# Opening-time gyukatsu and dontoro-don at Izawa, a Yeouido restaurant - By Hojin (https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-errand-window/) - Written Sep 5, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Yeongdeungpo, Seoul - Partially sponsored: This review is based on a visit where some services were provided by the business, with other costs paid by the writer. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-errand-window/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@seoul-errand-window/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/index.md) ## In short Izawa Yeouido Direct Store is a charcoal grill-your-own gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant right in front of Yeouido Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. A blocked highway turned a day trip into a lunch here at opening time, with no wait for gyukatsu, dontoro-don (fatty pork rice bowl) and karai ramen, and the gyukatsu tasted juiciest when seared only on the outside to medium-rare. One minute on foot from Yeouido Station, Izawa suits solo diners and small dates alike. ## Good to know - **Location**: Near Yeouido Station, a 1-minute walk - **Hours**: Weekdays 11:00–22:00 (break 15:00–17:00), weekends 12:00–22:00 (break 16:00–17:00) - **Last order**: 21:30 - **Parking**: Parking fees covered for ground-floor parking only; no support for basement parking - **Price range**: Gyukatsu à la carte around 19,000 won; sets priced separately - **Dishes ordered**: Gyukatsu, dontoro-don, karai ramen - **Price reference**: ₩19,000 ≈ $14 (2026-09-15) *as written by the visitor on Sep 5, 2026* Hi everyone! Today's post is a bit of an accident — my husband and I set off for a little outing, but the highway was so jammed that we decided "let's just eat first!" and made an impromptu stop at this gyukatsu spot near Yeouido Station 🍖 Thanks to that detour, we arrived right at opening time and got in with zero waiting. Turned out to be a great call 😊 If you're looking for Japanese food near Yeouido Station, a date spot in Yeouido, or gyukatsu in Yeouido, read on! ## What kind of restaurant is Izawa Yeouido Direct Store? Izawa Yeouido Direct Store is one of the standout grill-your-own gyukatsu places near Yeouido Station. Beef is wrapped in a crisp coating and served rare, then you grill it yourself on a personal tabletop charcoal grill. It's a completely different kind of meal from regular donkatsu, and it holds a pretty unique spot among Japanese restaurants near Yeouido Station 😊 Word has spread that it works for solo dining, small dates, and office lunches alike! ![Izawa Yeouido Direct Store, a gyukatsu restaurant near Yeouido Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen-01-14eyz-966.webp) ![Entrance and signage of Izawa Yeouido Direct Store](https://img.superchart.com/images/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen-02-180d6-966.webp) ![Menu board at Izawa Yeouido Direct Store](https://img.superchart.com/images/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen-03-1b4ed-966.webp) ![Gyukatsu menu lineup at Izawa Yeouido Direct Store](https://img.superchart.com/images/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen-04-119a2-m-966.webp) ![Signage for the grill-your-own gyukatsu restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen-05-1by9s-966.webp) ## Getting to Izawa and parking near Yeouido Station Izawa Yeouido Direct Store sits right in front of Yeouido Station, so transit access is honestly the best. You practically see it as soon as you exit the station — accessibility alone is reason enough to visit 🚇 > ⚠️ Parking tip! Only 1st-floor parking gets fee support. Basement parking does not get support, so please keep that in mind! Public transit is recommended if possible 😊 ## Inside Izawa: seating for solo diners and small groups The vibe at Izawa Yeouido Direct Store is cozy, perfectly suited to solo dining and small groups. We arrived right at opening time and got seated with no wait at all. But customers kept streaming in while we ate. It really confirmed this place's word-of-mouth reputation as a gyukatsu spot in Yeouido 😊 It's also cozy and atmospheric enough to recommend as a Yeouido date spot! ![Cozy interior of Izawa Yeouido Direct Store](https://img.superchart.com/images/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen-06-1v0d2-966.webp) ![Table seating suited for small groups](https://img.superchart.com/images/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen-07-1l4ue-966.webp) ## Honest review of Izawa's gyukatsu, dontoro-don and karai ramen What we ordered at Izawa Yeouido Direct Store this time: gyukatsu, dontoro-don, and karai ramen! ### How to grill Izawa's gyukatsu on the charcoal burner Among gyukatsu places in Yeouido, this one's whole flavor hinges on how you grill it! It arrives rare, with only the breaded coating crisped. You grill it yourself on the personal charcoal burner, but grill it too long and the meat toughens! I strongly recommend just lightly searing the outside for a medium-rare finish. Eaten at that point, the juices burst out and it's genuinely delicious 😋 > 💡 Gyukatsu grilling tip! Don't overcook it — just sear the outside lightly. Medium-rare is the juiciest and most delicious level. ![Gyukatsu served rare before grilling](https://img.superchart.com/images/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen-08-pono3-966.webp) ![Gyukatsu being grilled on a personal charcoal burner](https://img.superchart.com/images/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen-09-x8vqu-966.webp) ![Cross-section of gyukatsu grilled to medium-rare](https://img.superchart.com/images/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen-10-95v6t-1200.webp) ### Dontoro-don: fatty pork over rice Dontoro-don is a pork shoulder rice bowl. The sauce is a familiar, unassuming flavor. If you like a clean, mild bowl over something punchy, this should suit you. It's a good dish to share alongside the gyukatsu 😊 ![Dontoro-don, a pork shoulder rice bowl](https://img.superchart.com/images/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen-11-1dhvn-966.webp) ### Karai ramen: how spicy is it? Karai ramen has a distinct, clear spiciness. If you enjoy that sharp heat, it'll suit you well! It's perfect for sipping between bites of gyukatsu 😊 Satisfaction may vary by personal taste, so keep that in mind! ![A bowl of spicy karai ramen](https://img.superchart.com/images/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen-12-1yq49-966.webp) ![Broth and noodles of the karai ramen](https://img.superchart.com/images/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen-13-1qxnk-966.webp) ## Izawa prices: is the gyukatsu worth it? At Izawa Yeouido Direct Store, a single gyukatsu dish runs around ₩19,000, which is reasonable for a gyukatsu spot. Considering Yeouido's price level, it doesn't feel like a splurge. We ordered a variety across three dishes and enjoyed it, and for a Yeouido restaurant, it felt like good value 👍 The experience of grilling the gyukatsu yourself over the charcoal grill adds extra enjoyment too! ![Full spread of gyukatsu, rice bowl, and ramen](https://img.superchart.com/images/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen-14-s7b0q-966.webp) ![Table set up for grilling gyukatsu over charcoal](https://img.superchart.com/images/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen-15-10usz-966.webp) ![Table at Izawa Yeouido Direct Store after the meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen-16-4qi6o-966.webp) ## Frequently asked questions about Izawa Yeouido Q. Where is Izawa Yeouido Direct Store located? A. Right in front of Yeouido Station. Transit access is excellent! 🚇 Q. Would you recommend it as gyukatsu near Yeouido Station? A. Strongly recommend! Among gyukatsu spots near Yeouido Station, its grill-your-own charcoal experience really stands out 🍖 Q. Is it good as a Japanese restaurant near Yeouido Station? A. Yes! It's a standout Japanese restaurant near Yeouido Station with gyukatsu, ramen, and rice bowls all on the menu 😊 Q. Would you recommend it as a Yeouido date spot? A. Yes! The cozy, small-scale atmosphere makes it a great fit for a Yeouido date 💑 Q. How should I grill the gyukatsu for the best taste? A. I recommend searing just the outside for a medium-rare finish! Grill it too long and it can get tough 😊 Q. Is parking available? A. Only 1st-floor parking gets fee support. Basement doesn't, so public transit is recommended 🚇 Q. Is there a wait? A. If you arrive right at opening time, you can get in with no wait! After that, customers keep coming in, so an early visit is recommended 😊 Q. Is solo dining okay? A. Totally recommend it! The cozy atmosphere suits both solo diners and small groups 😊 Q. Is this a good first-timer's pick for gyukatsu in Yeouido? A. Yes! Perfect for a first try. Once you know the grilling tip, you really can't go wrong 🔥 Q. What occasions does this Yeouido restaurant suit? A. It works great for office lunches, solo dining, small dates, and meals before or after an outing! ## When to visit Izawa: seasons and occasions - 🚗 A quick meal before or after an outing → Right in front of Yeouido Station makes logistics easy! - ☀️ Weekday office lunch → Go right at opening time for a wait-free, comfortable meal! - 💑 A Yeouido date → Cozy atmosphere, perfect for a small-scale date! - 🌸 After a spring or fall stroll → A gyukatsu meal nearby after a walk in Yeouido Park! - 🍺 A casual bite after work → Easy to drop in solo or with a small group! ## Final verdict on Izawa Yeouido Direct Store We stopped in only because the highway was jammed, but it turned out to be a great call! 😄 Grilling the gyukatsu yourself on the charcoal burner is genuinely fun, and once you remember the tip — just sear the outside lightly for medium-rare — you'll enjoy it fully. Add in the unbeatable access right in front of Yeouido Station, and this is a place worth putting on your Yeouido restaurant list! If you're on the fence about gyukatsu, I strongly recommend Izawa Yeouido Direct Store 🍖✨ ## Where it is - Izawa Yeouido Direct Store (이자와 여의도직영점) - 203, 204 Izawa, 42 Yeouinaru-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 영등포구 여의나루로 42 203호, 204호 이자와 - 37.5214704, 126.9249738 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%9D%B4%EC%9E%90%EC%99%80%20%EC%97%AC%EC%9D%98%EB%8F%84%EC%A7%81%EC%98%81%EC%A0%90/@37.5214704,126.9249738,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-errand-window/izawa-yeouido-gyukatsu-dontoro-karai-ramen/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt