Sharosu-gil gyukatsu lunch set, solo-friendly Japanese spot: Izawa

On a day when I decided to have lunch near Seoul National University Station, I looked around for somewhere to go and ended up at Izawa Sharosugil Branch on Sharosu-gil.

I usually wanted something a bit different from regular donkatsu (breaded pork cutlet), and I'd heard you can grill gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) here yourself to your liking — crispy outside, soft inside — so I was curious.

This time I went with a companion and we ordered the gyukatsu set and the steki (steak) set separately. It's an easy walk from Seoul National University Station toward Sharosu-gil, so it was a convenient stop when looking for a lunch spot.

Where is Izawa Sharosugil Branch?

• Address: 28 Gwanak-ro14-gil, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 2nd floor (Sharosu-gil near Seoul National University Station)
• Dishes tried: gyukatsu set, steki set, and more

What is the restaurant like inside?

Going up to the second floor and stepping inside, the first thing I noticed was the overall clean, tidy atmosphere.

White walls paired with wood-toned tables gave it a warm feel overall, and the soft lighting made it comfortable to eat here.

Each table has a tablet ordering system, so we could look through the menu slowly and pick what we wanted.

Best of all, once we sat down, a stand that looked like a small charcoal burner was already set up. Being able to grill the gyukatsu yourself at the table, as much or as little as you like, rather than just eating it as-is, was one of Izawa's signature touches.

Ordering the gyukatsu set and the steki set

That day we ordered one gyukatsu set and one steki set.

Gyukatsu is beef coated in breadcrumbs and fried so the outside turns crispy.

Unlike regular donkatsu, which is served fully cooked through, gyukatsu comes with the inside still soft, meant to be finished on the table's mini burner to your own taste.

The steki set is also a grill-it-yourself style, so having both on the table let us compare their different charms.

Set menus for two or three people

Looking through the menu, besides the single sets I'd ordered, there were also a 2-person set and a 2-3-person set.

The 2-person set seemed like a good option for splitting several dishes when visiting as a couple — it seemed like it would work well for a Sharosu-gil date, too.

For a group of friends, the 2-3-person set looked good for picking a variety of dishes to share. And they said that even for larger groups, they'll arrange seating if you let them know in advance.

For groups of 5 or more, if you contact the restaurant ahead of your visit, they'll push tables together so everyone can sit together — worth keeping in mind for friend gatherings or larger meals.

Is it comfortable for eating alone?

We visited on a Sunday during early lunch, and while eating I noticed another guest dining alone.

The clean atmosphere and neatly plated dishes made it seem not at all awkward as a solo dining spot. So I felt this is a place that works for all kinds of visits — couple dates, meals with friends, larger group gatherings, or eating alone at ease.

The neatly plated side dishes

Before the main dishes arrived, we checked out the side dishes and sauces.

Several side dishes were divided across a black rectangular plate, which looked clean and tidy at a glance.

There were sides like takana (pickled mustard greens) and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) that pair well with meat, plus tsuyu and wasabi sauce. The wasabi sauce in particular cut through the richness of the meat while adding a sharp kick, and it suited the gyukatsu well.

The gyukatsu that catches your eye first

The gyukatsu sat neatly arranged on the black plate, and the red hue visible on the cut surface made it look quite different from a regular donkatsu.

The outer breading was fried crispy, while the meat inside was still soft.

I first tried a piece as-is, then placed some on the mini burner to grill it little by little. Setting the meat gently on the burner, you could watch it sizzle and cook.

Personally, I found this process pretty fun. Rather than cooking it long, grilling it a little at a time to your preference changed the texture each time, even though it was the same gyukatsu. The crispy breading stayed alive on the outside while the inside kept its soft texture.

How each sauce changes the flavor

I tried dipping the gyukatsu into each of the sauces served with it one by one.

Dipped in the soy-based sauce, it took on a clean, savory-salty flavor; with the sesame-based sauce, the nutty richness came through more strongly.

Personally, I liked the combination with a bit of wasabi on top. The pungent kick of wasabi added to the meat's own flavor made my mouth feel clean and refreshed. Placing a piece of gyukatsu over rice with a touch of wasabi also worked really well together.

The steki set my companion ordered

My companion who came along ordered the steki set.

Unlike the gyukatsu, this meat had no breading, so the marbling and surface of the meat were fully visible. Seeing the thickly sliced meat gave a different impression from the gyukatsu.

I tried a bite shared over, and the meat's own flavor came through richly, with an impressively soft texture. It had a different charm from enjoying the gyukatsu's crispy breading together with the soft meat.

A filling meal with rice and miso soup

True to being a full set meal, rice and miso soup came along with it.

The rice had a light sprinkling of sesame and seaweed flakes, giving off a nutty aroma and pairing well with the meat.

The miso soup was warm with a savory depth, and taking a spoonful between bites of meat felt like it cleared my palate.

With a piece of gyukatsu, rice, a bit of wasabi, and a spoonful of miso soup, the meal felt quite filling.

Worth a trip for gyukatsu near Seoul National University Station?

This time I tried the gyukatsu set and the steki set at Izawa Sharosugil Branch.

What stuck with me was being able to enjoy meat in a different way from a typical donkatsu.

In particular, since gyukatsu isn't served fully cooked but instead lets you control the doneness yourself on the table's mini burner, the eating process itself was fun.

It's a good place to visit on a day when you're craving a Japanese-style meat dish on Sharosu-gil, or when you want something a bit different from your usual donkatsu.

If you're looking for a lunch spot on Sharosu-gil near Seoul National University Station, this is one I'd recommend to anyone searching for a beef cutlet restaurant in the area.

Izawa Sharosugil Branch, the beef cutlet restaurant near Seoul National University Station where I could experience the gyukatsu's crispy breading and soft meat, plus the fun of grilling it to my own taste, all at once. Next time, I'd like to try some of the other menu items too :)