Hongdae okonomiyaki weekend lunch for three, with wagyu: Gusa Yeonnam

On a rare relaxed weekend I wanted some good teppanyaki (Japanese iron-griddle cooking), so I headed into the alleys of Yeonnam-dong. After some debate I picked Gusa Yeonnam, which has been getting a lot of buzz lately as a Japanese teppan spot in the neighborhood. The wagyu plate, karai yakisoba and Gusa okonomiyaki we ordered were generous and really satisfying.

Gusa Yeonnam hours and how to book

Gusa Yeonnam is open Monday to Friday 17:00–24:00 and on weekends 12:00–24:00. They say they run without days off unless something special comes up, and they take groups, reservations, takeout, and offer Wi-Fi and parking.

• Address: B1, Yeontral Tower, 6 Donggyo-ro 30-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (Donggyo-dong)
• Hours: Mon–Fri 17:00–24:00, weekends 12:00–24:00
• Facilities: groups welcome, reservations, takeout, Wi-Fi, parking

They serve lunch on weekends, so we went at weekend lunchtime. It's a very popular place, so I'd definitely recommend booking through Catch Table or Naver first.

There may be a wait on weekends or at peak times, so I'd book ahead through Naver or similar. It stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, which makes it a great place for a late drink in Yeonnam-dong.

What are the atmosphere and seating like at Gusa Yeonnam?

Gusa Yeonnam has a big counter (dachi) in front of the teppan grill, regular tables and outdoor tables. I bet the outdoor tables would be amazing on a nice day, with a street-stall vibe. It's so hot these days that we ate indoors.

The moment you step in, it feels like a restaurant in Japan. Calm tones, a kind of stainless-steel-ish look (?), and soft lighting make it comfy yet stylish.

The most appealing spot is of course the big counter in front of the teppan. You can watch the chefs put on a show cooking on the giant griddle! There were three of us and I figured the counter would be awkward, so we skipped it.

Besides the counter there are neat tables that are good for chatting, so it seems great for get-togethers with friends and also as a date spot.

It isn't overly loud, and cute Japanese-style trinkets are placed around the space with good taste, so you can fully enjoy that hip yet homey Yeonnam-dong feel.

Gusa Yeonnam menu and prices

Gusa Yeonnam offers a varied lineup of popular but high-quality Japanese teppan dishes, from top-grade grilled wagyu to okonomiyaki (savory cabbage pancake) and yakisoba (stir-fried noodles). The menu has a lean, solid selection with no filler.

• Wagyu plate (wagyu and grilled black tiger shrimp): ₩39,000
• Gusa okonomiyaki: ₩16,000
• Karai yakisoba: ₩15,000

There's also a good range of highballs, sake and draft beer to go with light side dishes.

If you write a Naver review, they give you a cream cheese platter as a freebie. A platter as a freebie is seriously generous,, but the three of us are light eaters and didn't think we'd eat that much, so we skipped the review event.

How was the food at Gusa Yeonnam?

You order by QR code, and right after we ordered, raw cabbage and the basic sauces for eating with the wagyu came out.

Karai yakisoba (₩15,000): much spicier than expected

The karai (spicy) yakisoba was a great choice. The chewy noodles were deeply coated in a spicy-salty secret sauce, and the pleasant kick wakes up your mouth and refreshes it after the rich wagyu and okonomiyaki we ate earlier.

But it's spicier and more intense than I expected. Slurp it down in one go and you're in trouble, cough cough... You have to twirl it up like spaghetti and take it in one bite. Super spicy but also bold and delicious... I thought there's no better pairing for a cold highball or draft beer.

Wagyu plate (₩39,000): I regret ordering only 150g

The wagyu plate is a ₩39,000 dish with 150g of wagyu and grilled black tiger shrimp. It arrived freshly made, steam still rising, and honestly the look of it is art.. The wagyu plate (150g) was better than I expected. The beef, seared fast at high heat on the teppan to lock in the juices, melted in my mouth with a rich nuttiness. The meat is just so good that I regret ordering only 150g.

The crunchy texture of the bean sprouts and mushrooms grilled alongside goes so well with the wagyu. There are plenty of vegetables, and it comes with as many as 4 black tiger shrimp.

Put a little wasabi on the wagyu and dip it in the sauce, and it cuts the richness completely. I was in awe right down to the last piece.

Gusa okonomiyaki (₩16,000): the best dish of the day

The Gusa okonomiyaki we tried next was a signature dish that really shows off Gusa Yeonnam's skill. The thick-fried batter is packed with fresh cabbage, meat and seafood, so every bite is substantial.

The generous special sauce, mayonnaise and the umami of katsuobushi (bonito flakes) on top were perfectly balanced. Unlike ordinary okonomiyaki that mostly tastes of flour, the inside was very moist and soft, so I kept reaching for more. Honestly the best dish of the day. It's sooo good, I think I'll go back just to eat this.

Gusa Yeonnam verdict: who is it for?

A teppanyaki specialist hidden like a treasure in the Yeonnam-dong alleys, Gusa Yeonnam has all three: flavor, atmosphere and performance. Every dish fresh off the griddle was made with care, and the freshness of the ingredients came through, so my mouth was happy the whole meal.

I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a Yeonnam-dong date that's fun to watch and fun to eat, or who wants proper Japanese teppan food with a drink. I plan to come back soon with friends for okonomiyaki and a draft beer.