Sinnonhyeon gyukatsu restaurant date lunch with karaage: Ichigyu

Burning Friday! After a busy day running around, my friend and I were trying to figure out where to eat before heading to an event, and we ended up at Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch — my recommended spot for a Sinnonhyeon date!

Where is Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch? 2nd floor between Sinnonhyeon Station exits 4 and 5

It's pretty close to Sinnonhyeon Station, so I just walked over after getting off the subway. It's between exits 4 and 5, so either exit works fine. My friend drove and parked at a nearby paid parking lot — it wasn't far from Ichigyu. I went in through the 1st floor entrance, but my friend took the elevator straight up to the 2nd floor, so there seem to be two entrances. Worth keeping in mind.

My friend said the last time we had gyukatsu together was in Japan, so she was super excited. I personally love gyukatsu — back when it was almost impossible to find in Korea, I used to run to get some at the airport every time I flew to Japan, and now that I'm back I eat it fairly often! Turns out Ichigyu also sells the Napolitan my friend always raves about. So we walked in excited to see how both dishes would turn out hahahahaha.

What is the mood like? A cosy 2nd floor that feels like Japan

Honestly felt like I was in Japan hahahahahahaha. Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch is decorated in a cute, detailed style, and when we walked in there were only a few tables occupied, but by the time we finished eating and left it had gotten really packed.

What we ordered at Ichigyu: gyukatsu, yakisoba Napolitan, karaage & shrimp tempura

After sitting down, we checked the menu and ordered through the QR code on the table. We got the Ichigyu gyukatsu, yakisoba Napolitan, and gara-age & shrimp tempura! I really wanted a cold beer too, but had to hold back since we had an event right after hahaha. They do sell Kirin draft mini beer at 200ML, which seemed perfect for a light lunch sip.

Besides what we ordered, the menu is really varied — hamburg omurice, steki-don, steki set, iron-plate chapsteak, cold soba & shrimp tempura, mini curry, and more.

The personal charcoal grill, essential for gyukatsu, came out first! Hahaha hello there, little grill. Whenever the grill arrives, my heart starts racing because I know gyukatsu is coming soon. Spoiler alert: it burned nice and hot, which made grilling fast — loved that.

The gyukatsu and Napolitan arrived! Ooh, this really does feel like Japan...? Hahahahahaha. The moment of truth — would the taste actually match the real thing in Japan? Drumroll!!! Hahahaha

How does the yakisoba Napolitan taste?

A chewy iron-plate Napolitan stir-fried with yakisoba noodles! Different from the noodles I've had in Japan — using yakisoba noodles made it unique, and the Napolitan's signature sausage came in generously large chunks haha.

How to grill Ichigyu gyukatsu with butter on the personal charcoal grill

The Ichigyu gyukatsu also arrived, made with savory sirloin and paired with Ichigyu's special sauce, known for its rich garlic aroma and tangy edge!

For the gyukatsu, you grill it one or two pieces at a time over the charcoal, cooking it to whatever doneness suits your taste.

The method is simple: put the butter on the grill first, then place the gyukatsu on top, grill it to your preferred doneness, and eat it up.

Karaage & shrimp tempura: enough for two to share

Next came the gara-age and shrimp tempura! We split the big chunky shrimp tempura pieces one each hahaha. We both love shrimp, and since there were two pieces, it was perfect for sharing.

Is Ichigyu Sinnonhyeon good for a date lunch?

We ate every bite with real enthusiasm! Full and satisfied, we still had time to sip a coffee nearby before heading off to enjoy the event — a well-rounded day! I recommend Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch as a must-try spot in Sinnonhyeon — it's the kind of place anyone, any age, can enjoy, so I'd highly recommend it for those planning a Sinnonhyeon date too.