Suwon gyudon spot: medium-size soy-sauce brisket bowl, Gyudongjip

Where is Gyudongjip Ajou University Branch, and when is it open?

Gyudongjip Ajou University Branch (규동집 아주대점) is a Japanese rice bowl restaurant at 23 Aju-ro 47beon-gil, Paldal-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi, South Korea (1st floor). It's open 11:00–21:00 with last order at 20:30, and it's closed every Saturday and Sunday, so you can only go on weekdays.

This is a great Ajou University-area pick when you want a tidy meal near Ajou University Hospital in Suwon. The area is full of students, office workers and hospital visitors, so lunch is often a dilemma. I was craving a hearty Japanese rice bowl, so I came here. It's easy to eat alone and has a nice mood for a date too, so I was happy with it.

What are the lunch wait and atmosphere like?

I went at lunchtime and waited about 5 minutes, haha. Lots of people come alone, and it's also comfortable for friends or couples.

The inside is kept clean, and the food came out fairly quickly after ordering, which makes it a good lunchtime stop.

Here's the menu! Maybe because it's in a university area, the prices are really cheap!! Best value ever, haha.

Can you choose the size of the Gyudon Hansang?

Yes, with the Gyudon Hansang (gyudon set meal) at Gyudongjip Ajou you can choose the size of the gyudon. I ordered the Gyudon Hansang and the char siu don set, and picked medium size for the gyudon! (There's an extra charge.)

Gyudon Hansang (beef rice bowl set): what comes with it and how it tastes

The Gyudon Hansang comes with gyudon (beef rice bowl), karaage (Japanese fried chicken), salad, mini udon or mini cold soba, a poached egg, plum tea and karai sauce, haha.

The sweet, salty, umami-packed soy sauce plus the rich, nutty beef belly was so good!! I don't think anyone could dislike this flavor.. >_<

You dip the karaage in sriracha mayo sauce, and the cold soba was nice and refreshing as a side! Good value, generous portions, I'm totally satisfied!

Char siu don set: what comes with it and how it tastes

The char siu don set (chashu pork rice bowl set) at Gyudongjip Ajou comes with char siu don, salad, karai sauce, plum tea, and mini udon or mini cold soba.

It's loaded with quite thick slices of char siu! The thick pieces were tender to chew, with a subtle smoky grilled flavor and plenty of umami. I loved the juicy texture typical of char siu, and it went really well with the rice!

Gyudon Hansang or char siu don set: which to pick?

Personally, the Gyudon Hansang was more my taste of the two! Because the umami of that soy sauce is just unreal,, But the char siu don set was also extra filling with the mini udon and I loved it so much!! If you go as a pair, sharing one of each would be great too, haha.

Is Gyudongjip Ajou good for solo meals and dates?

Thanks to the relaxed atmosphere that doesn't feel awkward even if you come alone, and the tidy food lineup, I'd recommend Gyudongjip Ajou University Branch for a solo meal. It's good for students' lunches, and it was fine for a light date over a meal too. If you're looking for a good place near Ajou University Hospital, or a hearty rice bowl around Ajou University, it's worth a visit.

• Easy-to-reach restaurant near Ajou University Hospital
• Comfortable atmosphere for eating alone
• Both the Gyudon Hansang and char siu don were satisfying
• Recommended for student and office-worker lunches
• Good-value Japanese rice bowl specialist