Seongdong Japanese restaurant for first beef katsu: Gyuen Dang

I thought beef katsu was simply served fried, so I had no idea it would be something you grill once more in butter. Gyuen Dang Seongsu Main Branch (규엔당 성수본점) is on the second floor of a building tucked into the alleys near Seongsu Station; it is a chain, but its main branch is in Seongsu.

It had been a while since I had gone to Seongsu, so I was looking through all sorts of dinner options when beef katsu caught my eye. I do like fried food, but I had never had beef katsu before, so I was half excited and half curious. Since it was a chain, I was not expecting too much, but I figured I might as well try the main branch.

How to get to Gyuen Dang Seongsu Main Branch

Come out of Exit 3 of Seongsu Station and walk a little way into the alleys, and you will see the building that houses Gyuen Dang Seongsu Main Branch. The restaurant is on the second floor, while another shop occupies the first, so it is easy to get confused—do check the sign once more before heading upstairs. At first I only looked at the first floor and wondered where it was, haha.

Reservations, waiting, and the atmosphere

We had reserved 7 p.m. dinner in advance, but people were already waiting outside when we arrived. Thanks to our reservation, we could go straight in.

It was bustling with diners as soon as we entered, so I could not take many interior photos. The space is divided almost like rooms, with around three or four tables of two- and four-person seating in each section. I have never actually been to Japan, but it felt so cozy that I wondered if a Japanese home-style beef katsu place might feel like this.

Signature dishes and what we ordered

Gyuen Dang Seongsu Main Branch's signature dishes are tenderloin beef katsu and sirloin beef katsu, and omurice also seemed to be one of the popular menu choices.

They offer two pieces of mini okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) for a review event, so do give it a try! I skipped it because I did not think I could finish everything.

• Sirloin beef katsu ₩19,000
• Brie cheese omurice ₩23,000
• Ramune soda ₩4,000

Sirloin beef katsu grilled on a butter brazier

How to eat beef katsu

There was a guide on the table explaining how to eat the beef katsu: first taste it as served, then place Izny butter on it and grill it, followed by wasabi, salt, and the house sauce.

A staff member lights the brazier for you. If the flame goes out midway through, press the call button beside the table and they will relight it.

I placed the butter in the middle of the brazier like a flower and arranged the meat in a circle around it. Watching it sizzle as the butter melted was fun even just for taking photos.

When I picked up a piece, there was absolutely no gamey smell, and the grain seemed to soften as I chewed. It was my first time trying beef katsu, and I finally understood why everyone talks about it.

How to eat the Brie cheese omurice

Brie is a cheese aged with white mold on its exterior; its surface holds its shape while the inside ripens soft. To eat it, make a cut, wait for it to open up, then pour on the sauce.

The Brie cheese omurice looked delicious from the start, and the rice was plated in such a neat, rounded mound too.

It did not split perfectly neatly when I cut into it, but just seeing it open made me happy.

The cheese made it rich and soft at once, and with the sauce poured over it, the omelet was tender rather than dry. I just kept reaching for another spoonful.

It also came with clear soup and a salad, making for a generous full spread.

Ramune soda

We ordered Ramune soda in case we got thirsty, and its sweet flavor was lovely, just as you would expect from a Japanese soda. Ramune really seems to complete the mood when you are having Japanese food, haha.

Things to know before visiting

• Location: 2F, 10 Yeonmujang 7ga-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 성동구 연무장7가길 10 2층)
• Hours: daily 11:30–22:00; weekday break time 15:00–17:00; last order 21:00
• Getting there: walk from Exit 3 of Seongsu Station
• Parking: there is no on-site parking, so a nearby public lot is recommended. The SKV1 Tower parking lot or the SKV Tower iParking private lot are convenient.
• Reservations: available; waits are common on weekend evenings

I recommend it for

• Anyone looking for a good beef katsu restaurant in Seongsu
• Anyone looking for Japanese food for a Seongsu date
• Anyone who enjoys the fun of grilling food themselves in butter

Keep these points in mind

• At dinner time, there may be a wait if you go without a reservation.
• There is no on-site parking, so be sure to check nearby parking options.
• It is on the second floor, not the first, so take care not to get confused.

Gyuen Dang Seongsu Main Branch is a Seongsu beef katsu spot where you also get the fun of grilling it again in butter.

It was the day I tried beef katsu for the first time, and its tender texture without any gamey smell made me understand why people love it. Next time, I would like to come back for the slightly pricier tenderloin beef katsu. I personally expect it might be even more tender.

There are lots of little gift shops and cafés nearby, so it would make a nice route to visit at lunch, eat, and then take a stroll. There does tend to be a wait, though, so I recommend making a reservation before you go.