Protein box takeout at Jonggak after a trip: 52g chicken oat, Wystab

Where is Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun near Jonggak Station?

Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun is at Basement level 1, Unit 122-2, 19 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 249 m from Jonggak Station Exit 1. It offers delivery, takeout and reservations, has separate men's and women's restrooms, and has Wi-Fi, group seating, a waiting area and free parking. Seating includes standard seats, bar tables and single-person seats, and you can pay with local currency (card and mobile types), Zero Pay or easy-pay apps.

I stopped by Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun (와이스타브 다이어트 광화문점), a great salad spot for eating solo in Gwanghwamun. I've been on a diet since coming back from my trip, and this is a place I visit often because I can eat healthy and still get my protein.

Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun is the best diet food in Gwanghwamun, and it's easy to find too: it's right next to the escalator that goes down from level 1 to the basement of Le Meilleur Jongno Town (르메이에르 종로타운).

Wystab Diet says it's Korea's first protein box specialty shop, and every menu item has at least 30g of protein, so you can diet and still feel full.

Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun opening hours and days off

Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun opens at 10:00 and closes at 21:00 from Monday to Friday, and is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. There is no break time.

Are there seats for eating alone at Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun?

I went around 1 p.m. on a weekday, and true to its reputation as a solo-dining favorite, there were a lot of people eating alone. The seating is set up so you can enjoy a meal alone or with friends, a partner or family. Customers were crowded toward the back so I couldn't get a photo, but there are also plenty of single bar seats.

What's on the protein box menu at Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun?

The menu runs from the new pasta (pastang, 파스탕) to protein don (rice bowls), the Hearty Diet Set, mala protein boxes, chicken protein boxes, smoked duck protein boxes, beef protein boxes, salmon protein boxes, sides and drinks. Beyond protein boxes, there are also salads and poke, so you can pick whatever suits you.

It might be worth joining the various events too.

How long is the wait for takeout at Wystab?

Oh! There were customers waiting, so I figured takeout would get pushed back, but it was ready in no time. Every menu item at Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun is said to be prepared within 3 to 5 minutes of ordering, so it saves you lunchtime too.

What I ordered is today's hearty dinner.

My sister's pick: Chicken Oat Protein Box, 487kcal and 52g protein

My sister ordered the Chicken Oat Protein Box for a clean diet. It's 487kcal in total with a whopping 52g of protein. It's built on oats, one of the world's top 10 superfoods, with chicken breast, chickpeas, lettuce, green beans, broccoli, bell pepper, olives, onion flakes and more, and with the recommended sauce it hits the spot. With so much protein in it, there was no hunger even though we were dieting, which made it even more satisfying.

My pick: Smoked Duck Light Protein Box, 445kcal and 26g protein

What I chose was the Smoked Duck Light Protein Box. I skipped the rice and noodles, so it's a salad at 445kcal with 26g of protein. The protein is lower than the chicken breast menu, but the tender smoked duck went really well with the vegetables, and it was light and easy to enjoy.

150g of smoked duck with chickpeas, lettuce, green beans, broccoli, bell pepper, olives and onion flakes! It's a diet meal you wouldn't get tired of eating every single day.

Who is Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun good for?

• If you want to diet but don't want only health food
• If you hate being hungry after a small diet meal
• If you want to bulk up but are short on protein

Wystab Diet Gwanghwamun is a Gwanghwamun salad spot that satisfies on both flavor and portion size, and it's worth a visit.