Gwangjin Japanese restaurant, pre-movie zaru soba set: Hekbap

On the day of a movie screening near Konkuk Station, I did a frantic search for somewhere to grab a quick dinner beforehand. Among all the options, Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch caught my eye for its clean, tidy set-meal presentation, so I headed over.

Where Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is and what the room feels like

Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch sits on the 2nd floor right at the entrance to the Konkuk Station restaurant alley, so it was really easy to find even on my first visit. Stepping inside, the warm wood-toned interior stood out, and the whole space was clean and pleasant — it made a great first impression.

There were tables for two and four, plus a nicely set-up space for solo diners, making it look like a great spot for both solo meals and dates with friends.

What we ordered at Hekbap before the screening

The menu ranges from rice bowls to ramen, soba, and katsu, so we happily agonized over what to get.

We decided to order the cube steak rice bowl, which really lets you taste the meat, and the cold jaru soba (chilled buckwheat noodle) set to beat the heat, and share both.

Soon our order arrived on a neat individual tray each. The tidy, cute presentation was a pleasure to look at even before we started eating. The crispy fried rice cake was delicious too. The jaru soba's cold broth and chewy noodles felt refreshing all the way down.

How the cube steak rice bowl tastes

We tried the signature cube steak rice bowl. Thick-cut skirt steak came off the grill golden brown, and the first bite was full of savory juices and the umami of the house sauce — excellent. Shishito peppers, onion, and mushrooms were added generously too, giving it a really satisfying texture. Topping the rice with meat and vegetables, plus a touch of fresh wasabi, made for a clean finish without any heaviness.

The thick pork cutlet served with the zaru soba set

The pork cutlet served with the jaru soba set was thick, with juicy meat inside and a crispy outside — really tasty.

The crispy cutlet paired really well with its sauce. I also enjoyed the cabbage salad. Dipping the chewy, springy buckwheat noodles into the cold tsuyu broth with ice cubes floating in it felt refreshing all the way through.

The pork cutlet that came with the set was honestly the real MVP! Fresh out of the fryer, crispy outside with juicy meat still inside, it paired beautifully with the cold soba. Alternating between a hearty, filling bite of steak bowl, a crispy bite of cutlet, and a clean bite of cold soba meant we never got tired of it, right to the last bite.

Side dishes, drinks and the tablet menu at the table

Between the standard side dishes and the fried rice cake with grain syrup, we cleaned our plates before we knew it. The basic sides, pickled radish and kkakdugi, were refillable, which was great.

Thanks to Hekbap's Naver receipt review event, we even got a free drink. We picked Pepsi Zero. Crispy cutlet and cola went really well together.

There was a magic book on every table — open to any page and you'll find some good words, enough to blow away any worries in one shot. Eating together and chatting while looking down at the street from the 2nd-floor window, it was suddenly time to head to the screening.

Is Hekbap worth it for a pre-movie dinner?

A tidy set meal that satisfied on flavor, portion, and atmosphere all at once. As dinner hour approached, the tables filled up completely — I was glad we came early.

If you're looking for a clean, filling meal near Konkuk University, I highly recommend Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch, where you can enjoy a juicy rice bowl alongside refreshing cold soba! Next time I want to try the mazesoba.