Lamb BBQ in Jungdong, Bucheon with corkage-free sake pairing: Ichiryu

What is Ichiryu Bucheon Hyundai Branch like?

Ichiryu Bucheon Hyundai Branch (이치류 부천현대점) is a charcoal-grilled lamb restaurant right near Bucheon City Hall Station and Bucheon Hyundai Department Store. The corkage-free policy (one 750ml bottle) means you can bring your favorite drink, which was a huge plus. If you look for lamb restaurants in Bucheon, you've probably heard of it. I happened to be visiting Bucheon, started hunting for a place to eat, and Ichiryu popped straight into my head, so off I went!!

It sits in an alley near Bucheon Hyundai Department Store, so it wasn't hard to find 👍 The entrance already has an authentic Japanese feel, so my heart was pounding before I even went in!!!!

It has been selected for the Blue Ribbon Survey 14 years in a row and was featured on the TV show Wednesday Foodie Talk (Suyo Mishikhoe), so I came with high expectations.

What about the lockers and counter seats?

The first thing I saw after walking in was the personal lockers for storing your belongings! I always worry about my clothes picking up the smell at BBQ places, so I loved this thoughtful touch haha. With no bags to worry about, I could sit comfortably at the counter (dachi seats).

The counter is U-shaped, so the staff grill right in front of you. The mood suits a date, a blind date, or a meal for two or three. For family gatherings or company dinners, there are group tables and private rooms, so you can choose by party size.

What did we order at Ichiryu Bucheon Hyundai Branch?

We ordered the two signature dishes.

• Premium French rack (₩37,000)
• Premium fresh lamb ribs (₩33,000)

Both use young lamb, so you don't need to worry much about that typical gamey smell, and since they're the signature dishes, we wanted to try them first.

Side dish lineup

The side dishes are neatly prepared too: wasabi, seasoning sauce, chili peppers, pickles (jangajji), scallion salad, pickled onions and more. It's a lineup that goes well with meat, and mixing and matching was fun! With every bite I agonized over which combo to try haha.

Can you bring sake with corkage free?

Ichiryu is corkage free up to 750ml! That's another of its strengths. We ate with the sake we had brought, and being able to enjoy it without any fuss was sooooo good! The staff even prepared glasses for us, so it was easy to drink.

Do staff grill the French rack and fresh ribs over charcoal?

At Ichiryu, a staff member grills the French rack and fresh ribs over charcoal for you, so all you have to do is eat.

They keep checking the grilling speed and doneness, so there was nothing for us to worry about, which is so easy haha. Personally, I think a place like this is great for eating while chatting. They also cut the meat into bite-size pieces one by one as it grills, so the wait never felt long.

We bought our sake at Bucheon Hyundai Department Store, and it went much better with the lamb than I expected 👍👍 Best of all, the staff grilled everything for us from start to finish, which made the meal relaxing and left us very satisfied.

French rack taste

We started with the French rack, and there's a reason it's the signature dish. The characteristic lamb aroma wasn't overpowering, and I loved the tender texture.

Fresh ribs and the salt and wasabi combo

The fresh ribs had a different charm from the French rack, with a richer, nuttier flavor, and I felt glad we ordered both. As the staff recommended, we alternated between salt, wasabi and seasoning sauce, and my personal favorite was salt with wasabi. Simple is best!!!!!

Finishing warm

After we finished the meat, the staff served the remaining meat and vegetables warm, so we could keep eating it hot to the very end. Eating it with bean sprouts and onions meant it was barely greasy at all, and the finish was clean 👍👍

They say you get a cold noodle dish or a drink if you join the review event, so do take part ☺️

Who is Ichiryu Bucheon Hyundai Branch for?

If you're looking for a lamb restaurant in Bucheon, I highly recommend Ichiryu, as my satisfaction was very high! Staff grill for you so you can eat comfortably, and the quiet atmosphere suits a date or blind date too. Above all, the 750ml corkage-free policy is a big plus, so wine and sake lovers will be even happier haha. If you want a special meal near Bucheon Hyundai Department Store, I recommend Ichiryu Bucheon Hyundai Branch 😆