# Smoke-free basement gyukatsu in Gwanghwamun with 3 sauces: Ichigyu - By Yubin (https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-diner-lamp/) - Written Sep 21, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Jongno, Seoul - Sponsored: This visit was sponsored by the business. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-diner-lamp/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@seoul-diner-lamp/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement/index.md) ## In short Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on the first basement floor of Lemeilleur Jongno Town in Jongno, Seoul. Taking a half-day off for a weekday evening visit, the writer ordered two Ichigyu gyukatsu (striploin) at 19,500 won each with a Kirin draft beer and a mini draft beer, dipping the cutlets in wasabi, salt and chili sauce and grilling them with butter on the tabletop brazier. Even underground the room stayed smoke-free and comfortable and the coating was crisp, making Ichigyu Gwanghwamun an easy pick for a Gwanghwamun office lunch or a solo meal. ## Good to know - **Hours**: Daily 11:00–21:00 (break 15:00–17:00, last order 20:30) - **Parking**: Free parking in the building for 2 hours - **Reservations**: Available via Naver Reservation and CatchTable; groups welcome - **Ichigyu gyukatsu (striploin)**: 19,500 won - **Kirin mini draft beer**: 4,000 won (200ml) - **Kirin draft beer**: 8,000 won (420ml) - **Location**: B123, B1F, Lemeilleur Jongno Town, 19 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul *as written by the visitor on Sep 21, 2026* A crispy yet juicy gyukatsu spot in Gwanghwamun — Ichigyu ![Main image of Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch, a Gwanghwamun gyukatsu restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement-01-1pme1-900.webp) ## Ichigyu Gwanghwamun hours, parking and reservations Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch is on the basement floor of Lemeilleur Jongno Town and opens daily from 11:00 to 21:00. Break time runs 15:00–17:00, with last order at 20:30. - Daily 11:00–21:00 (break time 15:00–17:00 / last order 20:30) - 🅿️⭕️ Free parking in the building for 2 hours - 👥 Groups welcome - 🕖 Naver Reservation / CatchTable available ![Entrance to Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch in the basement of Lemeilleur Jongno Town](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement-02-1yjqk-900.webp) I'd just scored tickets for Gyeongbokgung's night opening and was debating what to eat for dinner when I suddenly craved gyukatsu. The reviews for Ichigyu were so good I came in with high expectations ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝ ![Walkway leading into Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement-03-16fz1-900.webp) ![Interior view of Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement-04-i6oqa-900.webp) The moment I walked in, I could tell — this must be a favorite spot for Gwanghwamun office workers. If I worked around here, I think I'd come once every three days haha ![Smoke-free seating in Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch's basement dining room](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement-05-1u9rd-900.webp) ## Is the basement dining room smoky? How Ichigyu Gwanghwamun feels inside Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch is located underground, but it was so clean and comfortable I assumed it had just opened recently. At some gyukatsu places the whole room fills with smoke, but here there was none of that — really nice. The interior was cozy and cute too. ![Gyukatsu menu at Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement-06-jkjqa-900.webp) ## What we ordered at Ichigyu Gwanghwamun and what it cost We ordered two servings of the Ichigyu gyukatsu (striploin) à la carte plus two beers. The menu was easy to read and pretty cute too. I considered a set menu, but the sets don't include beer, so we just went à la carte. So here's what we got...! - Ichigyu gyukatsu — ₩19,500 - Kirin draft mini beer — ₩4,000 - Kirin draft beer — ₩8,000 ![A 420ml Kirin draft beer and a 200ml mini beer side by side](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement-07-1q0r7-900.webp) How do you resist beer after work? How do you resist beer with gyukatsu? I have low alcohol tolerance so I got the mini beer, but the size difference from the regular one was huge lol. It's 420ml vs 200ml, but it felt like even more of a gap than that. ![Kirin draft mini beer served in a small glass](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement-08-120nf-m-900.webp) But it was so cute. Perfect for when you want just one light drink (speaking as a lightweight). Having a beer after work put me in the best mood... Kirin tastes even better because it's so smooth. ![Table setting of gyukatsu at Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement-09-1s9rv-900.webp) ## The rice bowl reveal and the marbling on the striploin gyukatsu This is the first gyukatsu place I've been to that serves rice with this much care. Got a shot of the rice reveal ![Bowl of rice opened at Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement-10-13see-1200.webp) Can you see the marbling on this gyukatsu...? I've never seen marbling like this on a gyukatsu before. ![Cross-section of striploin gyukatsu showing marbling](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement-11-1ophn-900.webp) ### Butter on top: grilling the gyukatsu on the tabletop brazier And another great thing about Ichigyu...! They give you butter like this. I love butter. So I got to enjoy an even richer, nuttier gyukatsu. I nearly passed out from the smell of the butter melting — and the heat from the brazier was just right for cooking the meat to your liking. ![Gyukatsu grilled with butter on the tabletop brazier](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement-12-a4gzu-900.webp) ## Wasabi, salt and chili sauce: which dip works best Ichigyu Gwanghwamun's gyukatsu comes with wasabi, salt, and chili sauce on the side. With such a varied sauce lineup, it was fun to try different combinations. Wasabi, whoosh I liked that with gyukatsu you can adjust the doneness to your taste. Ichigyu's gyukatsu wasn't chewy at all, and the breading was really crispy — we ate it up happily. ![A piece of gyukatsu eaten with wasabi, salt, and chili sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement-13-1m8u5-900.webp) Looks like the hamburg omurice and steki-don are popular menu items too. If I come back, I'll have to try the omurice. ## Is Ichigyu Gwanghwamun better for lunch, a date or a solo meal? Gwanghwamun office workers probably already know this place, but I'll recommend it again anyway. It seems great for a lunch spot, a date restaurant around Gwanghwamun, and even for eating alone. I wish there was one in front of my office. ![Sunset seen on the Gwanghwamun street after the meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement-14-dzzp6-900.webp) The sunset I saw walking out after the meal was so pretty. Double the good mood. Taking a half-day off and playing on a weekday is truly happiness. ## Where it is - Ichigyu Gwanghwamun Branch (이치규 광화문점) - 19 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea, B1 B123 (서울특별시 종로구 종로 19 르메이에르종로타운 지하1층 B123호) - 서울특별시 종로구 종로 19 르메이에르종로타운 지하1층 B123호 - 37.5708344, 126.9798606 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%9D%B4%EC%B9%98%EA%B7%9C%20%EA%B4%91%ED%99%94%EB%AC%B8%EC%A0%90/@37.5708344,126.9798606,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-diner-lamp/gwanghwamun-gyukatsu-sauces-basement/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt