Mapo restaurant for a solo smoked gyukatsu set: Gyudo

Today, I’m introducing Premium Gyukatsu Gyudo Mapo Gongdeok Main Branch, which I visited because I was in the Gongdeok area and wanted something tasty for a solo meal! I usually love gyukatsu, so I looked up a good gyukatsu spot near Gongdeok and finally visited it myself haha.

Premium Gyukatsu Gyudo Mapo Gongdeok Main Branch

It is at B1, Unit 138, Obelisk APT Shopping Arcade, 33 Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul, and is open daily from 11:30 to 21:00. There is a break time from 15:00 to 17:00.

A comfortable atmosphere for dining alone

I visited alone, and the atmosphere was more comfortable for solo dining than I expected.

Since gyukatsu is fun to grill right at your table, I wondered if it might feel a little awkward alone. But once I started eating, it was actually nice to take my time and eat at my own pace haha. It seemed like an easy place to visit if you are looking for somewhere to eat alone near Gongdeok, too!

As a gyukatsu specialty restaurant, the menu was centered on gyukatsu. From the various options, I ordered the smoked gyukatsu set (₩22,000) that day!

I really liked that the utensils were kept so neatly!

How the smoked gyukatsu set tasted

This is the smoked gyukatsu set I ordered! As soon as it arrived, the gyukatsu itself looked so appetizing haha.

Unlike regular gyukatsu, this was a smoked version, so I was curious about the flavor. Even before grilling the meat, I could catch a subtle smoky aroma, which made me even more excited!

It was delicious dipped in the sauce, and it was delicious even on its own, so I tried it in all sorts of combinations haha.

Grill it yourself to your preferred doneness

With gyukatsu, the fun is definitely grilling as much as you want yourself haha. I lightly seared the outside, and the meat was tender and juicy! Since I could grill it little by little to my preferred doneness, it was more fun than cooking it all at once and I could keep an eye on how the meat was doing lol.

It was my first time trying smoked gyukatsu, and I liked that the aroma was subtle rather than too strong. You could still really taste the meat itself, while the light smokiness added extra depth with every bite!

These fried shrimp came with the review event. They were really nutty and paired so well with the sauce—I enjoyed them so much!

Free rice refills and a nurungji self-service bar

If the standard portion of rice was not enough, I loved that I could get as much as I wanted for free at the self-service bar haha.

There was also a self-service bar on one side, with three kinds of nurungji (scorched rice) to have with the pot-cooked rice! I liked that there were three choices rather than just one, so I could pick according to my taste haha.

After the gyukatsu and pot-cooked rice, finishing with warm nurungji made it feel like such a hearty meal :)

Premium Gyukatsu Gyudo Mapo Gongdeok Main Branch was where I stopped for a solo meal in Gongdeok! I tried the smoked gyukatsu set that day, and it was delicious, with the fun of grilling it myself plus that subtle smoky aroma haha. I especially liked being able to grill it right away to my preferred doneness, so even the final piece stayed warm! It was easy to eat alone and seemed like a nice place to visit when you want a filling meal.