Gyukatsu office lunch at Seoul Station: Isigny butter Set 4, Ichigyu

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch was a great gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) spot to drop into when you can't decide on lunch near Seoul Station. When I visited Gyudo in Mapo Station before, they said Ichigyu is run by the same people. This time I went to the Seoul Station branch, and it felt a bit more affordable than Gyudo, yet the care and quality were still pretty solid.

We ordered Set 4: striploin gyukatsu + striploin steki (Japanese-style steak) + 2 drinks. It was ₩41,000 on the menu at the time of our visit.

Why Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch for lunch near Seoul Station?

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch hits the sweet spot when a light bite feels like too little but you don't want to overspend on lunch. There are lots of office workers around Seoul Station, plus people eating on the go, so picking a place to eat is harder than you'd think, right?

Gyukatsu usually has a reputation as a pricey dish, but Ichigyu has a set for two, which made it an easy choice when we came together.

Atmosphere at Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch

The restaurant was clean and tidy, with wood-toned interiors and a Japanese-style menu board feel.

Every table has a pan that works like a personal brazier, so even before the food arrived I thought, "Ah, this is going to be fun, grilling it ourselves."

That's a model, right..?

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch menu and what's in Set 4

The menu at Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch had more choices than I expected: gyukatsu, steki, rice bowls, noodles, curry and sides.

We picked Set 4: striploin gyukatsu + striploin steki + 2 drinks, for ₩41,000. With two of us, it let us try gyukatsu and steki in one go, so it seemed like a good choice for first-timers too.

Personally, I liked it more than gyukatsu alone because the steki came along too. Even with the same striploin, the breaded gyukatsu and the steki, where you enjoy the meat itself, feel different, so comparing them was fun.

Striploin gyukatsu: how were the breading and doneness?

The striploin gyukatsu in Set 4 came neatly plated, with cabbage, sauce and wasabi. The breading wasn't thick or overdone; it was balanced enough that you could still see the grain of the meat.

In cross-section the inside stayed juicy, so instead of eating it as is, you cook it to your liking on the pan in front of you. The signature gyukatsu charm, crisp outside and tender inside, was really there. You can see the grain clearly even in the photo, and when eating, it wasn't tough but had a nice chew.

Put it on the pan and cook it a little more and a nutty aroma rises, and I loved how the melting butter added flavor. Many places near Seoul Station make the price the first worry, so getting gyukatsu of this quality as a set is definitely a plus.

Striploin steki: clean, light, great for tasting the meat

The striploin steki that came with Set 4 had a different charm from the gyukatsu.

If gyukatsu is crisp breading plus meat, steki lets you taste the striploin's own texture and aroma in a lighter, cleaner way. As you grill it on the pan to your liking, the surface cooks slightly and a nutty smell rises.

Rather than cooking the meat too long, searing it just briefly on both sides felt more tender. Dipping it in sauce with a little wasabi mixed in cut the richness and made the meat taste cleaner.

I really liked this part. It isn't just meat served plain; there are various ways to eat it, so even at lunch it felt like a proper meal. Wasabi was good, but the real kick is dipping it in salt.

Isigny butter and the fun of grilling on the pan yourself

The little butter that comes with the meal at Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch was Isigny butter. Melt it on the pan along with the gyukatsu or steki and the flavor jumps right up.

Details like this seem minor, but they really affect satisfaction. Instead of just being served and eating, you can adjust the doneness to your own taste, so mealtime was a bit more fun.

I liked the flow: put a piece of meat on, sear it in the butter, dip it in sauce, add a little wasabi. Even though it's a lunch menu, it felt like a small course meal.

Set 4 for ₩41,000: is it worth the price?

Set 4 at Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is ₩41,000, so just over ₩20,000 per person for two, and it included both gyukatsu and steki plus drinks. Honestly, near Seoul Station, I thought that was pretty good for this price.

Considering the meat quality and the grill-it-yourself setup, the price made sense. If you work nearby, it seems like a good place when you want a change of pace at lunch. It's a good pick when you're craving something a bit different from the usual baekban (set meal) or gukbap (soup with rice).

Compared with Gyudo at Mapo Station

Compared with the premium impression I got at Gyudo in Mapo Station, Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch felt a bit more casual and accessible. But the care and the quality of the food were by no means lower.

For this price, this is a proper place that's too good to be known only by office workers.

Who is Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch for?

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch seems right for anyone looking for a clean, good lunch spot near Seoul Station. I'd especially recommend it to:

• People looking for a satisfying workday lunch near Seoul Station
• People who want meat but prefer Japanese food that isn't too heavy
• People looking for a tidy restaurant for a date or a casual meetup
• People who enjoy meals where you grill things yourself

I think it's better with two people sharing a set menu than going alone.

Final review

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is accessible at a slightly more affordable price than Gyudo, yet the quality of the gyukatsu and steki was better than I expected. Set 4 in particular lets you eat striploin gyukatsu and striploin steki together, so it's a good first-visit order.

The crunch of the breading, the juiciness of the meat and the nutty richness of butter-grilled bites all worked together, and I was happy all through the meal. If you want a lunch that's a bit more proper than the usual Seoul Station options, Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is worth putting on your list.

One-line verdict: a gyukatsu spot that, once office workers near Seoul Station find out about it, will stay on their lunch lists for a long time.

One last thing... the solid fuel refill service

Just as before, when only 2 pieces of meat were left, a staff member came over and put in fresh solid fuel. Gyudo, the premium gyukatsu place, had this kind of service too, and seeing the same thoughtful touch at Ichigyu made me feel that, price aside, their care and attitude toward customers are not casual at all. Very satisfied~