Katsu set meals with the best udon broth in Gwanak, Seoul: Kosi

This is Kosi, the writer's #1 restaurant of the year. Apparently it's the place featured on SBS's Master's Master (생활의 달인) for its udon craftsman. The katsu is insane too, but the udon broth is an absolute knockout. And it's all affordable.

Where is Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch, and what are its hours?

Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch is at Bongcheon-dong 870-1, Gwanak-gu, Seoul — just a minute from Exit 5 of Seoul National University Entrance Station. Turn past the Starbucks and it's on your left. Open daily 11:00–20:50, with a two-hour break starting at 3pm. Last orders run until 8:50pm.

No parking on site, and the public parking lots are quite far too. I'd recommend taking public transit.

Outside, inside, and how long is the wait at Kosi?

Come out of Exit 5 of Seoul National University Entrance Station and turn right — the entrance is on your left. Don't get confused finding it.

Even though I visited fairly late, there was already a line waiting. Turnover is fast so I got in quickly, but ✅ make sure to write your name on the waitlist as soon as you arrive!

This shot is from the last seating, taken after I finished eating and stepped out. The interior is clean with no clutter.

There are bar seats on one side, great for eating alone without feeling self-conscious. It's a solid solo-dining spot near Seoul National University Entrance too.

While I was eating, the place was completely packed. Kosi is genuinely, seriously popular.

The tidy, cute interior touches catch your eye.

Kosi menu and prices: udon, katsu and set meals

• Signature · Tori tempura bukkake udon ₩11,000
• Signature · Half pork loin katsu ₩13,500
• Signature · Shrimp tempura udon ₩11,000
• Recommended · Sanuki noodle bukkake udon ₩9,000
• Recommended · Sanuki noodle mazesoba-style udon ₩11,000
• Recommended · Handmade katsudon ₩11,000

The signature menu at Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch is, without question, the Sanuki-style udon noodles — special noodles made by that Master's Master craftsman. The tori tempura bukkake udon, topped with chicken thigh and mixed together, is the star, and the shrimp tempura udon is also a signature dish.

The prices are really great too. A huge fried shrimp on top for just ₩11,000? There's a wide range including katsu and katsudon sides as well. Udon starts at ₩9,000, and ✅ pretty much every hearty, filling menu item is just ₩11,000! This is the best-value, best-tasting place I've found this year.

Eating the fresh pork loin katsu set and the katsudon set

• Pork loin katsu set ₩15,000
• Katsudon set ₩14,500

The katsu set really comes with a huge portion. It includes both katsu and udon. The udon was a big serving too.

The pork katsu wasn't greasy at all, had no gamey smell, and had a wonderfully savory meat flavor and texture.

The portion was really generous too. I found myself wondering — is it even possible to get this flavor at this price in this day and age? I thought, 'is Kosi something the whole world already knows about, and I'm the only one just finding out now?' haha.

I ordered the katsudon set — if you switch any menu item to a set, you can add udon.

Eating the katsudon, I was truly shocked again. This too was insanely good. The seasoning was just right — savory and pleasantly salty. I'd highly, highly recommend Kosi's katsudon.

Why the udon broth is the real star at Kosi

But the real main character of Kosi? ✅ It's the udon 💕 The broth, first of all, is out of this world. It was a cool, deep, savory broth unlike anything I'd ever had before in my life.

Eaten with the craftsman's udon noodles, it's the best. This was the most moving broth dish of the year, according to me. It's only September, but so far Kosi is my #1 spot this year! Of course, the top 5 fight is insanely close.

✅ My recommended combo is udon + katsudon, haha. Though honestly everything here is delicious!

Is Kosi in Gwanak worth a visit? Final verdict

• Moving broth flavor — the #1 restaurant near Seoul National University Entrance
• Udon featured on SBS's Master's Master
• Unbelievably cheap prices for this level of taste

I didn't know broth like this could even exist. Granted, I really love broth-based dishes in general. So I'm giving Kosi my #1 pick of the year for its deep, deep broth flavor. Sadly, I think I'll now compare every other udon shop to Kosi and find them lacking, haha.

I wonder if any udon shop will ever beat Kosi. It's that good, and the prices are also shockingly cheap. It's clearly a famous place — am I really the only one just discovering it now, haha? Where else these days can you eat this full for ₩11,000, haha.

Kosi is a chain with several locations in Seoul, so I've saved them all and plan to go whenever I'm hungry, haha. The prices are unbeatable too.