Gwanghwamun tenderloin gyukatsu just after break time: Ichigyu

Where is Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch?

Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch is in the basement 1F of Le Meilleur Jongno Town! Take the escalator down to B1 and you'll see it right away, so it's not hard to find at all :) I'd recommend it both for a Gwanghwamun gyukatsu date and for a workday lunch.

Booking and waiting for gyukatsu in Gwanghwamun

I'd recommend making a reservation for lunchtime or peak hours :) There are a lot of restaurants in Le Meilleur Town too, and Ichigyu seemed to have the most people of all of them haha.

There's also a CatchTable waitlist, so it's worth using that! Coming down the escalator at basement 1F of Le Meilleur Town, you'll see it right away!

How quiet is Ichigyu right after break time?

The inside of Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch was really clean and well organized! Since I went in right after break time ended, there were almost no other customers haha.

Menu, QR ordering and side dishes at Ichigyu

The menu looks like this, and ordering was easy since it's QR-based! There were tips on how to eat it deliciously and a range of side dishes to go along with it! There's also draft beer and highballs to pair with the meal, so I'll have to come back and enjoy those on a day I'm craving a drink!! >.<

They also give out plump shrimp tempura for a receipt review, so make sure to grab that too~ And you can get cheese and rice cake through promotions as well, so since you're eating anyway, I'd recommend going all out 👍

The rice pot and the mini charcoal grill

The rice comes out fluffy in this little pot! Did you know Ichigyu is secretly known for great rice..?! It's genuinely delicious 🫶🏻✨

You grill each piece one at a time on a mini charcoal stove! No oil splatters, so nice!!

Tenderloin gyukatsu that melts in your mouth

The gyukatsu arrived 🤍 To think you can taste authentic Japan right here in Gwanghwamun without even flying there,,, 😊👏🏻

Isn't it gorgeous? I ordered the tenderloin, and it melted in my mouth.. 🤍🐷

How to grill gyukatsu with butter

You grill it on the stove with butter melted on top, and this butter is the real kick..!!! They give one pat per dish so you never run short — I even had some left over haha. Maybe it was the smell of the butter, but my appetite kicked in before I'd even started eating.

Once you melt the butter on the stove, place the tenderloin gyukatsu on top and grill it to whatever doneness you like!!!🫶🏻 In that short time, the butter melts perfectly and soaks right into the meat, maximizing the flavor.

It doesn't take long to grill either, which is perfect for someone impatient like me,, haha👍 Butter-coated meat — just thinking about it makes me hungry and my mouth water,, 🤍

Pairing the rice, clear soup, salad and sauces

Once it's grilled to this point, enjoy it together with fluffy rice and miso soup!!! Since miso soup and salad are provided too, I felt like I never got tired of it!🌟

I dipped mine in salt, but there's a range of sauces that come with it too, so I'd recommend trying whichever suits your taste♡ Highly recommend Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch as a Gwanghwamun favorite 👍