Japanese restaurant in Gwanak: jumbo shrimp katsu platter, Kosi
In short
Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch is a Sanuki udon and handmade tonkatsu restaurant 1–2 minutes' walk from Exit 5 of Seoul National University Entrance Station in Gwanak, Seoul. Over dinner with her youngest sister, the writer ordered tori ten bukkake udon at 11,000 won, the jumbo shrimp mixed katsu platter at 14,500 won and a 4,000 won side of shrimp tempura, since the cheese katsu had sold out. With tsuyu that is never too salty, thick domestic pork loin katsu and a bar counter split into two sections, Kosi works just as well for a solo meal.
Good to know
- Location
- 466 Bongcheon-ro, Unit 101, Gwanak-gu, Seoul (1–2 min walk, 144 m, from Exit 5 of Seoul National University Entrance Station, Line 2)
- Tori ten bukkake udon
- 11,000 won
- Jumbo shrimp mixed katsu platter
- 14,500 won
- Shrimp tempura, 2 pieces (side)
- 4,000 won
- Parking
- Limited. On weekends and public holidays, move the sign for 1 hour of free parking
- Seating
- Bar counter split into two sections, easy for solo diners
as written by the visitor on Sep 20, 2026
A while back my second-youngest sister and I went to Kosi in Isu and ended up loving the cold udon and tonkatsu more than expected. So when I had something to do near Seoul National University Entrance Station, I looked it up and found there was a Kosi branch here too — this time I dragged my youngest sister along haha.
- A good restaurant close to Exit 5 of Seoul National University Entrance Station, Line 2
- Bukkake udon with savory, not-salty tsuyu and chewy noodles
- Thick, tender tonkatsu made from freshly pounded domestic pork loin
If you're looking for a good restaurant near Seoul National University Entrance Station, this review should be pretty helpful haha!
Where is Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch, and can you park?
Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch is about a 1–2 minute walk (144m) from Exit 5 of Seoul National University Entrance Station, Line 2, so it's very easy to reach by public transit.
Parking: Limited. Weekday parking is somewhat limited, but on weekends and holidays you can move the sign at the side of the building or in the designated parking spot for 1 hour of free parking. Worth keeping in mind if you're driving on a weekend visit!
Is Kosi comfortable for eating alone?
Kosi Seoul National University Entrance Branch is clean and fuss-free overall, with that tidy wood-tone feel that's perfect for a casual meal or meeting up with friends.
This branch in particular has its bar table space nicely split into two sections, which looked really good for eating alone without feeling self-conscious haha. Coming by yourself for a bowl of udon feels totally comfortable here.
Kosi's signature menu and what we ordered this time
Kosi is a Japanese restaurant whose signature menu is cold and hot udon made with the Sanuki noodle-making method, plus handmade tonkatsu made in-house. On top of that you can enjoy donburi and various crispy fried items. They say their biggest weapons are a clean broth simmered from direct-sourced ingredients and soy sauce imported from Japan.
Looking over the menu at the table, here's what we ended up ordering this time!
- Tori tempura bukkake udon: ₩11,000
- King shrimp mixed katsu: ₩14,500
- Shrimp tempura 2P (side): ₩4,000
Honestly I really wanted to try the cheese katsu this time, but since it's a popular menu item, it was sold out and I couldn't have it :( Still, we decided to console ourselves with the mixed katsu and tori tempura.
Tori ten bukkake udon, 11,000 won: tsuyu that isn't too salty
The biggest reason I've come to love Kosi's cold udon enough to bring my sisters here one after another is that the seasoning is just right.
Sometimes when I have cold udon elsewhere, the sauce is so salty I end up wincing. But Kosi's isn't salty at all — the savory flavor just sticks to your mouth in the best way, and my youngest sister said as soon as she tasted it, "The broth here isn't salty at all, it's really good" haha.
A lemon comes on the side too — make sure to squeeze it in! It pairs really well with the tsuyu broth and boosts the savory flavor even more.
Plus, even when the noodles hit the cold sauce, they don't go stiff — they stay bouncy and chewy in the best way, honestly a work of art. The crispy fried chicken thigh on top also went really well with the cold udon.
Jumbo shrimp mixed katsu platter, 14,500 won, plus hot udon
The tonkatsu quality is great too! They say they pound domestic pork loin by hand in-house, and this was the thickest loin katsu I've seen in a while! Even at that thickness, the meat is tender and clean-tasting, almost like tenderloin — really enjoyable to eat.
Since I'd only tried the cold udon so far, I was curious about the hot version too, so I added hot udon as a side with the tonkatsu. The hot udon was delicious as well, and the chewiness didn't fade even as time passed!
For reference, the king shrimp in the mixed katsu is also delicious, but the basic shrimp tempura — whether added separately or served on top of the ten bukkake — was crispy outside, juicy inside, and bouncy, which I actually liked even more. 😍
Is Kosi in Gwanak worth a dinner visit?
After visiting another branch with my second-youngest sister, I had another great dinner at the Seoul National University Entrance branch of Kosi with my youngest sister! The menu is clean, light, and easy to like, so I'd recommend it if you're looking for a place for a casual date or meeting up with friends. 😍
Where it is
466 Bongcheon-ro, Unit 101, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 관악구 봉천로 466 101호
