Yangcheon udon restaurant for a solo spicy udon lunch: Haengbokhan

I didn't have any plans for weekend lunch, so I went looking for somewhere to eat solo! I'd been craving soba or udon for a while, so I searched for Japanese restaurants near Sinjeongnegeori and Haengbokhan Udon Gage kept popping up, so I decided to check it out!

The sign was big and easy to spot from the road, haha.

Where is Haengbokhan Udon Gage Sinjeongnegeori Station Branch, and is there parking?

Haengbokhan Udon Gage Sinjeongnegeori Station Branch is located at 257 Jungang-ro, 1F, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, close to Sinjeongnegeori Station, so it wasn't hard to find. It's open every day from 10:40am to 3:00am the next day.

I drove there, and there were a few parking spots in front of the restaurant. Not a huge lot, but plenty for someone just stopping by alone for a quick meal.

You can check the menu before you even walk in! Handy if there's a wait and you want to decide ahead of time, haha.

Inside Haengbokhan Udon Gage: atmosphere and seats for solo diners

I went right around opening time, so it was quiet at first, but customers kept streaming in while I ate!

There were solo diners as well as families!

You order directly through the kiosk at the table, and

pickled radish and kimchi come as basic side dishes!

You help yourself as much as you need from the self-serve bar. Overall it felt clean and hygienic, haha.

What's on the menu — udon, soba, pork cutlet, rice bowls and drinking snacks

The menu had a wide variety — different kinds of udon, soba, pork cutlet, rice bowls, and more, haha. Seeing a separate drinking-snacks section, I figured plenty of people come by in the evening or late at night for a drink. Since it's open until dawn, it also seems like a great spot when you're craving late-night food.

Gochu udon: how spicy is the cheongyang chili broth?

What I picked that day at Haengbokhan Udon Gage was the gochu udon (spicy pepper udon). The soba and pork cutlet tempted me too, but I was especially craving something spicy that day, so after some back and forth I settled on the gochu udon, haha.

The table next to me was having rice bowls and pork cutlet, and it all looked delicious. It was a bit of a shame I couldn't order multiple dishes since I was alone. There were quite a few udon varieties too, so it made me want to try something else next time, haha.

It came out faster than I expected after ordering, which was nice! The moment I got the bowl, the smell of the chili seasoning spread right away — it clearly looked like it'd be spicy and refreshing.

This is the gochu udon I ordered that day. It was regular udon piled generously with red seasoning and cheongyang chili.

From the very first bite, the spicy broth flavor hit hard, and I thought this would be a popular spot for people getting over a hangover.

Do the udon noodles stay springy to the last bite?

I don't usually eat udon much because the noodles tend to go soft too easily, but the noodles here were not too thick and stayed pleasantly springy, keeping their texture until the last bite. They never got soggy the whole time I was eating, so even someone like me who doesn't usually go for udon really enjoyed it, haha.

The broth also had fried tofu and crown daisy in it, so the flavor wasn't flat — there was a subtle, savory depth to it. The spiciness wasn't harsh, more like a clean, sharp heat, perfect for working up a sweat while eating :)

Is Haengbokhan Udon Gage worth it for a solo meal?

This was a great Japanese restaurant near Sinjeongnegeori for eating a quiet meal alone. Honestly, if a place like this were in my own neighborhood, I feel like I'd stop by often. It handles lunch and stays open until dawn, and restaurants like that aren't so common these days 🥹🥹

I'm already curious to try other menu items next time, haha. A light recommendation for anyone looking for a Japanese restaurant near Sinjeongnegeori.