Konkuk Univ. ramen shop: 3 PM spicy mazesoba after class, Sonoki Ramen

I'm a busy, curious experience-hunter haha. Today I sat through back-to-back major classes, and before I knew it, it was 3 PM. I'd gone without lunch the whole time and was about to collapse from hunger.. It was such an awkward hour that I was really worried about finding an open restaurant ㅠㅠ For a college student like me, a place that's open at this hour is truly precious!

After a storm of searching, I found one like a miracle! It's the Konkuk Univ. ramen favorite 'Sonoki Ramen'. I really enjoyed it, so here's my honest review!

Where is Sonoki Ramen Konkuk Univ. main branch, and what are the hours?

Sonoki Ramen Konkuk Univ. main branch is on the 2nd floor of a building at 88 Dongil-ro 20-gil, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, and it's open daily 11:00-21:00 (last order 20:30). For parking you'll need a nearby public lot, and takeout and delivery are both available.

Come out of Exit 6 of Konkuk Univ. Station and you'll find it quickly, it's really close! The shop is tucked away on the 2nd floor of a building. Hop up the stairs and you'll land in a warm, cozy space haha.

The shop itself isn't big, it's a small, snug size! It seats roughly 6 groups. Even though I came at the awkward 3 PM, delivery riders kept coming in while I ate!

It's a true Konkuk Univ. favorite with a ton of delivery orders.

Sonoki Ramen menu prices and the mazemen set cost

The main dishes at Sonoki Ramen Konkuk Univ. main branch are ramen and mazemen (brothless mixed noodles) at ₩11,000-₩12,500, and sides run ₩3,800-₩6,000. I ordered one mazemen set, swapping in soy-sauce egg rice and oolong tea, and it came to the high ₩10,000s!

• Sonoki Ramen ₩11,800
• Miso Ramen ₩12,000
• Mazemen ₩12,500
• Maze rice bowl ₩12,500
• Hangover Ramen ₩11,000
• Soy-sauce egg rice ₩3,800
• Maze rice ₩3,800
• Chicken karaage ₩4,500
• Pan-fried gyoza ₩4,500
• Octopus karaage ₩6,000
• Takoyaki ₩4,500

Shop atmosphere and table setup

The staff at Sonoki Ramen Konkuk Univ. main branch were really friendly, and each table has a vinegar-style sauce and hair ties. The second I sat down, the staff were just so kind!

On the table there's a vinegar-style sauce that boosts the savory flavor, plus hair ties for women customers. Such thoughtful touches, so sensible, right? 😆

The food came out pretty quickly!

How spicy is the spicy mazemen?

The spicy mazemen at Sonoki Ramen was pleasantly spicy, not the kind of heat that hurts your tongue. I chose the spicy version of the mazemen set and it was such an excellent choice ㅠㅠ

Let me describe the taste in detail,

It's the spicy version, but the heat definitely doesn't hurt your tongue! It's just right for enjoying a pleasant kick. On top of that, the thick, slightly saucy house sauce coats the plump noodles snugly.

One slurp and the savory flavor explodes, I couldn't stop ㅠㅠ And everyone, order the set and definitely swap the rice for the soy-sauce egg rice (ganjang gyeran bap)!

Is swapping the set rice for soy-sauce egg rice worth it?

I totally recommend swapping the rice in the Sonoki Ramen mazemen set for soy-sauce egg rice. This was an unexpected highlight: it seems like such a plain, basic item, yet it's so delicious!

It melts in your mouth, and once you start alternating it with the spicy mazemen, they're a perfect match 👍 I fully recommend it!

Make your set drink oolong tea

The oolong tea I swapped in as my set drink was also a stroke of genius! The flavor is fairly strong but the finish is super clean, and it was so much better than I expected that I even took a photo haha.

Is the mazemen portion big enough?

The noodle portion of the Sonoki Ramen mazemen isn't huge, so I recommend ordering the set. Taste-wise there's nothing to complain about! The one thing to note is that the amount of noodles itself isn't massive.

By a woman's appetite, if you clean up the set rice too, you'll be nicely full! So I strongly recommend ordering the hearty set.

Does Sonoki Ramen Konkuk Univ. main branch have a break time?

On the day I visited, Sonoki Ramen Konkuk Univ. main branch said its break time starts around 4 PM. I went at 3 and thought there was no break time at all, right? But as I was getting up after eating, I saw them telling the next customer who came in that it was break time!

Since it's a rest period from around 4 PM, if you go at an in-between hour, please check with the shop first! There's also a restroom inside with separate men's and women's sections, which is another plus~!!

Tips before you visit

• Reservation tip: There may be a wait at lunch peak time, so you can also place a takeout order in advance through a delivery app!
• Eating tip: When you're about halfway through the mazemen, be sure to sprinkle on the kelp vinegar (dasima sikcho) from the table! The flavor comes alive so much more.
• Nearby info: It's close to Konkuk Univ. Station and there are lots of pretty cafés nearby, so it's perfect for grabbing a coffee after your meal!

Overall verdict

Konkuk Univ.'s Sonoki Ramen perfectly soothed my starving stomach after those endless classes! The spicy, thick noodles with soy-sauce egg rice is a combo I think I'll keep craving. My overall rating is 200%, sincerely recommended 💛

It was a day I filled up on a great meal and got my energy back haha. If you ever eat solo around Konkuk Univ., definitely stop by once!