat, it melted and added a nutty aroma. To my taste, the difference between having the butter and not having it was quite noticeable.

If I visit again, I would order one gyukatsu and one steki set meal with my husband, and add the Isigny butter too. I liked the crispness of gyukatsu, which I was trying for the first time, but the steki with salt and wasabi suited my taste better.