Chungmuro sake-don spot: salmon and marinated shrimp set at Haekbap

A Chungmuro favorite: Haekbap Dongguk (핵밥 동국대본점).

Is the sake-don at Haekbap Dongguk fresh?

The salmon sake-don (salmon rice bowl) at Haekbap Dongguk was very fresh and the portion was generous, so I left happy. I went to Haekbap, which is known for Japanese home-style (Gajeong) rice bowls and ramen. It seems like Haekbap is popping up all over the country, and the taste differs a little from branch to branch.

To be honest, I had sake-don somewhere else not long ago and the freshness was a bit disappointing... so I'd been hesitant to order it at any other branch, but today I tried it again. In conclusion: very fresh, and a generous portion.

This is for anyone looking for a comfortable place to eat alone near Dongguk University, or a cheap meal.

Haekbap Dongguk location and opening hours

Haekbap Dongguk is at 11 Seoae-ro 1-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Break time is 15:00–16:30, last order is 20:30, and takeout, delivery and group visits are all possible.

It sits between Chungmuro Station and Euljiro 4-ga Station and isn't far from Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station either, so it's easy to get to.

It used to be a Baeksojeong, but it has changed over to Haekbap~ The building is a little unusual, and the ground floor is reachable by elevator.

What is the inside of Haekbap Dongguk like?

The inside is quite spacious, with plenty of seats.

It was peak time, and besides office workers from nearby, lots of students came too. It was pouring rain, so I thought it might be quiet, but delivery riders kept coming and going.

Some customers were getting takeout too. There are side dishes at the self-serve bar, so you can help yourself easily~ The restaurant is clean overall, and the air conditioning is seriously strong!

What's on the Haekbap menu, and what does the set add?

Haekbap Dongguk has a huge range of rice bowls, and the single bowl and the set differ by ₩3,000. The portion difference is quite big, so I'd recommend the set if you can.

For meat there are cube steak, extra-meat, pork rib and pork jowl bowls, and there are salmon, marinated shrimp and salmon-shrimp options too. They also have udon, ramen, curry and soba. There's a new side menu item that didn't exist before, a salmon tasting plate, so I added it :)

The food is prepared quickly and comes out fast, so you don't have to wait long!

Salmon and marinated shrimp sake-don set: what's in it and how it tastes

This is a sake-don topped with both salmon and marinated shrimp. I ordered it as the set (+₩3,000), and it comes out very generous.

Besides the basic side dishes, it comes with 2 pieces of karaage (Japanese fried chicken) and udon, so you get broth and fried food too, three birds with one stone! I assumed all Haekbap branches would be the same, but no~ it really varies branch by branch... (shocking)

The salmon at Haekbap Dongguk was very fresh, and there was quite a lot of it!

It was soft and glossy, and every piece I put in my mouth had a rich, nutty flavor.

Break the fresh egg yolk on top, then mix in the onion and flying fish roe sitting on the side!

The marinated shrimp comes as 3 pieces, plump and, as always, delicious.

I think the marinated shrimp is good at every branch!!

There was also plenty of soy sauce down inside the rice, so the sweet, salty flavor made the meal a pleasure.

Is the side salmon tasting plate worth adding?

This is the salmon tasting plate I added as a side. The menu says 4 pieces, but they actually gave more~ It comes with a small soy sauce dish so you can dip it, but I put two slices at a time on my plain rice haha. No fishy smell, just rich flavor. For this price, it's a seriously great deal!

Karaage, salad and udon served with the set

The karaage was crispy too,

and underneath there's a cabbage salad with plenty of nutty sesame dressing, nice to eat in between bites.

The udon was loaded with tempura bits and fried tofu, and there was plenty of kelp, so the broth was refreshing~

They're generous with the ingredients, so the set quality made the extra ₩3,000 well worth it. This syrup-coated cheese rice cake is tasty too haha. When you come to Haekbap, you have to finish with this.

Tasty and good value, a Chungmuro restaurant I'd recommend even to solo diners.

Haekbap Dongguk FAQ

What are the signature dishes at Haekbap Dongguk?

Steak bowl, marinated salmon bowl, cube steak bowl and karaage bowl are the popular items.

Is Haekbap Dongguk good for eating alone?

Yes! I ate alone too, and the atmosphere was relaxed, easy to walk in and eat without any pressure.

Does the salmon sake-don use raw salmon?

They say it uses fresh salmon, though the supply method may vary depending on the store~ The salmon had a good thickness and texture, just what you'd expect from a signature dish.

Are the portions at Haekbap Dongguk big?

Rice and toppings are piled on generously, and the ₩3,000 set upgrade is well put together, enough for an adult meal.