170,000-Won Single Steak Sells Well in Korea Too... "Even Learned Wine" [Naesaram]

② O Seon-a Steakhouse Yeouido IFC Branch Manager
"Overall Customer Gourmet Level is High"
Certified Sommelier Engages with Customers
Praised for Sophisticated Interior and Attentive Service

The price for a single-person steak course is 170,000 KRW. When two people dine on the steak course and pair it with wine, the table revenue can easily reach 500,000 KRW. The Steak House Yeouido IFC branch, operated by CJ Foodville, is a representative high-end steak restaurant. It is no easy feat to earn the title of a 'premium steakhouse' in the heart of Yeouido, where people with a keen nose for money gather. Seonah Oh (36), the general manager in charge of this location, said, she learned about wine to meet the overall elevated gourmet standards of customers. After renovating the store interior with a vintage New York Manhattan boutique concept and diversifying the menu, she succeeded in increasing the average monthly sales by 50%.

Seonah Oh, Manager of The Steak House Yeouido IFC Mall at CJ Foodville. Photo by Hyewon Moon

Seonah Oh, who oversees operations at The Steak House IFC branch, stated in an interview with Asia Economy on the 1st that she manages the store as if it were a small company. Although she has now grown into a respectable expert in the food service industry, when she started this job in 2011, she was a new recruit at CJ Foodville, majoring in business administration and working hard at whatever came her way.

Oh explained, “The appeal of running a store was that I could handle all aspects necessary for management, including accounting, planning, marketing, and sales. I came this far because I approached the work with a sense of ownership, thinking of it as ‘my own company.’”

Right after joining as a new recruit, Oh was assigned to open The Steak House in Cheongdam-dong, a place familiar with the word 'premium.' At that time, Korean consumers were not yet accustomed to the concept of an 'authentic American steakhouse,' but now, steak meals costing 120,000 to 170,000 KRW per person are fully booked, and if you don’t hurry, you can’t secure a reservation due to the elevated gourmet standards.

Last December, The Steak House IFC branch underwent a major renovation, from the spatial layout to tables, chairs, tableware, and menus, all redesigned with a vintage New York Manhattan boutique concept. Before the renovation, Oh also obtained a wine sommelier certification. She said, “When I recommended pairing wines to customers in the past, the response was good. I thought I needed to get a sommelier certification to raise the level, and after putting it into practice, it led to high satisfaction.”

CJ Foodville The Steakhouse Yeouido IFC Mall Branch. [Photo by CJ Foodville]

Before the renovation, the store had few separated room spaces. Oh said, “The Steak House IFC branch is located in Yeouido, the financial hub, where many dining occasions require formality. Many customers want to have quiet conversations while dining, so I thought there should be more room spaces. We focused on securing more rooms and expanding the wine lineup.”

The renovated store was decorated with a grand atmosphere from the entrance, featuring high arched ceilings and chandeliers to emphasize the 'premium' image. The range of menu choices was also expanded. Alongside authentic New York-style steakhouse dishes, they added diverse seafood dishes such as ‘Oyster Platter with White Balsamic Shallot Mignonette Sauce’ and ‘Grilled Cuttlefish with Oak Wood and Charcoal, served with Spicy Garlic Chutney.’ Special dishes like ‘Sweet Shrimp Bisque Pasta’ and ‘Hanwoo Truffle Burger’ were also prepared. There is a signature course offering upgraded menus including chef-made pavlova with seasonal fruits, vanilla ice cream, and burnt lemon sherbet. The store has over 120 types of wine available.

Steak and wine at CJ Foodville The Steakhouse Yeouido IFC Mall branch. Photo by Moon Hyewon

Oh said, “Not only the luxurious and sophisticated interior but also the increase in private rooms according to the number of guests has received many positive responses for being suitable for business or family gatherings. The increase in wine varieties, the service of suggesting wines that pair well with the menu, and the introduction of a premium knife service allowing customers to choose knives according to the steak cut have all been praised as meticulous and detailed services.”

Since the store’s renovation reopening on December 1st last year, reservations have been fully booked one to two weeks in advance, showing high popularity. As of the 1st, about two months after the renovation, the average monthly sales have increased by approximately 50%. Oh’s goal is to open second and third branches with the same concept to continue the reputation of the country’s leading premium steak brand.