Konkuk Station donburi restaurant, 4 mini sides on a weekend: Hekbap

It had been a while since I set up a lunch date with a friend and headed out to Konkuk. We finally stopped by Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch (핵밥 건대본점), a rice bowl place I'd been curious about for ages! I used to pass by it all the time since it's near my office, but I'd never actually gone in haha. The weather was getting cooler, so it was the perfect easy walking-distance lunch spot. If you're into rice bowls or soba, you might want to save this one for later — here's my detailed review!

Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch: location, hours and parking

Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is on the 2nd floor of a building at 127 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. It's open daily from 11:00 to 21:00, with a break time from 15:00 to 16:30 and last order at 20:30. There's no self-parking lot, so if you're driving, you'll need to use the Konkuk Lotte Department Store lot (2 hours free with app verification) or the Konkuk Hospital lot (30 minutes free, then ₩500 per 10 minutes).

How long is the walk from Konkuk University Station?

It's just a 3-minute walk from Exit 3 of Konkuk University Station, so accessibility is great.

It's on the 2nd floor, so first-timers should keep an eye out for the sign! The building faces a main road, so it wasn't hard to find, and the sign was easy to spot too — no wandering around. There are also plenty of cafés and other restaurants nearby, so it was convenient to grab a coffee afterward too.

Once you climb the stairs to the 2nd floor, the store comes into view right away!

What is on the menu at Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch?

Before you even walk in, there's a menu board posted for you to check out! It laid out all the signature dishes of Hekbap, a Japanese home-style restaurant chain. From signature rice bowls like salmon and beef intestine, to ramen, cold soba, udon, and pork cutlet — I was surprised by how varied the lineup was. Just looking at the board, there were so many possible combos that first-timers will probably be stuck in a happy dilemma over what to order. Once you're seated, the full menu is also listed on the POS terminal at your table, so check that too.

Weekend 11:30am: how busy is Hekbap, and are there solo seats?

We visited around 11:30am on a weekend and were able to walk straight in, and got seated at a great table too. The space was bright and spacious, making for a relaxed dining atmosphere, and there were plenty of solo seats, which would be great for anyone eating alone. The tables were spaced generously apart too, so we could chat comfortably without worrying about neighboring tables. The staff were friendly throughout, so I left in a good mood.

Also, it's an open kitchen, so you can see everything going on inside haha. It was kept tidy and clean, so I felt at ease eating there!

The owner had posted a guide at the table on how to best enjoy each dish! Worth checking out — food always tastes better when you know how to eat it properly haha.

Free side dish refills at Hekbap's self-serve bar

The basic side dishes aren't set out separately — they come with your main dish when it's served. If you want more, there's a self-serve bar where you can help yourself, which was really convenient. You can also grab as much wasabi as you like!

The "magic problem solver" on every table at Hekbap

There was this book called the "Magic Problem-Solver" set up at every table? I asked it — book, I've got something I'm worried about, how will it work out? — and it flipped open with a message for me lol. We spent the time before the main dishes arrived having fun small talk with friends lol. Honestly such a fun little detail lol.

Building your own set meal with Hekbap's mini sides

First off, you can add mini sides to any dish! Curry, pork cutlet, fried chicken, soba, udon — add whatever you like to your dish and build your own "personal set"!

So we decided to order two rice bowls plus soba and four mini sides so we could try a bit of everything. If you go with a group, everyone can pick according to their own taste and try a wide variety — that's the biggest strength of this place, so we tried to taste it all lol. They also apparently do seasonal limited menus, so I want to check those out on my next visit.

1. Zaru soba (cold buckwheat noodles)

The cold, chewy soba noodles paired well with the rich tsuyu dipping sauce, which really woke up my appetite! The portion was generous too, so it made for a solid meal on its own. The noodles had a nice springy texture. I mixed the grated radish into the tsuyu and dipped small portions at a time! Cold soba really hit the spot on this still-summery day lol. I'm still craving something cold these days.

2. Salmon rice bowl

It came piled high with thick cuts of salmon, and the ratio of rice to sauce was spot on, so I finished the whole bowl in no time! It wasn't fishy at all and tasted fresh — salmon lovers will be genuinely satisfied. Paired with wasabi, radish sprouts, and onion, it stayed light and clean all the way through without feeling greasy.

3. Daechang rice bowl (beef intestine)

The savory, slightly spicy sauce mixed really well with the rice — I'd especially recommend this one for anyone who likes bold flavors!!

The beef intestine's signature chewy texture came through clearly too, so there was definitely something to sink your teeth into. It was cleaned well with no gamey smell, so even first-timers with beef intestine could enjoy it without hesitation.

4. Mini curry, mini udon, mini karaage and mini pork cutlet

The portions were just right but let us try a bit of everything, which was great. The mini fried chicken in particular was crispy outside and juicy inside, and my friend kept reaching for it haha.

The mini curry had a mild sweet-and-spicy flavor that seemed like it would work well for kids' palates too haha.

The mini udon had a rich, warm broth that made for a hearty finish. Sharing small portions of the four sides meant we ended up full but not sick of anything, so we enjoyed it happily to the very last bite.

Verdict: good value at Hekbap for solo diners and groups alike

Overall, the menu lineup was solid — you can go simple with just one rice bowl, or mix in soba and mini sides to try a range of dishes. The portion and flavor both felt satisfying for the price, so it felt like good value overall. It's a great spot for a casual lunch with a friend, and if you're a rice bowl lover, it's worth stopping by at least once! Turnover tends to be fast during the office lunch rush, so visiting with a bit of buffer time should mean no wait.

It's also a great setup for family gatherings or a lively group of friends sharing plates, so I'd recommend it to a wide range of people. Next time I want to try a different signature rice bowl! Overall the food quality was solid, so I'd say I'm 100% likely to come back! It works well for a quick solo meal, and just as well for a group ordering a bunch of dishes to share! The price range wasn't too heavy either, so it seems like a great casual lunch spot for students and office workers alike. Next time I'd love to bring my partner along too!

⭐ Rating: 4.3/5