Konkuk Univ. tonkatsu spot for weekday kamabutter & maze udon: Kosi

Kosi Konkuk University Branch, a tonkatsu and Japanese food spot near Konkuk University Station.

A place so good I went back / tonkatsu lunch near Konkuk University Station / Kosi Konkuk University Branch

I was craving chewy udon, so I headed to Kosi near Konkuk University Station — a well-known tonkatsu spot in the area that was packed even on a weekday lunch.

The restaurant has a long, wide frontage and plenty of depth inside, so there were a lot of seats, but they were full the whole time. Even so, the staff worked so efficiently that turnover was quick and people waiting got seated fast.

Where is Kosi Konkuk University Branch, and is parking free?

Kosi Konkuk University Branch offers free parking, which made it really convenient to visit by car. After we finished eating, the cars that had been parked out front were all gone — there's parking right in front and a separate lot on the left side of the restaurant, both free. The left-side lot has a barrier gate, so just ask the staff and they'll open it for you.

If you're coming by public transit, it's just a short walk from Exit 1 of Konkuk University Station. Common Ground mall is right across the street, so it's a great spot to eat after shopping or hanging out in the area.

Kosi Konkuk University Branch menu

The menu ranges from cold dipping or pour-over udon to hot udon and kamaudon, along with tonkatsu dishes like fresh loin hand-cut tonkatsu, cheese katsu, king shrimp katsu, and mixed katsu.

For donburi rice bowls, there were three options — katsudon, gyudon, and karaage-don — each with a spicy choice as well.

For drinks, there were bottled Sero and Kirin beers, plus Japanese sake.

Inside Kosi and its house noodle-making room

Kosi, a house-made udon and tonkatsu spot near Konkuk University, has bar seats by the window plus tables for two to four in the main hall — the tables can also be pushed together for a bigger group lunch.

The open kitchen was running busily, just as you'd expect from a popular spot,

and further inside there was a fairly spacious room dedicated to making the noodles in house.

The restrooms were also located further inside, so they were easy to use comfortably, and at the register near the entrance there were individually wrapped candies set out for a sweet bite after the meal.

Weekday lunch at Kosi: kamabutter udon, fresh loin tonkatsu and maze udon

The dishes I ordered at Kosi came out all at once, filling the table.

First was the kamabutter udon, served with butter, tempura bits, scallions, egg yolk, grated cheese, and tsuyu sauce. The egg yolk and the richness of the butter combined with the savory tsuyu for amazing seasoning,

and the noodles, coated in egg and butter for a gorgeous yellow color, were thick and chewy — this hot udon didn't get soggy at all and had a great, soft-but-springy bite.

Each table had shichimi, pepper, and sesame seeds so you could adjust the flavor to taste — my personal pick is the sesame seeds. They add an extra nutty crunch that makes the dish even better.

After some thought, I decided on the fresh loin hand-cut tonkatsu at Kosi near Konkuk University Station.

The breading was super crispy,

and for dipping, it came with wasabi, pink salt, and a mild, not-too-strong sauce — three options total.

Next up was the house-made maze udon.

The noodles had the same great chewiness, and the sauce wasn't spicy — as you can see in the photos, the seasoning had a really delicious savory depth. That kelp-based sauce is the kicker, and I think any Korean diner would love it.

There was plenty of meat in it too, and mixing in the rice they thoughtfully provided made for a perfect finish. The crunch of the tempura bits combined with the meat was ridiculously good.

Each dish came with crunchy kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), danmuji (pickled radish), and a tangy salad on the side.

The broth served alongside the tonkatsu had a deep, savory flavor, and the inari sushi, with its vinegar-and-sesame combo, was a nice little extra.

Kosi Konkuk University Branch hours and group bookings

Kosi Konkuk University Branch, near Konkuk University Station, is open daily from 11:10 to 21:00, with a break time from 15:00 to 17:00 and last order at 20:30.

Groups of four or more can make a reservation via Naver for lunch or dinner, and at the time of writing, leaving a Naver review got you a free vegetable tempura, lotus root kushikatsu, sweet potato croquette, or soft drink.

Is Kosi Konkuk University Branch worth it for lunch?

Kosi Konkuk University Branch, known for its house-made udon, always impresses me — every time I visit, the taste and portions feel out of proportion with the great value for money. The staff were all professional and kind.

Sometimes popular restaurants are friendly to customers but snap at each other behind the scenes — I get that it's stressful when it's busy, but it never looks good. At Kosi Konkuk University Branch, the staff moved like one crew, each jumping in to help the other, and honestly watching that the whole meal kind of restored my faith in humanity.