Seoul hanwoo omakase counter date in Seongsu: Usiya Seongsu Branch

My husband and I decided it had been a while since we'd had dinner somewhere with a nice atmosphere, so we headed to Seongsu. These days Seongsu is so hot that the streets were packed with people. After getting jostled around all afternoon, we really wanted somewhere quiet and upscale for dinner — and Usiya Seongsu Branch, the hanwoo (Korean beef) spot we visited, sits just one block off the chaotic main alleys, so we got the quiet meal we were after.

Today I'm writing up our review of Usiya Seongsu Branch, which we were completely satisfied with!

Where is Usiya Seongsu Branch, and what does it look like?

Usiya Seongsu Branch is on the second floor on Ttukseom-ro 9-gil in Seongsu. I'd already looked up Usiya a lot beforehand so the sign was familiar to me, but seeing it in person it was even cuter. It felt like a completely different vibe from the noisy Seongsu streets, which I liked even more.

Walking up the stairs, the entrance was right there, and it looked upscale from the very entrance, which I loved.

Inside Usiya Seongsu Branch: the dachi counter and the mood

The inside of Usiya Seongsu Branch felt compact but well laid out. It was dark-toned overall with soft lighting, which gave it an even more upscale feel. There were dachi counter seats where you can watch the chefs cook right in front of you.

Further inside there were also table seats for sitting more privately as a couple. We were about to take a table, but then thought — no, there's just something about the dachi counter!! — and sat there instead.

Usiya Seongsu Branch menu and C course price

Usiya, a Seongsu beef restaurant, has a variety of course meals available. Among them we ordered the Usiya C course, which covers both value and a solid composition. It was ₩59,000, and thinking that we could enjoy a beef omakase at this price made me happy even before eating.

The 59,000 won Usiya C course, cut by cut

• Usiya C course, ₩59,000
• Beef tongue, striploin, flat iron, brisket, grilled ox tail, grilled beef tripe
• Meal course (aged kimchi stew, rice)

After ordering, they first brought out the basic side dishes and salad, and even those basic sides felt upscale.

They showed us the ingredients for today's C course first, and I was already excited at this point.

Once the fire in the grill was heated up, they explained today's cuts again — true to a Seongsu hanwoo restaurant, the marbling and color of the meat were exceptional, which got my expectations up again. Grilling beef well is actually hard, right? But since they said they'd grill everything from start to finish, I felt reassured.

Beef tongue

The first thing they grilled for us was beef tongue. Since it was my first time trying beef tongue, I had a tiny bit of hesitation, but after tasting it I was completely won over. Lightly grilled, it had a chewy yet slightly crunchy texture that I loved.

Striploin

The striploin was thick and full of juice.

We put the striploin on top of the grilled eggplant they served alongside it, and it was even more clean-tasting and nutty — very satisfying.

Flat iron (bujaesal)

Flat iron really doesn't need words, right? It completely melted in my mouth.

They grilled zucchini and mushrooms alongside it too, and the vegetables were well seasoned too, which made the beef's flavor stand out even more.

It was clean-tasting yet tender, and we kept exclaiming as we ate. The chef grilling the meat recommended the right salt or sauce for each cut, which made it even more delicious.

Brisket (eopjinsal)

I always thought brisket was a cut where the taste changes a lot depending on who's grilling it.

It was grilled so well that a rich, nutty fat flavor really came through. Since the meat was seasoned with teriyaki sauce, it wasn't greasy at all and was genuinely delicious. My husband loved it so much he said the brisket was the best part of the meal.

Grilled ox tail

I was very curious what the grilled ox tail would look like — it came out as thin meat still on the bone, so it was fun to pick it up with our hands and gnaw at it. They thoughtfully gave us disposable gloves too.

Grilled beef tripe (teukyang)

The last of the grilled items was the grilled beef tripe, and its chewy texture was so appealing that I thought it would make a perfect drinking snack. We had somewhere to be afterward, so it was a shame we couldn't have a drink alongside this delicious dish.

The finishing meal: rice with aged kimchi stew

Right as we were finishing up all the meat in the course, they brought out the aged kimchi stew and rice for the finishing meal so the flow wouldn't break. The seasoning on this aged kimchi stew was genuinely so good I couldn't stop eating with my spoon. Mixing rice into the deep, rich broth made for the perfect ending.

Is Usiya Seongsu Branch worth it for a hanwoo omakase dinner?

I thought Seongsu was really hectic, but visiting Usiya surprised me with how quiet and upscale it was, and I was really satisfied to have such a great meal. If you're looking for a Seongsu hanwoo restaurant with attentive service and high quality, I'd recommend Usiya.

In particular, the good-value Usiya C course has a solid composition and every dish is delicious, so even first-time visitors should be able to enjoy it without any complaints.