Seoul Station gyukatsu restaurant, 17,000-won hamburg omurice: Ichigyu

Figuring out what to eat near the office every day is honestly kind of a chore. This time I wanted something a bit more special but still filling, so I went to Ichigyu, a gyukatsu (Japanese-style beef cutlet) specialty restaurant. From the crispy-fried gyukatsu to the hamburg omurice — soft egg paired with a hamburg steak patty — both menu items caught my eye just from their visuals. Here's a spot for anyone hunting for a Seoul Station lunch.

Where is Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch and how do you get there?

Ichigyu is within easy walking distance of Seoul Station. It's located on B1 of the LG Seoul Station Building, just a 3-minute walk from Exit 10 of Seoul Station. Whether you're using the subway, bus, or KTX, it's a convenient spot to stop by before or after your trip. It's an easy distance for office workers nearby to grab lunch, like myself, and it's also a good pick for a date or meeting near Seoul Station.

Inside Ichigyu: the room and the best time to avoid the lunch wait

Walking into Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch, the first thing I noticed was how clean and tidy the space felt. It had a soft hint of a Japanese-style diner without being too heavy or dim, making it comfortable to eat in. The tables weren't crammed together either, so it felt fine whether you're eating solo, with a coworker, or on a date. Waiting can build up after noon, so if you visit before 12pm you should be able to grab a seat with no trouble.

Ichigyu menu and prices at Seoul Station

• Ichigyu gyukatsu ₩19,500
• Hamburg omurice ₩17,000
• Steki set (sirloin) ₩19,500
• Steki-don ₩19,500
• Hotplate chap steak ₩18,000
• Yakisoba Napolitan ₩12,000
• Cold soba & shrimp tempura ₩11,000
• Japanese-style curry ₩13,000
• Mini curry ₩5,000

The signature dish for a Seoul Station office worker's lunch here is definitely the gyukatsu, but there are also filling options like the hamburg omurice. I couldn't decide between the gyukatsu and the hamburg, so I ended up ordering both to split.

Ichigyu gyukatsu, 19,500 won: crisp outside, juicy inside

The gyukatsu was the first thing that caught my eye. The neatly sliced pieces looked appetizing, and the slightly pink cross-section of the meat looked quite juicy.

Taking a bite, the coating was thin and crispy while the meat inside was tender, not tough. Since the coating wasn't thick, it didn't feel overly greasy, and the clean, mild flavor of the beef came through well. Eaten plain it had a nutty, clean taste, and adding a bit of sauce or side dish shifted the flavor enough that it never got boring. It also went well with rice, making for a pretty filling meal.

Hamburg omurice at Ichigyu, 17,000 won: soft, fluffy egg

The hamburg omurice won me over the moment it arrived, just from the visuals. Yellow egg gently wraps the rice, topped with a thick hamburg steak patty and sauce, making it look filling just to look at. The egg wasn't dry at all — it was moist and had that fluffy, soft texture — and the sauce soaked naturally into the rice, going down smoothly. Cutting into the juicy hamburg patty and eating it together brought out even richer, more savory flavor.

Rather than being intensely salty or heavy, it was a flavor anyone could enjoy comfortably, so it seems like a good pick for families with kids or anyone who likes soft, gentle dishes.

Splitting gyukatsu and hamburg omurice at Ichigyu: the verdict

Alternating bites between the gyukatsu and the omurice, each had a different charm and the pairing was satisfying. The gyukatsu's contrast of crispy coating and juicy meat was great, while the omurice's combination of egg, sauce, and hamburg patty stood out for its softness. Even though they might look like similar meat dishes, the taste and texture were clearly different, so I was glad we ordered both to share. It's a menu that's familiar yet a little special, good to seek out when your usual office lunch gets boring.

If you want to enjoy gyukatsu and hamburg omurice in a clean, tidy space, stop by Ichigyu. It's a solid Seoul Station lunch spot — good for office workers in the area as well as anyone looking for a meal before catching a train.