Dongjak udon restaurant for mazesoba udon and king shrimp katsu: Kosi

Kosi Isu Branch: a great-value regular spot 10 seconds from Isu Station

Kosi Isu Branch is an udon and tonkatsu place 10 seconds on foot from Isu Station, on the 1st floor of Isu Xi Apartment at 300 Sadang-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Hi, I'm Celie :-) This place is basically my regular mill — I have to visit it periodically or I don't feel at ease.

This Isu restaurant is seriously good value..★ The prices are so easy on the wallet that you can order everything you want. Go during lunch or dinner peak hours and it's nearly full, so on weekends you really need to time your visit! 10 seconds from the station? Super close, and right next door there's Yeoptteok, Megabox, and E-mart Everyday.

Here's the location. It's in the Isu Xi Apartment building *_* It's on the 1st floor but it might be hard to spot since it's a bit hidden behind the flower beds.

Kosi / 1st floor, unit 126, 300 Sadang-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul

I visited around 1:30pm on a weekday. When I first walked in there were about 2 tables free, but by the time I took this photo on my way out it was even quieter! There were tons of staff and they were all so kind :)

What to order at Kosi Isu Branch: mazesoba udon, side tonkatsu and king shrimp katsu

At Kosi Isu Branch I ordered everything I wanted to eat. Mazesoba udon + tonkatsu / king shrimp katsu. Today, of all days, I let myself be a little greedy.

What does the mazesoba udon at Kosi taste like?

Mazesoba udon (mixed udon) is what I've been completely obsessed with lately. I'm usually not a huge udon fan, but this one was delicious,, mix mix~~~ Spicy and just the best. The first time I tried this dish somewhere else I was like huh? but there was something addictive about it that kept coming to mind. It's honestly hard to find a place that does this menu really well. I've had it in a bunch of places, and the truly amazing ones were actually rare. Easy to make.. but hard to get the flavor just right, this mazesoba.

It came out beautifully plated. Think of it like bibimbap (mixed rice) but with noodles — except a bit spicier and with a lot more meaty flavor???

Why add a side tonkatsu to the mazesoba udon?

Of course I had to add tonkatsu (pork cutlet) as a side. Because honestly, this place is actually an Isu tonkatsu hotspot too...ha. It's a house-made noodle + tonkatsu specialist!!!! So you've got to order it together~~~ They say ordering the side together turns you into a pig.. oink oink, guess I'm becoming one.

Cabbage salad and pickled radish + radish come out with it too.

Alright, now let's mix it up properly in 3 steps.

Mix mix~~~~ yalyu~~~~ let's mix it up happily hahahahaha the most exciting time.. I get dizzy wanting to eat it fast ^^ ha I'm kind of impatient by nature. It's going to be so good, right?

How chewy are Kosi's house-made udon noodles?

You can definitely tell this is a great Isu restaurant — the udon noodles are so chewy. Udon really lives and dies by the noodles. Even more than the broth... so the texture is great to eat, and slurping the noodles is pure joy ^_____^! The mild spiciness keeps rising up and it's really addictive. While eating it, I kept wanting more.

They didn't have cheese katsu as a side option, so I ordered the regular one instead.

So thick~ this is what puts my mind at ease~ It's delicious as expected.... Next time I'll make tonkatsu the main dish.. and order an assorted platter.

The king shrimp katsu, the standout of the meal

The dish that surprised me most at Kosi Isu Branch was the king shrimp katsu. And it really was amazing.

First off, it's kiiiing-size huge. I was curious why it's so popular, and after tasting it I understood. It's the kind of flavor that makes your eyes go wide ㅇ0ㅇ.

Super plump and the batter is.. crispy, just... the sound alone is insane hahahaha it's that crispy hahahahahaha so good I could cry. This is what fried food should be.. every fried shrimp I've had before, step aside~~ If you love fried shrimp, you absolutely must order this. You'll experience a whole new world.

Where to eat near Isu Station in Dongjak, Seoul

I was eating so happily that the lady next to me kept watching me for a while and then ended up ordering more herself hahaha.. I guess I looked like I was really enjoying it... it really is delicious.. This Isu restaurant has great value, but if it's also this tasty, shouldn't you just go~~~? Am I right?

There are so many restaurants nearby that you might not know where to go! If that's you, come here.. It's great for a light, satisfying meal. I'll have to come back again next month or so. Already happily wondering what I'll order next time.