Late lunch gyukatsu near Yeouido Station: Izawa Japanese restaurant

Individual-grill gyukatsu near Yeouido Station

While looking for a neat yet special, delicious lunch amid Yeouido’s weekday office-worker crowds, I suddenly had a craving for crisp-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside gyukatsu (Japanese breaded beef cutlet) for the first time in ages. So off I went to Izawa Yeouido Direct Store, a gyukatsu spot near Yeouido Station.

Restaurant exterior

Izawa Yeouido Direct Store, Korea’s first original gyukatsu specialist, is close to Yeouido Station, so it is easy to reach. Its tidy Japanese-style interior made me feel like I was traveling the moment I stepped inside. I picked it with a colleague who works in Yeouido because it had great ratings and picture-perfect food.

This Yeouido Station gyukatsu restaurant works just as well for office lunch gatherings as it does for a date at a good Yeouido restaurant with someone special. Izawa offers one hour of free parking at the ground-level parking lot on the first floor.

What were the lunch wait and atmosphere like?

Inside the restaurant

The atmosphere was calm and cozy when I walked in~~ Every table had a neatly set individual grill, and getting to cook the meat yourself on this little grill is such a huge part of this place’s charm. So good, haha. I heard there can be quite a wait with office workers at lunchtime, but thankfully I arrived late in the lunch period and was seated right away, haha. There are also seats for people dining alone, so it seemed quite popular as a solo-dining spot near Yeouido Station.

It was cozy and quiet, just right for sharing good food and conversation. After visiting, I could really see why so many people recommend it.

From gyukatsu to steki and noodle dishes

Menu selection and prices

So many options!! There is breaded gyukatsu, steki—striploin steak without breading—plus ramen and mazesoba (saucy mixed noodles). If you love rich, nutty Japanese flavors, I really hope you try the gyukatsu, the Japanese dish featured at this Yeouido Station restaurant!!!

Carefully selected beef, a cooking method perfected through long research, an aging process full of care and skill, and Izawa’s own special sauces and recipes.

Crisp, juicy gyukatsu and its sauce pairings

What we ordered

Beyond the food itself, the overall cleanliness of the restaurant and the staff’s kind service made the entire meal feel so pleasant. I was very happy with the time spent enjoying delicious food calmly in such a neat space!

The instant I took a bite, the outside was crisp and the inside was so juicy that the meat juices burst out—it was truly art. It was nutty and delicious on its own, but dipping it in the accompanying special soy sauce or spicy wasabi sauce brought the flavor to life even more. So yummy, haha.

My favorite pairing was a little pungent fresh wasabi dipped in soy sauce. A big spoonful of rice topped with a nicely cooked piece of gyukatsu, plus salad on the side, made for a perfect meal. The portion was more filling than expected too, so it is a Yeouido gyukatsu restaurant where a woman can enjoy a truly full meal without regretting the last piece.

Tips for grilling it deliciously on the individual grill

We turned on our individual grills and started placing pieces of meat on them one by one. From the moment the delicious sizzle began and that savory beef aroma filled the air, I was already in awe at the thought of eating it, haha. If you cook it too long, it can become tough, so the best tip is to place only as much as you will eat at a time and lightly brown both sides!

After such a generous and delicious meal, we even promised to try other menu items next time!! If you are craving neat Japanese food or want to make tasty memories somewhere with a nice atmosphere, be sure to stop by at least once!!! I have already saved it to my own treasured restaurant list—I think I will visit often when I want to fill a tired body and mind after work with a hearty, delicious meal, haha. With convenient transportation, great food, and a great atmosphere, I think I will keep coming back to Izawa from time to time. Recommended~~!!

• Daily 11:00–21:00
• Break time 15:00–17:00
• Last order 20:30