Konkuk donburi restaurant: salmon set + shrimp tempura side, Hekbap

I come to Konkuk University Station often, and this time I was nearby for an errand and wanted a hearty, filling Japanese rice bowl, so I stopped by Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch (핵밥 건대본점). The menu is wide, from meat bowls to ramen, katsu and salmon bowls, so it's popular with university students for dates and solo meals~

Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch: location and opening hours

Hekbap is at 127 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd floor, and it's open daily from 11:00 to 21:00. Break time is 15:00-16:30, and last order is 20:30.

It sits in the busy entertainment area around Konkuk University Station (Lines 2 and 7), which makes it a great meeting spot.

It's very easy to reach by public transport, and the modern-looking exterior makes it easy to find.

Inside Hekbap Konkuk: is it easy to eat alone?

The interior is wood and white, with tables for 2 and 4 plus bar seats, so eating alone is easy. You order on the tablet at your table and pick up side dishes at the self-serve bar.

The inside is tidy and cozy in wood and white tones, which feels upscale yet relaxing.

There are tables for 2 and 4 and plenty of bar-style seats, so it's a perfect spot if you're dining alone and don't want to feel awkward.

Ordering is done on a tablet kiosk at each table, and you can even pay there, which was convenient.

Wasabi, danmuji (yellow pickled radish) and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) are at the self-serve bar.

Individually wrapped spoons and chopsticks at every seat, so hygienic, love it!

What I ordered and how much it cost

• Salmon donburi set ₩18,900
• Shrimp tempura ₩4,500
• Zero Coke ₩2,000

This is what I ordered!

Hekbap salmon donburi set: what comes with it and how it tastes

The salmon donburi set at Hekbap is ₩18,900 and comes with mini udon and karaage (Japanese fried chicken) alongside the salmon bowl. You can order the bowl on its own, but I went for the set to make it more filling! Everything arrives neatly on one tray, and it looked clean and tidy right away.

Thick slices of raw salmon are packed over the rice, topped neatly with flying fish roe, radish sprouts and sliced onion.

I tried a piece of salmon first, and there was no fishy taste at all, just the soft, rich, nutty flavor of fresh salmon filling my mouth!

Take a spoonful of fluffy rice lightly coated in the house tare (sweet-savory) sauce, top it with thick salmon and onion, and eat it in one bite. That's the real sweet, salty and nutty experience.

How big is the mini udon in the set?

I figured the udon in a set would be teeny tiny, but it was bigger than I expected~

The noodles are bouncy and chewy, and with plenty of fried tofu and tempura crumbs, the broth was rich yet refreshing.

Sipping the warm, clean-tasting udon broth between bites of the potentially oily salmon bowl settled my stomach. A perfect combination!

The karaage in the salmon donburi set

The karaage in the set comes on top of a salad, and it goes great with the sauce.

The chicken was so tender that it disappeared in the blink of an eye, haha

I sipped my Zero Coke in between too~

Is Hekbap's shrimp tempura side worth adding?

The shrimp tempura at Hekbap Konkuk is a ₩4,500 side, and it came out freshly fried and steaming. It has that thin, crisp Japanese-style batter, and every bite made a cheerful "crunch!"

Dipping it in the tangy, nutty tartar sauce that comes with it makes it even better!

The shrimp inside is bouncy too, and the more you chew, the more its sweet, savory flavor comes through~

And I finished Hekbap with tteok-twigim (fried rice cakes)!

Why I recommend Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch

• Thick, fresh, nutty salmon and the satisfaction of a neatly arranged tray
• A set meal that also gets you hot, bouncy mini udon, a solid pick
• Easy for solo diners, and tidy enough to work as a Konkuk date spot!

If you want a neat, filling rice bowl meal in Konkuk, do stop by Hekbap. From the fresh salmon donburi set to the crunchy shrimp tempura, I think you'll enjoy a satisfying meal with no misses!