Suwon Japanese rice bowl restaurant, poached-egg gyudon: Gyudongjip

A neat Japanese set meal near Ajou University

Today, I’m introducing a great restaurant near Ajou University that I fell for as soon as I visited, thanks to its tidy plating and hearty spread. The atmosphere was lovely and the food was wonderfully well made, making it a great date spot too. Here’s my honest review of Gyudongjip Ajou University Branch (규동집 아주대점).

I went to Gyudongjip Ajou University Branch, which is already much talked about as a restaurant near Ajou University. The dining room was compact rather than large. I heard you can use the Uman 2-dong Public Parking Lot, though it is paid. That delicious-restaurant vibe from the exterior!!! It feels clean and modern.

What we ordered: gyudon and chashudon sets

I looked over the menu board by the entrance, and it was made up of nothing but things that sounded delicious. I ordered the signature and bestseller: the gyudon set for ₩10,900 and the chashudon set for ₩12,500.

When you order a set, you can choose a side, you know? For the chashudon, I chose mini udon from mini udon, soba, and cold udon. For the gyudon set, I chose mini soba and sweet potato cheese croquette (or karaage—choose one). They say the curry is house-made too, so I’m going to come back and try the curry next time :)

Seating in the compact dining room

Here’s the inside of the restaurant. There was bar seating, three two-person tables, and one four-person table. It’s compact, so I don’t think they can take group bookings, but please sell lots of gyudon and expand the place!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t be the only one who gets to eat this,,ㅠㅠㅠ

After a short wait, the food arrived! It looked so appetizing that I simply couldn’t not take photos.

A chashudon set with thick-cut pork

The chashudon set was ₩12,500. There was absolutely no unpleasant meat smell, and the portion was really generous. Snip the thick chashu pork into bite-sized pieces with scissors, top it with fresh wasabi, and have it with rice—it’s seriously heavenly!!!

The chashudon had a slightly spicy kick!

The tray comes with chashudon, mini soba or udon, salad, pickled ginger, wasabi, side dishes, and plum tea, so you can enjoy all kinds of combinations.

Even the rice was seasoned with soy sauce, but how could rice alone taste this good,,,? I scraped up every last bit,,,

Gyudon set with poached egg and karai sauce

Next up was the ₩10,900 gyudon set. The tablet on the table even explained how to eat it deliciously, so I followed the instructions exactly.

Gyudon (small beef rice bowl), mini soba or udon, three pieces of karaage or a croquette, karai sauce, a poached egg, side dishes, and plum tea. Look at all that beef,,,??

Add the poached egg to the gyudon.

Mix it around with your chopsticks and eat, haha. It has a naturally sweet flavor, so anyone can enjoy it without much fuss. It can get a little rich if you keep eating it, right,,,? At that point, add a little of the spicy sauce that comes with it and mix again—the flavor balance becomes just right, and it tastes even better.

You can add sweet potato cheese croquettes too

The sweet potato cheese croquette was so delicious, you know,,?? I checked whether they sold it separately, and they do, hahaha. If you want more, I think you can just add an order, hahaha.

The side dishes were tasty too, and I cleaned every plate,,, I hereby declare this an Ajou University lunch favorite. The value is so good that I think waiting at lunchtime is practically inevitable. This is a place I definitely want to revisit.

My personal verdict

• Taste: ★★★★★ — Both the gyudon, with its great sweet-and-spicy sauce balance, and the generous chashudon, free of any meat smell, were excellent.
• Price: ★★★★★ — A neat, filling set meal that offers great value for its thoughtful spread.
• Atmosphere: ★★★★ — Cozy, clean interiors that are perfect for a date.

The food is clean-tasting and high quality, so it’s a place that people of all ages can enjoy. It’s especially perfect as a lunch spot near Ajou University when you want a proper meal on a weekday without anything overly heavy!!! The atmosphere is cozy and calm as well, so if you’re looking for a neat restaurant nearby, Gyudongjip Ajou University Branch is one to remember.