Japanese restaurant in Gwanak, Seoul: solo-friendly dinner at Kosi

An udon and pork cutlet restaurant near Seoul National University Entrance Station

After finishing the first move into our newlywed home, my husband and I came to Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch (코시 서울대입구점) for dinner to calm our hungry stomachs :) Kosi specializes in udon and tonkatsu (Japanese breaded pork cutlet), and I had wanted to try it because it has branches all over Seoul. It was every bit as delicious as I expected, so I think I’ll be back whenever I’m craving udon. It’s also just a two-minute walk from exits 5 and 6 of Seoul National University Entrance Station, so getting there is super easy.

We arrived right at 5 p.m., when break time ended, and were able to go straight in. There was a sheet for writing down your name for the wait, though, so I guess there can be a line during peak hours.

The interior was more spacious than I expected. There were especially lots of bar seats, so I thought it would be great for eating alone—and sure enough, plenty of people came for solo meals. Most guests seemed to be stopping in for a casual meal, and the quiet atmosphere made it really comfortable to eat!

The kitchen is open and very clean, so hygiene gets a pass too 👍 Each table has pepper, sesame seeds, salad dressing, and shichimi (Japanese seven-spice seasoning). You can order by table kiosk, and payment is made upfront.

Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch menu and our order

Here’s the menu at Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch. Cold udon and tonkatsu are the best-known items, but there are also hot udon, mazesoba (soupless mixed noodles), and rice bowls. Every item is available either à la carte or as a set.

• Sanuki noodle tempura bukkake udon set (₩16,000)
• Fresh pork loin half-and-half cutlet (₩13,500)
• Asahi beer (₩6,000)

Tempura bukkake udon set and fresh pork loin half-and-half cutlet

The appliance delivery had me so stressed that I couldn’t resist ordering a cold Asahi beer 🍺 It went really well with the Japanese food.

First up was the Sanuki noodle tempura bukkake udon set. The set comes with tonkatsu and inari sushi (seasoned rice in fried tofu pockets), topped with kabocha squash and shrimp tempura. Bukkake udon is served cold, so compared with hot udon, you can really notice the noodles’ bouncy texture.

Add tsuyu (Japanese noodle dipping sauce), grated daikon, scallions, and tempura, and you have such an appetizing spread 😎 It was delicious from the first bite..! The flavor was savory yet clean, and the noodles definitely felt different. They were chewy without going soft easily, so I think anyone who loves cold, firm udon will really enjoy this.

The tempura on top was delicious eaten crisp at first, then lightly dipped in tsuyu too. Being able to eat crispy tempura and chewy noodles together made the set more substantial than I expected.

The cutlet and inari sushi that came with the set were generously portioned too, so it felt much more filling than udon alone. It would be great when you want a truly hearty meal.

Next was the fresh pork loin half-and-half cutlet. This lets you have both pork loin cutlet and cheese cutlet. If you order it as a set, it comes with udon, but I ordered it à la carte! Rather than having only one type of cutlet, it was a great option when you can’t decide because you get to try two styles.

I tried the pork loin cutlet first. Its coating was fried nice and crisp, while the meat inside was thick yet tender. Tonkatsu can get tiresome quickly when it’s too greasy, but this was fried cleanly overall, so it was easy to enjoy without feeling heavy.

When you have really good pork cutlet, you naturally want to dip it in salt rather than sauce—and I dipped these cutlets in wasabi and salt more often than sauce too.

The cheese cutlet was excellent as well. Overall, this was a place where I felt the food quality was high. If you’re looking for a great Seoul National University Entrance Station restaurant that’s good for eating alone, I highly recommend Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch!