Sinnonhyeon gyukatsu set with steki beef and 2 Isigny butters: Ichigyu
In short
Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch is a gyukatsu (Japanese-style beef cutlet) restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, on the second floor of a building about a 2-minute walk from Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 4. On a weekday solo lunch with no wait, the writer ordered the gyukatsu set with added steki (grilled sirloin) beef and two extra pieces of Isigny butter at 1,000 won each, grilling everything on the tabletop brazier. Crisp-outside, juicy-inside gyukatsu, a juicy steak and unlimited rice refills make Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch an easy pick for first-time solo diners and dates alike.
Good to know
- Location
- About a 2-minute walk from Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 4, second floor of the building (elevator available)
- Order
- Gyukatsu set + added steki beef + 2 extra pieces of Isigny butter
- Isigny butter
- 1,000 won per piece
- Rice
- Served in a small pot, unlimited refills
- Time of visit
- Weekday lunch, seated with no wait
- Price reference
- ₩1,000 ≈ $0.7 (2026-09-16)
as written by the visitor on Sep 16, 2026
The restaurant I visited today is
Ichigyu, famous as a Sinnonhyeon gyukatsu spot!
Where is Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch, and is there a wait?
Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch was super convenient to get to — about a 2-minute walk from Exit 4 of Sinnonhyeon Station. Since it's famous as a Sinnonhyeon restaurant, there's apparently a wait on weekends or busy times! (I went on a weekday lunch and luckily got in without any wait :)
Also, Ichigyu is on the 2nd floor, and there's an elevator you can use. I didn't know that and took the stairs, so if you're reading this, take the elevator up!!
Inside Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch: a Japanese-style dining room
Why, you ask?!
The moment you step off the elevator, you can instantly feel the Japanese atmosphere >0< The first time I ever had gyukatsu was at a very famous gyukatsu specialty shop in Japan, and this place suddenly brought that feeling rushing back, getting me excited even before eating! They said it's a Sinnonhyeon restaurant, but the vibe itself is amazing too..
Seating at Ichigyu that suits solo diners and dates
Once I stepped inside, the place was bigger than I expected, and I saw a lot of people from nearby offices grabbing beer and a meal with friends, or coming as a date spot. I had work in Sinnonhyeon so I ate solo, but even beginners at solo dining can totally manage here!! And with such a nice atmosphere, I'd fully recommend it as a date spot too!!
The order: gyukatsu set, steki beef and 2 Isigny butters
Even though I was dining solo, I'm a beef fanatic, so I added steki beef to the gyukatsu set! And since Ichigyu apparently uses Isigny butter, a famously high-end butter, I added two pieces of that too!!! (The surprising part is each piece of Isigny butter is only ₩1,000. In my heart I wanted to add 10 more, but I held back..!)
On top of that, how is the price this low for beef striploin,, I remember rationing it out in Japan because it was so expensive… lol Even before tasting it, I could tell why Ichigyu is famous as a Sinnonhyeon restaurant :>
What comes with the gyukatsu and steak set, plus unlimited rice
Alright, just a few minutes after ordering, it arrived!!!
What is going on with this gyukatsu marbling..? You can already tell it's crispy outside, juicy inside before even taking a bite!
The steak looked so tender and soft!!
And there was the gorgeous Isigny butter, which isn't easy to come across!
The rice also comes out in a little jar for you to scoop out, and get this, it's unlimited refills :D
How to grill the beef with butter on the tabletop brazier
Alright.. drizzle a little butter on and grill the gyukatsu
Grill the steak too
How the gyukatsu and steki beef tasted
Steak first! Just as I expected, it was full of juice, so tender and moist!! Topping it with a little wasabi and pickled cabbage was absolute bliss… 😍
The gyukatsu, too, was exactly as expected — the textbook definition of crispy outside, juicy inside!! The outside fried up nice and crunchy while the inside was full of juice, soft and chewy! Even before trying Ichigyu I understood why it's famous as a Sinnonhyeon restaurant, but eating it made it click even more!!
Is the beef at Ichigyu Sinnonhyeon good quality?
Ichigyu's meats definitely have great marbling and great quality, and they're so fresh that there wasn't a hint of gamey or off smell. The reason, it turns out, is that the owner's family has run a butcher shop since his parents' generation, so he really knows meat and is truly serious about it :) A meat restaurant run by someone who's serious about meat can't possibly be bad. It's impossible for it not to taste good!!
Final verdict on solo lunch at Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch
So, today I visited Ichigyu, the famous gyukatsu spot in Sinnonhyeon! Even though my expectations were high, there wasn't a single disappointment — the atmosphere, the taste, and the price were all just perfect! If I ever come back to Sinnonhyeon with a friend, this is definitely a place I'd want to revisit and bring them along :)
So if you're looking for a Gangnam Station restaurant or a Sinnonhyeon restaurant, a Sinnonhyeon date spot, or want to enjoy proper gyukatsu and steak, I definitely recommend giving this place a visit 💕
Where it is
19 Bongeunsa-ro 4-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 2nd floor서울특별시 강남구 봉은사로4길 19 2층
