Sharosu-gil katsudon restaurant with added fried chicken: Kosi

Kosi just opened a new branch on Sharosu-gil, so my boyfriend and I rushed over to check it out. I'd had udon at the original Kosi location near Maebong Station before, but this time we came for tonkatsu (pork cutlet)!!

Where Kosi is and when it opens

• Location: 466 Bongcheon-ro, 101ho, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00–20:50
• Break time: 15:00–17:00

Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch is super close to the station, so it was very easy to walk to. Cross just one street and you're on Sharosu-gil, which makes it a great spot for a date.

What the Kosi storefront looks like

Since Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch only opened recently, the storefront was still really clean.

There's a menu board outside, so you can check the dishes and prices before you even step in.

Inside Kosi: solo bar tables and an open kitchen

We came on a weekday evening — no wait, but the place was nearly full.

There are bar tables set up for solo dining, so it's an easy spot to grab a quick lunch or dinner by yourself.

Kosi's kitchen is open, so there's nothing to worry about hygiene-wise. Delivery calls kept coming in too — definitely lives up to its reputation as a Sharosu-gil favorite.

What's on the menu at Kosi

Considering how pricey eating out has gotten these days, especially near Seoul National University, the prices here were pretty kind. Kosi is known for its super chewy udon noodles, so there's a wide variety of udon dishes along with Japanese-style tonkatsu and rice bowls!

Honest review: katsudon, half-and-half katsu and fried chicken

Since we'd already had udon at the original Kosi, we decided to go for tonkatsu this time. We ordered katsudon, half-and-half katsu, and fried chicken!!

Every table has a payment kiosk, plus salad dressing, shichimi (Japanese seven-spice), and sesame seeds.

Our order came out fast!! Both the katsudon and fried chicken looked delicious, right?

The cutlet on top of the katsudon looked really thick and appetizing.

It had just the right hint of pink — cooked exactly right.

With the thick cutlet, soft egg, and sweet-savory sauce-simmered onions all together, there's no way it could taste bad ❤️

The fried chicken pieces were huge and looked so good too — the portion and price are just too kind!!!

The batter was very crisp and thin, giving it a nutty flavor without being greasy.

Dip it right into the sauce that came with it — pure honey flavor 👏

The salad dressing was a little hard to place — kind of like mayo with a touch of mustard mixed in? I'm not totally sure what it was. I usually prefer sesame or Oriental-style dressing, but that faint mustard note went really well with the tonkatsu!

Half-and-half katsu: pork loin and stretchy cheese

Next came the half-and-half katsu, made up of pork loin katsu and cheese katsu.

Just look at that gorgeous cheese katsu ✨️

The pork loin katsu was great because the batter wasn't too thick!

The cheese in the cheese katsu stretched beautifully — soft, nutty, and delicious.

I love loading my sauce with sesame seeds, so I ground away happily!

Along with the basic sauce, they also served pink salt and wasabi, so you can enjoy it however you like!

No gamy taste at all — clean and delicious.

Pair it with a little wasabi and you really get to enjoy the pork loin's own texture and flavor!

Why Kosi works for both a date and a solo dinner

If you're looking for a crispy, tasty tonkatsu spot near Seoul National University Entrance, give Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch a try. It's close to Sharosu-gil, so it's great for a date, and it also has plenty of solo-friendly bar seating for a comfortable meal on your own. Prices overall are pretty reasonable and the portions are generous, making it a great value-for-money find.