Gongdeok Seoul Korean restaurant with toddler high chairs: Usu

A Gongdeok Station restaurant recommendation: Usu, a hanwoo (Korean beef) restaurant good for family gatherings and meeting the in-laws in Seoul, with kids in tow.

Hi everyone~ it's Blue Sky.♡ Today I'm sharing my review of Usu, a Gongdeok Station favorite. I recently visited this hanwoo dining restaurant. If you've been looking for a private-room restaurant near Gongdeok Station for a special anniversary or family gathering, I hope this review helps.

Where is Usu, how do you get there, and is there parking?

Usu connects directly to the underground mall passage from Gongdeok Station Exit 2, so it's easy to find if you're coming by public transit. Once you enter the mall building near the exit, walk to the right and you'll see an escalator.

Take it down to B2 and just walk straight — you'll find the restaurant right away. If you're driving, you can use the mall's basement parking lot with no trouble.

They offer a generous 3 hours of free parking with a meal, so you can enjoy your dining time comfortably without worrying about parking fees.

All private rooms at Usu: is it okay to bring a child?

Walking into Usu, I immediately felt a classic atmosphere. Most notably, every single seat is a private room. From the hallway line onward it feels calm and upscale, with rooms ranging from small groups to spacious group seating, so it'd work well for a company dinner too.

Since every space is a fully separate private room, we could enjoy the meal comfortably even with a child. It's great as a meeting-the-in-laws restaurant in Seoul or a family gathering spot to bring your parents to. I'd also recommend it for a Yeouido team dinner or an atmospheric Gongdeok date course.

A high chair was provided.

The 79,000 won Lunch C course: ordering and welcome service

We chose the well-rounded Lunch C course. As soon as we sat down, they brought out warm, nutty barley tea in elegant, antique-style water glasses — the first impression alone made us feel well taken care of.💕

Our order 💛Lunch C course (₩79,000 x 2)💛

They said that for birthdays or other special anniversaries, they prepare sparkling wine service, cute lettering, and even a Polaroid photo event to capture the memory.

Since we don't usually drink, we asked just in case, and they kindly swapped it for sweet grape juice — such a thoughtful touch.

Before the course officially began, staff brought out a box of the ingredients used in today's dishes and explained them in person — a nice little performance.

From richly marbled 1++ hanwoo to caviar and fresh seasonal seafood and vegetables, everything was arranged so beautifully it was a joy just to look at.

Tasting the Usu Lunch C course dish by dish

Ugyejinjuk (beef and rice porridge)

The first dish out, meant to gently warm up the stomach before the meal. Nutty yet smooth — a comforting, warming start.

Three one-bite dishes

Bulgogi sandwich, sweet shrimp gim bugak (crispy seaweed chip), and scallop with lily bulb were plated together like a painting. I loved the crunch and the springy texture of the seafood.

Shiitake with shrimp and young zucchini

Every bite brought out the fragrant flavor of shiitake mushroom, the springy shrimp, and the natural sweetness of zucchini — I want to try it again already.😋

Abalone with five-color gardenia noodles

From the colorful gardenia noodles to the clean, chewy abalone — a refreshing, clean-tasting dish.

1++ hanwoo grilled on a personal brazier

You get to grill fantastically marbled 1++ hanwoo to your own liking on a personal tabletop grill. The outside cooked up nutty and fragrant while the inside stayed juicy and melted the moment it hit my mouth. A dab of wasabi or a bit of the refined side dishes made it taste absolutely incredible.

Seasonal fish pot rice with side dishes

Warm pot rice topped generously with green onion and a golden-grilled piece of sea bream came out, which they then mixed into a full table spread for us. The nutty rice, a well-simmered seaweed soup, and sides like mustard leaf kimchi and salted seafood made for a hearty finish.

Dessert: corn ice cream

After finishing the main meal, dessert was a nutty corn ice cream. It came with a crumble-like crunchy topping on top, which made for a fun bite.

Sweet but not too much, and just the right portion size — a light, feel-good way to end a long Korean-style course.😍

Final verdict: which gatherings suit Usu in Gongdeok?

Usu in Gongdeok was great across the board — from the fully private-room layout to the 3 hours of free parking to the thoughtfully crafted Korean course.

Thanks to the thoughtful swap of sparkling wine for grape juice to fit our preferences, the free corkage perk, and the anniversary event, we got to smile through the whole meal feeling well taken care of.

If you're picking a spot near Gongdeok Station for an anniversary date, meeting the in-laws, or a family gathering, I'd recommend stopping by.