Konkuk Univ. rice bowl dinner: spicy mazesoba & salmon bowl, Hekbap

There are lots of great eateries and bars around Konkuk Univ. Station, but sometimes I just want a tidy, clean, filling bowl of rice. So I headed to Hekbap, a place I trust. At Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch (핵밥 건대본점), I had mazesoba and a salmon soy-marinated rice bowl with a friend!

Konkuk Univ. restaurant Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch: mazesoba and salmon soy-marinated rice bowl

How do you get to Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch from Konkuk Univ. Station?

Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is only about a 5-minute walk from Konkuk Univ. Station, where Lines 2 and 7 cross. From Line 2, take Exit 2 and go straight along the main road. From Line 7, take Exit 3 and just cross the street once!

The restaurant is on the 2nd floor of a building, so head up the stairs and you'll see the entrance of Hekbap, a home-style (Gajeong) rice bowl and ramen specialist. You can check the menu out front beforehand, which is handy if you can't decide what to eat.

Is Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch good for solo dining?

The tables inside are laid out neatly. It's good for friends, couples and families, and with window seats and small tables, it's also a comfortable spot to eat alone.

The 'magic worry-solver' on every Hekbap table

There was a "magical worry-solver" on the table and I wondered if someone had left it behind, but every table has one! My friend and I opened it up, fretting over today's escape room score, and it said, "The harder you fall, the higher you bounce." ...What does that even mean, are we falling hard today?! T_T We closed it and decided to just eat.

Hekbap's self-service side dish corner

At the self-service corner by the counter, you can help yourself to basic side dishes. They had danmuji (pickled yellow radish) and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), and I piled mine high. Small plates and a water purifier are free to use too.

Our orders came out quickly. Each tray comes neatly set with soup, salad and a rice cake dessert, so it's a big plus of Hekbap, a rice bowl and ramen specialist, that you get a clean, not-too-heavy meal.

What is Hekbap's mazesoba like with extra spice?

Mazesoba (brothless mixed noodles) at Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is ₩12,900, and the spicy upgrade is +₩1,000. Look at me, a mazesoba expert who knows to add the spice!! It was loaded with toppings, which made it look even more appetizing.

Break the yolk, mix it through the noodles, and take a bite: the thick, chewy noodles with a lightly spicy, nutty sauce had real depth of flavor. It wasn't just sharp heat; the savory meat and the bite of green onion came together nicely, and it was delicious.

Add some minced garlic to the mazesoba for a deeper flavor. Rice comes with it too, so once the noodles are gone, mix the rice into the leftover sauce for an even better bite. The portion is generous and the value is great!

How do Hekbap's soy-marinated salmon rice bowl taste and portion size compare?

The salmon soy-marinated rice bowl at Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is ₩15,900, with well-cured salmon in a secret soy sauce piled over the rice. The salmon was so thick you could barely see the rice, and it was topped with onion, flying fish roe and plenty more.

The soy marinade wasn't too salty, just right, with a faint sweetness, and it was really good. The salmon kept its soft texture and had no fishy taste at all, so it was clean to eat. You could honestly say it melts in your mouth.

Jocheong rice cake dessert to finish the meal

Finishing with the jocheong (grain syrup) rice cake dessert at Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch, the chewy texture went well with the sweet syrup, and it made for a filling, satisfying dinner. It was really delicious and the atmosphere was pleasant too.

• Anyone looking for a tidy, reliable meal near Konkuk Univ.
• Anyone looking for a restaurant where solo dining feels comfortable
• Anyone who likes Japanese-style rice bowls or mazesoba

Come to Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch near Konkuk Univ. Station~ Next time I'll come for the ramen with its hot broth.

Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.