Sinjeongnegeori donkatsu restaurant, extra sauce and soba: Haengbokhan

A great-value restaurant near Sinjeongnegeori Station that works for solo diners and groups alike, Haengbokhan Udon Gage. Today I visited a special restaurant near Sinjeongnegeori where you can enjoy a satisfying meal — from proper meals to easy-going side dishes for drinks, there's a wide range to choose from. Let me introduce this Sinjeongnegeori restaurant that never disappoints.

Where is Haengbokhan Udon Gage near Sinjeongnegeori Station?

Haengbokhan Udon Gage Sinjeongnegeori Station Branch is located on the 1st floor of 257 Jungang-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. The exterior has a cozy, friendly neighborhood-restaurant feel. Out front, the tasty menu items are neatly displayed, so even before you step in you start happily wondering what to order. It blends nicely with the surrounding street, making it an easy, comfortable place to stop by.

Inside Haengbokhan Udon Gage: solo meals and family dinners

Inside, the tables are spaced generously, making it comfortable whether you're eating alone or with family. Step in and you'll find a cute, tidily arranged space. It's great for anyone dining solo, and just as nice for a cozy meal with friends or family. Warm lighting and wooden furniture together create a comfortable, homey atmosphere.

What's on the menu at Haengbokhan Udon Gage

As the name suggests, Haengbokhan Udon Gage is an udon specialist, but it boasts a wide lineup beyond udon too. There's hearty old-school donkatsu, rice bowls, and soba dishes, plus duruchigi (spicy stir-fried pork) and various side dishes perfect for drinks.

Unlimited kimchi and pickled radish at the self-serve corner

The basic banchan (side dishes) are neat kimchi and crunchy pickled radish. If you run low mid-meal, you can freely grab more from the self-serve corner on one side of the restaurant. They're clean, simple sides that pair well with the food, and I loved being able to help myself as much as I wanted.

A full table: perilla oil soba, old-school donkatsu and bibim mandu

This visit's order was three items: perilla oil soba, old-school donkatsu, and bibim mandu. I wanted to try a variety of flavors, so I ordered a nice spread of the signature dishes — the nutty, savory perilla oil soba, the classic crispy-outside-juicy-inside old-school donkatsu, and the tangy-sweet, appetite-boosting bibim mandu. The combination of crispy fried food, clean soba, and spicy-tangy dumplings complemented each other perfectly, filling the whole table. The portions were really generous too — just looking at it made me feel satisfied. A perfect spread of a meal.

Bibim mandu with mini dumplings instead of jjolmyeon noodles

Bibim mandu is a special dish where fresh vegetables and crispy dumplings get mixed together in a special sauce. Crunchy cabbage, cool cucumber, carrot, and crisp bean sprouts all go in generously. Golden-fried crispy mini dumplings mingle with the spicy-sweet sauce and the vegetables. Overall, the flavor is similar to tangy, spicy jjolmyeon (cold spicy noodles) — think of it as jjolmyeon with crispy, nutty mini dumplings standing in for the noodles. The warm juices inside the crispy dumpling skins meeting the fresh, spicy vegetable mix gives your mouth a rich variety of textures.

Old-school donkatsu with an extra serving of sauce

The old-school donkatsu is so big it fills the whole plate, and thick enough to bring a smile just looking at it. Freshly fried, the outside was very crispy while the meat inside stayed moist and tender. What made it especially special was the sauce poured generously on top — a sweet, classic old-school sauce flavor that brought back childhood memories. The sauce was so good that partway through I wanted more, so I added extra and enjoyed every last bite moist and savory. The portion is really generous for the price and the taste is excellent, so it's the dish I'd most recommend sharing in the middle of the table when dining with others.

How does the perilla oil soba taste?

Perilla oil soba is a dish whose clean flavor and deep aroma settle the stomach comfortably. Generous seaweed flakes above and below the noodles, nutty perilla oil, and spicy chili and green onion all come together in harmony. Mix it well with chopsticks and the mild, deep perilla oil aroma wafts up, whetting your appetite. One bite and the nutty flavor spreads through your mouth, going down clean without being overwhelming. The green onion and chili keep any heaviness in check, so it stays enjoyable to the very last bite without getting tiresome.