Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Mapo, Seoul: Gusa Yeonnam

What kind of restaurant is Gusa Yeonnam, and where is it?

I visited Gusa Yeonnam (구사 연남), a Japanese-style teppanyaki izakaya in Yeonnam-dong, on a weekday afternoon. The restaurant is on B1 of Yeontral Tower at 6 Donggyo-ro 30-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul.

Can you watch the teppanyaki cooking while you eat?

Inside, it had a neat, warm Japanese-style atmosphere. I felt comfortable as soon as I entered.

From the bar table, I could watch food being cooked on the griddle through the open kitchen. Being able to see the process up close stayed with me.

When I visited on a weekday afternoon, it was quiet and calm, so I could take my time over the meal.

How were the chipotle okonomiyaki and mentaiko cream udon?

That day, I ordered the chipotle okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) and mentaiko cream udon (udon in pollock roe cream sauce). Cooking began on the griddle after I ordered, and a savory aroma filled the wait.

Did the chipotle sauce work well with the okonomiyaki?

The chipotle okonomiyaki came with a sweet and spicy chipotle sauce.

The filling of cabbage and other ingredients was soft, while the outside was crisp from the griddle.

The sharp, spicy flavor of the chipotle sauce cut through the richness, so I did not tire of it by the end.

How was the mentaiko cream udon alongside it?

The mentaiko cream udon had a thick, nutty cream sauce with salty mentaiko. I could feel the roe pop, and the rich sauce coated the chewy udon noodles well.

Alternating between the spicy chipotle okonomiyaki and the rich cream udon, I thought the two dishes went well together.

How was the Wagyu salchisal as a meal?

I also had the Wagyu MB9 salchisal (chuck flap). The meat, cooked straight on the griddle, was tender and juicy.

It came with a generous amount of mung bean sprouts and vegetables, making it good both with drinks and as a meal.

What drinks can you have with the teppanyaki?

The drinks included highballs, sake, and beer. They offered a selection that could be paired with dishes such as okonomiyaki and yakisoba.

That day, I spent an unhurried afternoon having a daytime drink with the teppanyaki.

How was it for a date meal in Yeonnam-dong?

The calm music and cozy lighting made it easy to talk. The quiet weekday-afternoon atmosphere I found suited spending time over a meal for two. The teppanyaki cooking in front of me, along with the spicy okonomiyaki and rich cream udon combination, was especially memorable.