Spicy gyudon and karaage for two at Gyudongjip, a Noryangjin eatery

A close friend of mine and I made a last-minute plan to meet up around Noryangjin! Trying to decide what to eat, I suddenly craved gyudon and rice bowls, so I decided to check out the place said to do it best in Noryangjin!

The verdict, in short,

• The tender, well-seasoned gyudon meat passed the test
• The yukhoe-don and karaage were satisfying too!

A simple yet filling meal — let me introduce "Gyudongjip" (규동집).

Where is Gyudongjip in Noryangjin, and what are its hours?

Gyudongjip is near the Noryangjin food alley, close to Sinnae-tteok. It's under 10 minutes on foot from Noryangjin Station.

Gyudongjip greets you with a sleek, polished interior.

Open 11:00 / close 21:00. Notice of a price increase from September 1! Even with the increase, ₩8,500 for a single gyudon is still a pretty great price.

The outdoor menu board, still showing the pre-increase prices.

Solo seats and the atmosphere inside Gyudongjip

Inside Gyudongjip there are solo seats for eating alone as well as tables for 3-4.

It seemed popular with students and locals nearby — the place was packed with customers.

There's plum tea for dessert too, so you can eat well and cleanse your palate afterward!

Before ordering, I checked out the restroom, and I was surprised how clean and well-equipped it was! A lot of women are picky about restrooms, but this one really passes the test! Would be great for a Noryangjin date too.

How to order at the Gyudongjip kiosk (and how to eat each bowl)

Above the kiosk at Gyudongjip there's a usage guide, along with instructions on how to eat gyudon, yukhoe-don, and chashu-don. Places like this usually taste good, haha!

They also sell curry, and it looked like curry refills were possible! There were various sides, and melon soda among the drinks! Plus the kiosk had eating instructions for each dish, which felt thoughtful and considerate.

The basic banchan — pickled radish and kimchi!

What two people ordered: yukhoe-don set, gyudon set, spicy gyudon and karaage

We ordered the yukhoe-don set for ₩10,900, the gyudon set for ₩10,900, the karai (spicy gyudon) for ₩8,500, and karaage 5p for ₩5,000. My friend eats a lot, so we added an extra spicy gyudon to share!

The gyudon set and yukhoe-don set came out first~

The spicy gyudon and karaage arrived together too~

What exactly is gyudon?

Gyudon (규동) is Japan's version of what gimbap (seaweed rice roll) is to a place like Gimbap Cheonguk here — a defining everyday meal! Simply put, it's a beef bulgogi rice bowl, and in Japan it's the classic quick, cheap meal, sold by chains like Sukiya, Yoshinoya, and Matsuya for around 500 yen, giving it that same convenient, everyday feel that gimbap has here.

Gyudongjip's own gyudon was tender and well-seasoned — delicious!

Yukhoe-don: the raw beef bowl set at Gyudongjip

Next up, yukhoe-don! Yukhoe (raw beef tartare) is also one of the hot K-food items in Japan right now, usually sold at yakiniku-style places. There's a texture the Japanese call "dorodoro" (どろどろ) — thick and sticky, the kind found in yam, natto, or raw egg — and people who love that texture also tend to love yukhoe, apparently.

Gyudongjip's yukhoe-don combined fresh vegetables and yukhoe beautifully — delicious!

The mini buckwheat noodles that came alongside were refreshingly cool too~

There was also a spicy sauce for the gyudon and a soup broth — such a generous spread, giving lots of different kinds of satisfaction!

The karaage, fried up nicely — yum!! The juices just burst out~!

Mix the yukhoe-don well, then wrap a bite in seaweed~

The gyudon was even better with a poached egg and the spicy sauce mixed in...!! Gyudon really can't be without a poached egg...! We enjoyed a variety of Japanese home-style dishes, at a great price and with real satisfaction!! (Ugh, so full~)

Why Gyudongjip is worth it for a quick, cheap meal in Noryangjin

These days, the old cheap, no-frills spots in Noryangjin seem to be disappearing more and more, which is a bit of a shame, but the area still gets plenty of visitors for dates or outings thanks to its easy access to the Han River and its proximity to Yeongdeungpo and Yeouido. Along with that, quite a few newer good restaurants have popped up, and Gyudongjip is one of them — genuinely good value and genuinely tasty, which left me satisfied!

It seems perfect for a simple meal in Noryangjin, a light family meal out, a Noryangjin date, a date over in nearby Yeouido, or even eating solo in Noryangjin! Great for just grabbing a quick, satisfying meal. If you've been looking for a place to eat around Noryangjin, I'd recommend this one.