Chandelier-lit rice bowls at Konkuk Univ.: salmon & cube steak, Hekbap

When you look for a place to eat around Konkuk Univ., there are so many good restaurants that picking one is actually the hard part. This time I wanted salmon rice bowl and I also wanted meat, so I headed to Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch (핵밥 건대본점) near Konkuk Univ. Station.

Hekbap is a place for Japanese-style rice bowls (donburi), and the menu is more varied than I expected. I liked that everything comes out neatly as one set. Both the salmon bowl and the cube steak bowl looked so tempting that they were great for photos too.

What is the atmosphere like at Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch?

When you walk into Hekbap, the space is bigger and cleaner than I expected.

White and wood tones blend throughout, and chandeliers hang from the ceiling, so it feels a bit more stylish than your usual rice bowl shop. There are plenty of table seats, and along the window there's a long bar-style counter.

You can eat looking out the window, so coming alone doesn't seem awkward at all. It looked like a decent option for anyone hunting for a solo meal near Konkuk Univ. Station.

Each table has an ordering tablet, so you can check the menu with photos and order from there, which looked handy.

Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch menu and prices

Prices run from ₩15,900 for the salmon bowl down to ₩9,900 for the chicken mayo bowl, with salmon, steak, meat and eel bowls to choose from, so there's quite a range. Here are the main prices based on the menu board in the photo.

• Salmon bowl ₩15,900
• Cube steak bowl ₩15,900
• Salmon & shrimp jang (soy-marinated shrimp) bowl ₩14,900
• Shrimp jang bowl ₩13,900
• Meat-heaped bowl ₩11,900
• Pork jowl bowl ₩11,900
• Seasoned pork rib bowl ₩10,900
• Chicken mayo bowl ₩9,900

There were set meals too. After some deliberation, we ordered one salmon bowl and one cube steak bowl.

They were ₩15,900 each, so ₩31,800 for the two.

What comes in the Hekbap salmon bowl (₩15,900)?

The salmon bowl at Hekbap has plenty of salmon slices covering the bowl, with an egg yolk and sauce in the middle. Doesn't the orange salmon filling the whole bowl look so good? On one side there's a topping for crunch, plus thinly sliced onion and sprouts.

I liked that it isn't a boring bowl of just salmon, with a variety of ingredients alongside. Break the yolk and mix it through the rice and salmon, and I bet it gets even richer and nuttier.

If you like salmon, this is a salmon bowl in Konkuk Univ. worth keeping an eye on. The salmon wraps around the bowl, which also makes it a pretty one to photograph.

How is the Hekbap cube steak bowl (₩15,900)?

The cube steak bowl is a meat bowl with bite-sized steak topped with grilled onion, mushrooms and vegetables. It has a different charm from the salmon bowl.

Bite-sized steak is heaped over the rice, together with grilled onion, mushrooms and vegetables. The big chunks of meat and the golden-grilled vegetables make it look really appetizing. A cherry tomato sits in the middle, and a long green chili is laid on top like an accent.

The meat has a glossy surface and visible grill marks, which makes it even more appetizing. There's plenty of onion and mushroom besides the meat, so it's easy to eat with rice and a bit of everything. If you prefer meat to salmon, the cube steak bowl will probably appeal more.

The full tray that comes with the bowls

At Hekbap the bowls arrive on a wooden tray with soup and small side dishes. This tray was one of the things that stood out for me. The sides in the photo were kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), pickled radish, cabbage salad and a white pickled side.

I was impressed by how neatly everything is set out to go with the main bowl. It's a one-bowl dish, but with sides and soup too it felt like a proper meal.

Is it good for a solo meal or a date near Konkuk Univ. Station?

What sets Hekbap apart is that it has table seats for groups and window bar seats that suit eating alone. When you're choosing a restaurant around Konkuk Univ., the atmosphere matters as much as the food, right? The whole place was bright and tidy, so it looked like a comfortable spot for a meal.

It's good for going with a friend and ordering different bowls, and it's also worth shortlisting when you want a quick solo meal near Konkuk Univ. Station. With so many menu items, people with different tastes can each pick the bowl they want.

Final thoughts on Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch

Hekbap is worth a visit on days when you're craving a rice bowl near Konkuk Univ. The salmon bowl and cube steak bowl we ordered were ₩15,900 each, and they offered two different charms: salmon and meat.

The salmon bowl stood out for its generous salmon and yolk, and the cube steak bowl impressed with its big pieces of meat and mix of grilled vegetables. On top of that you get a neat tray, a spacious dining room and window seats that are great for eating alone. If you're looking for a salmon bowl or steak bowl among Konkuk Univ. restaurants, give it a look.

📍 Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch (핵밥 건대본점) · 127 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (2nd floor)