Gongdeok 79,000 won hanwoo lunch with sea bream pot rice: Usu

Hi, this is Yeoun, leaving behind the lingering scent of the day. (✿◡‿◡)

I had a special lunch appointment in Gongdeok and went looking for somewhere private. This time I visited Usu, a hanwoo (Korean beef) dining restaurant in Gongdeok.

Every seat here is a private room, and it's not just about the beef — the course runs from bite-sized dishes to pot rice to dessert, which I found really impressive! Here's my review, centered on the 79,000 won Lunch C course I had:)

Usu Gongdeok's 79,000 won lunch course in 3 lines

• A hanwoo dining restaurant in Gongdeok where every seat is a private room.
• The 79,000 won lunch course runs from bite-sized dishes to 1++ hanwoo, sea bream pot rice, and dessert.
• The main hanwoo, grilled at your own personal burner, was especially memorable.

Where Usu Gongdeok is and where to park

Usu Gongdeok is located on the basement 2nd floor of the Lotte Castle President commercial building on Mapo-daero. If you're driving, park at basement 3 of the Lotte Castle commercial building and take the escalator up to B2.

Parking is also supported for 3 hours, so there's plenty of room to enjoy the course slowly.

All private rooms: inside Usu Gongdeok

Walking into Usu Gongdeok, the first thing that caught my eye was the interior.

With its dark tones and modern design overall, I got an upscale impression the moment I stepped in.

Since every seat is a separate private room, you can talk without worrying about the table next to you, which made the whole meal comfortable. It seems like a good spot for occasions that call for some formality, like a Gongdeok meeting-the-parents lunch or a family gathering.

Usu Gongdeok menu: which courses can you order?

Usu offers everything from single hanwoo grill orders to full courses, and I ordered the Lunch C course.

Eating the Lunch C course at Usu, dish by dish

The showing plate and first dish: beef-and-chicken jinjuk (thick porridge)

While waiting for the meal, they first showed us a display box holding the hanwoo and ingredients to be used that day. With dry ice effects added too, my expectations went up right from the start of the course!

The first dish out was the beef-and-chicken jinjuk. Made with hanwoo bone broth and chicken stock, it was a warm, savory dish that got the appetite going. Nurungji (crispy rice) and various garnishes added texture too.

Three bite-sized dishes, eaten in order

Fun bite-sized dishes meant to be eaten in a specific order. Personally, this was a memorable part of the early course.

We were told to eat in this order: scallop & clam → bulgogi sandwich → lobster taco. Eating them in that sequence, the logic made sense — a soft start with scallop and clam, then the truffle-scented bulgogi sandwich, and finally the crispy lobster taco. Of the three, the lobster taco at the end was the one that stuck with me.

Shiitake with shrimp and young zucchini

Next up was shiitake shrimp and zucchini — shrimp stuffed between shiitake mushrooms. The mushroom's texture came through well, and the shrimp inside had a nice springy bite. Kind of like a soft version of menbosha.

Dipping it in the peanut tofu sauce added a nice nuttiness too.

Sea bream pot rice showing and abalone five-color gardenia noodles

Midway through the course, they first showed us the finished sea bream pot rice still in the pot. We weren't eating it like that — they said it would be served alongside the hanwoo as a full spread, which built up my anticipation.

Abalone five-color gardenia noodles.

The distinct sea scent of gamtae (seaweed) combined with the chewy abalone helped settle the rich flavors of the earlier dishes. It felt like a palate reset before moving on to the main hanwoo.

1++ hanwoo on your own tabletop grill

The 1++ hanwoo I'd been waiting for. The sea bream pot rice shown earlier was mixed well and served in individual bowls, along with hanwoo seaweed soup and neat side dishes, all set out as one spread.

And here's what I liked best about the day: you get to grill the hanwoo yourself, on your own personal burner.

At places where someone grills everything for you all at once, even if you want to eat slowly, you naturally end up eating faster because you're worried the meat will cool down or overcook.

Here, I could put on just as much as I wanted to eat, grill it to my preferred doneness, and enjoy it slowly at my own pace.

Sea bream pot rice and hanwoo seaweed soup, served as a full spread

With the hanwoo seaweed soup added to the sea bream pot rice from earlier, the full spread felt quite hearty.

Since I happened to visit just a few days before my birthday, getting hanwoo and warm seaweed soup together felt like an unexpected birthday meal :)

The last dessert: corn ice cream

On to the last dessert. Corn-based ice cream, with apricot jam laid underneath.

The freshness of apricot and cheongyul (green citrus) refreshed my palate once more after the meat and rice. That sweet-tart touch was really lovely 😍

Tips for visiting and ordering at Usu Gongdeok

• It's convenient to reserve ahead via Naver or Catch Table.
• Parking is supported for 3 hours regardless of the number of cars, so you can enjoy the course meal without rushing.
• This hanwoo dining spot allows corkage, and it's free.
• Set aside plenty of time. It suits a slow-paced meal enjoyed while chatting.
• It's a hanwoo dining restaurant, but there was quite a good drink selection and soju was available too, so it works fine for a family meal.

Overall verdict on Usu Gongdeok

What impressed me most about the Lunch C course at Usu Gongdeok was how clean the flow of the meal was from start to finish. The staff explained each dish in detail as it came, and they were so kind that I left in a good mood even after finishing everything.

A place that comes to mind when you want to slowly enjoy a meal on a special day — Usu

Who Usu Gongdeok is best for

• Those looking for a special lunch course among Gongdeok restaurants
• Those who want to enjoy a course meal at a hanwoo restaurant near Gongdeok Station
• Those seeking a private room restaurant in Gongdeok
• Those preparing a meeting-the-parents lunch or important family gathering in Gongdeok
• Those planning a formal meal with their parents
• Those looking for a date or anniversary meal spot in Gongdeok