Gwanak Japanese restaurant with counter seats: Kosi

I’ve been taking drawing lessons near Seoul National University Entrance Station lately. My class starts at 7:30 p.m., which left dinner in that awkward in-between slot. Eating at home beforehand felt too rushed, and waiting until class was over would leave me starving, so I decided to sort out dinner nearby before class.

A place nearby that’s known as a good restaurant around Seoul National University Entrance Station came to mind, so I headed over. It was Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch (코시 서울대입구점). I’d always wondered about it because there was a wait whenever I passed by, so I finally decided to make the trip this time.

A comfortable restaurant atmosphere with counter seats for solo diners

Once I went in, I found that the counter seats for one were well set up, so it felt easy for solo guests to eat without any pressure. There were quite a few people dining alone, too. The seats were arranged comfortably, so I could just sit and relax without feeling self-conscious.

The open kitchen gave me something to watch as the food was prepared, and the dining room was kept neat and tidy. It was just right for quietly eating alone.

Shrimp tempura bukkake udon and a pork cutlet set meal

The moment I opened the menu, the deliberating began. There were so many options that I stared at it for ages wondering what to order. There were several udon choices alone—enough to make choosing difficult—and every set meal looked delicious, so it took quite a while to decide. After much thought, I settled on the shrimp tempura bukkake udon and the pork cutlet set meal.

I was alone, but I wanted to try both, so I boldly ordered them together. The spread that arrived was so generous it practically filled the table.

On the side came cabbage salad, danmuji (pickled yellow radish), and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), along with pork cutlet sauce and wasabi salt. Each element had clearly been considered, which made eating it even more fun.

Shrimp tempura bukkake udon with sauce poured over it

The bukkake udon was the kind where you pour the sauce over yourself, so as soon as it arrived, I poured in every last drop without holding back.

The tempura, grated daikon radish, and scallions came separately, so I piled them all on and dug in.

There was one shrimp tempura and one kabocha squash tempura on top, and the batter was really crisp. Even after soaking up the sauce, it did not turn soggy; it stayed beautifully crunchy, so I kept reaching for it. The noodles had a wonderful chew, letting the udon’s own character come through properly.

Adding the grated daikon and scallions brought out the savory depth of the sauce, and kept everything fresh rather than heavy all the way through.

Even without broth, the sauce coated every strand of noodle well, and I was happy right through to the final bite.

A thick, juicy pork cutlet set meal

The pork cutlet was crisp outside and thick within, with plenty of juices in every bite.

The ratio of breading to meat was just right, so it never felt greasy and stayed delicious to the end. Alternating between the pork cutlet sauce and wasabi salt gave the same cutlet completely different charms, so I never got bored.

The inari sushi (seasoned tofu-pocket sushi) that came alongside was pleasantly nutty, too, and I made a satisfying meal of every last bit. With its easygoing counter seats and generous portions, I recommend Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch if you are looking for a good restaurant near Seoul National University Entrance Station. It was perfect for filling up before drawing class, so I think I’ll be back.

Hours and parking notes before your visit

• 101, 466 Bongcheon-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 관악구 봉천로 466 101호)
• 144 m from Exit 5 of Seoul National University Entrance Station
• Daily 11:00–20:50; break time 15:00–17:00
• Parking is difficult on weekdays.
• On weekends and public holidays, if there is an open building parking space with a sign in place, you can move the sign aside and park for about an hour.
• There are sometimes open spaces along the main road beside the building, so keep that in mind.