Gangseo Japanese restaurant dinner set near Balsan Station: Ichigyu

On the way home after work, I couldn't think of a dinner menu as easily as I expected. I didn't feel like setting out a home-cooked meal, but I didn't want to just grab something random either. Then I remembered Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch (이치규 발산역점), a Balsan Station favorite I'd had my eye on for a while, so I made after-work plans with my girlfriend and went. It has a reputation as a place people line up for, so I was a little worried about whether there would be seats at dinner time and how long the wait would be—but after going, I could see why everyone queues up for it.

Finding Ichigyu from Balsan Station Exit 1 and the wait

It is very easy to get to, within a three-minute walk from Exit 1 of Balsan Station, although it may be a little difficult to find because the restaurant is on the building's second floor. The restaurant is visible along one wall: enter the building you see when you come out of Exit 1, take the escalator straight ahead, and the line of people is for Ichigyu.

One group cleared out in front of us, and there were two parties waiting, so we got in after about 20 minutes. We had gone on a sudden craving, so we waited, but Catchtable and Naver Reservation are available; if you are planning a visit, I recommend making a reservation if possible.

Perhaps because it is a Japanese restaurant, the interior had a cozy feel, and the tables were spaced suitably apart, making it great for a relaxed date without worrying about the next table. The two-person tables looked narrow, but not enough to get in the way of conversation, and I noticed plenty of solo diners at most of them. I thought I could comfortably eat here alone next time, too.

Set 4 with sizzling chopped steak and sirloin gyukatsu

Most of the menu consisted of Japanese-style set meals, with well-designed sets that are nice to share with a partner. There was a set that included every dish we had wanted, so we ordered Set 4 without hesitation. It comes with sizzling chopped steak, gyukatsu (breaded and fried beef cutlet) made with sirloin, and two drinks, making it perfect for my girlfriend and me to share a variety of things. Having tried it myself, I would suggest mixing different dishes rather than ordering only gyukatsu—it keeps the meal from becoming too rich and lets you enjoy more varied flavors.

What we ordered

• Set 4 (sizzling chopped steak, sirloin gyukatsu, and drinks): ₩40,500
• Karaage & fried shrimp: ₩7,000

Ordering was easy through a QR code at the table. They also give you fried shrimp for taking part in a receipt-review event, so if you enjoy taking photos or are a fried-shrimp fanatic, you should definitely join in, right?

From rice refills to sizzling chopped steak

The first things out were our two drinks. They came as chilled cans with cups filled with ice, and from the moment we poured them, the sound of the fizzy bubbles bursting really got the saliva going. The unusual vessel that came next was actually a rice container. Instead of serving each person rice separately, they bring one container to share—and you can even get refills. That was one of the things that really impressed me.

A little later, all the dishes we ordered arrived at once. The first side I tried was the miso soup, which had a deep, savory flavor and was lovely for settling the stomach before the meal.

The first main I tried was the sizzling chopped steak I had ordered. From the moment it arrived, the sizzling sound got my saliva going, and on the first bite, the outside was crisp while the inside was moist and full of juices. It was tender rather than chewy, so it went wonderfully with rice. There were plenty of stir-fried vegetables, too; eating it with onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms brought out even more flavor, and I couldn't put my chopsticks down. At other Japanese restaurants I had visited before, the meat had been tough or tasted ordinary, so it had not made much of an impression. Here, though, the difference in flavor was obvious and surprising.

Sirloin gyukatsu grilled over a tabletop brazier

My girlfriend ordered the sirloin gyukatsu. This really is the restaurant's signature dish, with the exact kind of crisp-outside, juicy-inside texture people talk about. It arrives slightly rare, and you grill it over a small brazier to your preference. After placing the butter on first and letting it melt, about 20 seconds of grilling gave it just the right amount of juiciness. At other gyukatsu specialty restaurants, I had found the breading thick and greasy, but here it was thin and crisp, so the beef's natural flavor came through more and it felt less rich. Best of all, the mini brazier is deep enough that hardly any oil splatters.

Ichigyu serves three sauces for the gyukatsu. All three had their own character and were delicious, but personally, I felt the natural flavor came through best with a light dip in salt followed by wasabi, so keep that in mind and give it a try.

While enjoying the mains, we finally tried the extra side of karaage (Japanese fried chicken) and fried shrimp, and their size alone was astonishing when they arrived. The karaage was big enough to fill an adult man's mouth, properly crisp outside and juicy inside, with a flavor that immediately made me think of a beer. The fried shrimp's batter was on a different level from other places, making it unlike any fried shrimp I had eaten before. You can get it through the review event, so be sure to take part and try it.

Rice refills are free here, and the portions are generous to begin with, so both of us ate until we were completely stuffed. Since it is popular, though, there was some waiting, and the dishes took time to come out, so it may be a little tiring to wait while hungry. Still, once the food arrives, the flavor makes the wait feel worthwhile. There are dedicated seats for solo diners as well, so I would recommend it as a Balsan Station favorite that works equally well for a date or eating alone. Ichigyu Balsan Station Branch is a nice place for a casual date or a comfortable meal by yourself, so give it a try for whichever occasion suits you.