Gwanak udon restaurant, lunch for two with jumbo shrimp tempura: Kosi

Today I'm sharing a review from a visit with my partner to Kosi, which recently opened near Seoul National University Entrance Station and serves the bukkake udon (cold udon topped with broth) featured on SBS's 'Master of Noodles.' This is the newly opened Seoul National University Entrance Station restaurant, 'Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch.'

Honestly, neither of us had ever tried bukkake udon before, so we went in with high expectations — and both the udon and the tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) turned out to be delicious. It's a great pick not just for people looking for restaurants near Seoul National University Entrance Station, but also for those exploring nearby Sharosu-gil.

Kosi in Gwanak: hours, location and how to get there

• 📌 Seoul National University Entrance Station restaurant 'Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch'
• ⏰️ Hours: 11:00 - 20:50 (Break time: 15:00 - 17:00)
• 🚗 Parking: Use nearby public parking lot
• 📍 Address: 466 Bongcheon-ro, 101ho, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch is close to Seoul National University Entrance Station, so it's easy to reach by public transit. It's also close to Sharosu-gil, so it's a good spot to pair with exploring that area.

How busy is Kosi at weekend lunch?

When we arrived at Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch, the space was bigger than I expected. True to a newly opened spot, it's clean, and the white-and-wood interior blends together nicely, giving it the feel of an actual restaurant in Japan.

We visited a bit after the lunch rush even though it was a weekend, and there were still so many customers that the place was nearly full. Even though it just opened recently, it already seems to be getting word-of-mouth as a go-to restaurant near Seoul National University Entrance Station.

Maybe because it's newly opened, the whole place feels clean and orderly, and beyond the regular table seats there are also bar-style counter seats, which makes it look like a good option for solo diners too.

It really doesn't feel awkward to eat here alone, and in fact there were quite a few solo diners the day we visited. Whether you're on a date, out with friends, or looking for a solo-dining-friendly restaurant near Seoul National University Entrance Station, this place should satisfy.

What's on the menu at Kosi: bukkake udon, tonkatsu and mazesoba

If I had to pick Kosi's signature menu, it has to be the udon — after all, it was featured as 'Master of Noodles' on the show. There's a whole range of udon on offer, from the signature bukkake udon to warm udon.

There are also several types of tonkatsu, plus mazesoba (mixed noodles), zaru soba (cold buckwheat noodles), donburi (rice bowl), and quite a wide range of other menu options.

We ordered the half-and-half katsu (half tonkatsu, half cheese katsu), the tori tempura bukkake udon topped with fried chicken thigh, and added a side of shrimp tempura! For reference, the bukkake udon can also be upgraded to a full set that includes tonkatsu, so if you want udon and katsu together, that option looks good too.

The kiosk at each table plays the SBS 'Master of Noodles' segment, so you can see exactly how these udon noodles are made — nice to have on while eating.

Tori tempura bukkake udon: noodles as chewy as rice cake

Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch's bukkake udon comes with the noodles and toppings served separately; you pour the accompanying tsuyu (dipping sauce) over the udon and mix it well before eating. True to Japanese home-style dining, every dish arrives neatly plated on a single tray along with side dishes. Pickled radish, kkakdugi, and salad come standard, and the katsu comes with soup while the udon comes with one inari sushi piece.

Since it was our first time trying bukkake udon, we had high expectations — and right off the bat, the noodles themselves were genuinely impressive!

They're much thicker than the udon noodles I've had before, but it's not just about thickness — the texture itself is completely different.

They're incredibly chewy with a real bite to them, to the point where it felt less like eating udon noodles and more like eating chewy rice cake. It made total sense why this was featured as 'Master of Noodles.'

The fried chicken thigh topping — I expected it to be your basic karaage — but it was crispy outside, juicy inside, and seasoned just right, pairing nicely with the udon.

Half-and-half katsu and the jumbo shrimp tempura side

The half-and-half katsu comes as half tonkatsu, half cheese katsu, and the breading was extremely crispy — great texture.

The cheese katsu in particular was one of the standout items — the cheese was savory and soft, really satisfying.

And personally, out of the side dishes, I really want to recommend the shrimp tempura! The size alone is pretty overwhelming — big, plump shrimp with crispy batter that came together perfectly, satisfying in both texture and taste.

Is Kosi in Gwanak worth it, and who is it for?

I visited this Seoul National University Entrance Station restaurant curious about the 'Master of Noodles' bukkake udon, but the quality of the tonkatsu and shrimp tempura exceeded expectations too, making me curious about the rest of the menu.

If you want to experience udon done properly — unlike anything you've had before — I'd recommend Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch, this Seoul National University Entrance Station restaurant. It's easy to access from the station and convenient to visit from Sharosu-gil too, making it a solid choice for a meal.

Above all, it's a place that makes it clear why it was featured as 'Master of Noodles' on the show — so if you're looking for restaurants near Seoul National University Entrance Station, in Bongcheon-dong, or on Sharosu-gil, I really recommend giving it a try! It's especially great for udon lovers who want to properly enjoy exceptional noodles.