Konkuk Univ. donburi at 8:30pm: bukkake cold udon sets for two, Hekbap

Lately I really love a meal that comes neatly portioned, just my share and nothing more. Sometimes the foods you simmer and bubble away in one big pot start to feel a little overwhelming, you know?

So today I went looking for a clean, tidy meal and ended up at Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch (핵밥 건대본점)! This Konkuk Univ. spot is great value, with a wide menu, and it's said to be famous for being comfortable for solo dining. So let me walk you through menu recommendations and my honest review!!

Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch: location, hours and parking

Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is on the 2nd floor at 127 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, open daily from 11:00 to 21:00. Break time is 15:00–16:30, takeout and reservations are available, and the restrooms are separate for men and women.

It's only about a 2–3 minute walk from Exit 2 of Konkuk Univ. Station, so it's really close. It's on the main street, so it's perfect for a light meal before heading somewhere else! For parking, if you park at Lotte Department Store Konkuk and download the store app, you get 2 hours free, and the Konkuk University Hospital lot is free for 30 minutes and then ₩500 per 10 minutes, so nobody needs to worry about parking!

Interior: is it comfortable for eating alone?

Go up the stairs to the 2nd floor and you'll see the restaurant right away. Inside, it felt super clean and cozy overall.

The tables are spaced just far enough apart, so chatting away with a friend over a meal wasn't disturbed at all. I loved that!

The window seats in particular looked perfect for eating alone quietly without being bothered. It's a Konkuk Univ. restaurant that really is easy for anyone to drop into!! We visited on a weekday around 8:30pm, and maybe because the peak dinner hours had passed, it was relaxed and quiet, which was so nice.

Menu and how to order

Ordering is done on the kiosk at your table.

As I looked through the menu, there were so many kinds of rice bowls. From meat toppings to seafood, there's a wide range to pick from depending on your taste. And besides single bowls, there are well-built set meals that come with fried chicken or udon, so even big eaters should feel really full. Everything looked so good that I almost had decision paralysis.. sigh..

Discounts and events

Hekbap Konkuk Univ. is also running lots of discount events, so definitely check before you visit, haha

• Birthday coupon for a free mini pork cutlet
• Coupon for soldiers, firefighters and police officers
• Coupon for a free soda or mini udon when you write a review
• Coupon for a free Hek karaage (fried chicken) when you turn on Naver Place notifications

Cold udon in this weather is a steal. You absolutely have to order it as a set. Today my friend and I ordered the salmon and soy-marinated shrimp bowl bukkake cold udon set for ₩18,400 and the pork jowl bowl bukkake cold udon set for ₩15,400!

🦐 How is the salmon and soy-marinated shrimp bowl bukkake cold udon set (₩18,400)?

The salmon and soy-marinated shrimp bowl bukkake cold udon set at Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is a ₩18,400 set: a rice bowl piled with thick salmon and soy-marinated shrimp, served with cold udon. This is the one I ordered, and the tidy tray looked so pretty I couldn't not take photos. The bowl is loaded with thick, fresh salmon and shrimp cured to a nicely salty finish!!

The salmon is soft and melts in your mouth, and the marinated shrimp had no fishy taste at all, with a properly springy bite. I broke the egg yolk and mixed it through the rice, and it was nutty and packed with savory depth, amazing..! So good

The bukkake cold udon (noodles served with a cold, concentrated sauce) that came with it had noodles that were just pure chewiness! Slurping the noodles in the cold, salty tsuyu (Japanese noodle broth) went perfectly with the rice bowl. Yep, yep.. it's a Konkuk Univ. restaurant with the word-of-mouth to back it up!

🐷 How is the pork jowl bowl bukkake cold udon set (₩15,400)?

The pork jowl bowl bukkake cold udon set at Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is a ₩15,400 set of a fire-grilled pork jowl bowl with cold udon on the side, and it's what my friend ordered. The moment it arrived, the savory smell of meat hit my nose.

The pork jowl's signature crunchy-yet-chewy texture really came through, and the faint smoky grill flavor made it amazing. The sauce wasn't too sweet or too salty, soaking into the meat and rice just right, so you never get tired of it and can enjoy it to the end.

Having the cool, chewy cold udon in between bites cleanly cut through the richness the meat could otherwise have. The combination with cold udon was a total success.

Final thoughts on Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch

From the clean interior to the neat, generous food, Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch doesn't fall short anywhere. These days it's surprisingly hard to find a place worth going to for a proper meal, but the flavors weren't harsh and it felt made with care, so I was totally satisfied.

Places for solo dining are really hard to find among Konkuk Univ. restaurants, right? Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is super comfortable for eating alone too. It's perfect when you want a clean, filling bowl. If you're nearby or looking for a date course, I hope you'll stop by this foolproof Konkuk Univ. restaurant at least once.