# Mapo restaurant for smoked gyukatsu and chicken nanban: Gyudo - By Saeha M. (https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-counter-lamp/) - Written Sep 9, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Mapo, Seoul - Sponsored: This visit was sponsored by the business. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-counter-lamp/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@seoul-counter-lamp/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/index.md) ## In short Premium Gyukatsu Gyudo Mapo Gongdeok Main Branch is a Japanese-style dining restaurant near Mapo Station in Mapo, Seoul. I grilled a 22,000 won smoked gyukatsu set on a personal brazier, added 7,000 won chicken nanban, and finished with katsuo broth ochazuke. Verdict: a lovely pick when an ordinary meal simply will not do. ## Good to know - **Address**: 33 Mapo-daero, Obelisk APT Shopping Arcade B1, Unit 138, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 마포구 마포대로 33 오벨리스크 APT 상가 지하 1층 138호) - **Hours**: Daily 11:30–21:00 - **Break time**: 15:00–17:00 - **Last order**: Lunch 14:20 / dinner 20:10 - **What we ordered**: 2 smoked gyukatsu sets, 1 chicken nanban - **Smoked gyukatsu set**: ₩22,000 - **Chicken nanban**: ₩7,000 - **Gyukatsu tenderloin**: Limited to 15 servings daily *as written by the visitor on Sep 9, 2026* ## Premium Gyukatsu Gyudo Mapo Gongdeok Main Branch, close to Mapo Station I had something to do at Mapo Station and heard there was a great gyukatsu spot nearby, so I headed to Gyudo! The atmosphere and quality were both so good—I was really, really happy with it. It is only 29 m from Exit 1 of Mapo Station, so getting there from the station was super easy. ### A Japanese-inspired exterior and calm interior Gyudo is right by the entrance to the shopping arcade. Does it not feel distinctly Japanese from the doorway? The wood-toned exterior and Japanese-style noren curtain made it obvious, even from afar, that this was a gyukatsu restaurant haha. There was even a little cat ornament by the entrance, which was subtly cute and great for photos! 🐈 Once inside, the restaurant was much more spacious than I expected! The wood-toned interior and soft lighting felt warm yet clean, with that neat, distinctive atmosphere of a Japanese restaurant haha. One thing I personally loved was the coat storage lockers. It can be awkward finding somewhere to put your coat once you take it off to eat, so this felt very thoughtful. 👍🏻 ![Inside Gyudo, with coat storage lockers](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-01-l4lha-900.webp) Rather than being a noisy, hectic restaurant, it felt more like clean, calm Japanese-style dining. That makes it a nice setting not only for an office-worker lunch, but also dinner with friends, a date, or a family gathering. 🤍 ## Gyudo's menu and what we ordered ![Gyudo menu with a Japanese-inspired design](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-02-8x0ek-900.webp) ![Guide to the Gyudo menu](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-03-1cxwn-900.webp) Here is the menu—it was so pretty, with a Japanese-inspired yet upscale design haha. It says Gyudo uses beef striploin! ![Menu note about beef striploin](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-04-1kri7-900.webp) ![Usage guide on the Gyudo menu](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-05-wwsy6-900.webp) The menu also listed useful information in one place, including how to eat the meal, the self-service bar, and the self-service corner, so it was easy to check. ![Gyukatsu and yakiniku menu guide](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-06-ba5ek-900.webp) ![Nikku mabushi menu guide](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-07-1xvq6-900.webp) ![Teppan steak menu guide](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-08-1iyya-900.webp) As you would expect from a gyukatsu specialist, the choices were so varied, from gyukatsu to yakiniku, nikku mabushi, and teppan steak. ![Gyudo side-menu selection](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-09-c4yy1-900.webp) There was a good selection of sides too. We ordered two smoked gyukatsu sets (₩22,000 × 2) and one chicken nanban (₩7,000) haha. ![Order of smoked gyukatsu sets and chicken nanban](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-10-13qrv-900.webp) Gyukatsu tenderloin is also limited to 15 servings a day, so I would love to try that next time too! 🤩 One unusual detail was that, while most restaurant tables have one drawer per table, there was a drawer at every seat. Open your personal drawer and you will find a cutlery pouch and a tea bag of furikake topping haha. ![Personal drawer with cutlery and furikake](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-11-d22ok-900.webp) This brazier is a custom-made personal bangjja yugi (traditional Korean brassware) grill, commissioned directly by the restaurant. They use an offset smoker and wood-smoking method, which made me even more excited for the food haha. ## Broth combining sungnyung and ochazuke ![Guide to Gyudo's variety of broths](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-12-14r6h-900.webp) Gyudo near Mapo Station has an unusual ochazuke concept: it combines Korean sungnyung (scorched-rice infusion) with Japanese ochazuke (rice with broth or tea). ![Broth and kettle for ochazuke](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-13-1agqf-900.webp) Several broths are available. Just fill the kettle above with the broth you want, bring it back, and pour it into your pot of rice. ## Smoked gyukatsu set grilled on a personal brazier ![Full smoked gyukatsu set meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-14-gwfch-900.webp) Not long after, our ordered gyukatsu arrived haha. It came as a beautifully arranged full spread, so of course I took lots of photos first. ![Smoked gyukatsu set with pot-cooked rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-15-1qqgj-900.webp) The basic set includes sauce, salt, soup, pot-cooked rice, gyukatsu, and onsen tamago (Japanese soft-cooked egg). The gyukatsu arrives crisp-fried on the outside and still pink inside, so you can cook it to your preferred doneness. Does the quality of the beef not look amazing even in the photos??! ![Gyukatsu placed on a personal brazier](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-16-qcfbs-900.webp) Once the brazier was hot, I put the meat on it, and the sizzle alone was so appetite-stirring haha 🥹 The exterior was crisp while the inside retained beef's signature tenderness, which I loved. In particular, the gentle smoky aroma made it feel a little different from regular gyukatsu. 👍🏻🤍 I first tried it with just a little salt, and that was the pairing that let the meat's own flavor shine most. It was also nice with the accompanying sauce, without feeling heavy haha. ## Chicken nanban on the side ![Chicken nanban topped with tartar sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-17-fi9ff-900.webp) And here is the chicken nanban we ordered alongside it. I had expected it to be a light side, but it looked even more delicious than I expected haha. ![Crispy chicken nanban serving](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-18-6bnil-900.webp) ![Chicken nanban with tartar sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-19-p8iey-900.webp) Crisply fried chicken was piled with plenty of tartar sauce. It came with two wings and two drumettes, making it just right as a side haha. Above all, the sauce on top went so well with it. It was tangy, nutty, and smooth, and paired nicely with the vegetables too! 👍🏻 ![Chicken nanban side dish](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-20-3gzaj-900.webp) ![Chicken nanban served with vegetables](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-21-1j80l-900.webp) I mixed the onsen tamago into the rice, and it was so delicious—soft and nutty haha. Is this not true soy sauce egg rice~! 🥚🍳 ![Pot-cooked rice mixed with onsen tamago](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-22-1iwtm-900.webp) For the sungnyung broth, I chose katsuo broth. ![Sungnyung with katsuo broth](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-23-1ajob-900.webp) I added the furikake from the drawer and had a bite. Since it was katsuo broth, it was full of umami with a savory saltiness haha. The furikake also added a lovely bit of texture. ![Katsuo broth with furikake added](https://img.superchart.com/images/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo-24-7ae0l-900.webp) A spoonful of sungnyung broth → a bite of gyukatsu → onsen tamago rice → a bite of chicken nanban: I kept eating that sequence, and it never got tiring. I could have eaten forever haha ✨ ## Overall thoughts - It is exactly the place to visit when you want premium gyukatsu in a clean atmosphere!! I definitely agree it is a great Mapo Station restaurant. 🤎 - The gentle smoky aroma in particular made the gyukatsu feel even more special haha. - It is a great place to visit near Mapo Station when you think, “Today, I want something delicious instead of an ordinary meal!” ✨ - Because the atmosphere is quiet, I recommend it for family gatherings, meetups with friends, or a date too~! 👍🏻 ## Where it is - Premium Gyukatsu Gyudo Mapo Gongdeok Main Branch (프리미엄 규카츠 규도 마포공덕 본점) - 33 Mapo-daero, Obelisk APT Shopping Arcade B1, Unit 138, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 마포구 마포대로 33 오벨리스크 APT 상가 지하 1층 138호) - 서울특별시 마포구 마포대로 33 오벨리스크 APT 상가 지하1층 138호 - 37.539913, 126.9454561 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%ED%94%84%EB%A6%AC%EB%AF%B8%EC%97%84%20%EA%B7%9C%EC%B9%B4%EC%B8%A0%20%EA%B7%9C%EB%8F%84%20%EB%A7%88%ED%8F%AC%EA%B3%B5%EB%8D%95%20%EB%B3%B8%EC%A0%90/@37.539913,126.9454561,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-counter-lamp/mapo-smoked-gyukatsu-chicken-nanban-gyudo/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt