Konkuk Univ. rice bowls: buta set spicier than Shin Ramyun, Hekbap
In short
Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch (핵밥 건대본점) is a Japanese home-style rice bowl restaurant on the 2nd floor at 127 Neungdong-ro in Gwangjin, Seoul. On an evening out with a friend near Konkuk Univ., the writer ordered the signature cube steak bowl (12,900 won) and the new spicy buta (pork) bowl set (14,900 won). The cube steak was tender with no gamey smell, and the spicy buta bowl felt hotter than Shin Ramyun but milder than Buldak. Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is a safe pick for spice lovers or anyone after a solo or light meal near Konkuk Univ.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Konkuk Univ. Station Exit 3 · 4-min walk (store listing, Oct 6, 2026)
- Cube steak bowl
- 12,900 won (comes with udon broth, cheese rice cake and salad)
- [New] Spicy buta bowl set
- 14,900 won (comes with mini udon, 2 pieces of karaage and cheese rice cake)
- Hours
- Daily 11:00–21:00, break time 15:00–16:30, last order 20:30
- Reservations
- Available for parties of 5 or more
- Address
- 2F, 127 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (no elevator, stairs only)
- Parking
- Lotte Department Store Konkuk Univ.: 2 hours free with the department store app / Konkuk University Hospital lot: 30 minutes free, then 500 won per 10 minutes
- Seating
- Window seats for solo diners, tables for 4 and group seating
- Ordering
- Order and pay on the tabletop tablet (T-order)
as written by the visitor on Jun 24, 2026
Today's story is about Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch (핵밥 건대본점), a Japanese home-style (Gajeong) restaurant where I had dinner after hanging out near Konkuk Univ. with a friend!
Where is Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch, and what are the hours and parking?
Hekbap is on the 2nd floor at 127 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, and it's open every day from 11:00 to 21:00. Break time is 15:00–16:30, last order is 20:30, and parties of 5 or more can reserve.
- Park at Lotte Department Store Konkuk Univ. and download the department store app to get 2 hours of free parking
- Konkuk University Hospital parking lot: 30 minutes free, then ₩500 per 10 minutes
Hekbap is a Japanese home-style (Gajeong) restaurant. It's on the 2nd floor, and just so you know, there's no elevator, so you have to take the stairs!
Seating and how to order at Hekbap
The inside was bigger than I expected. There are window seats that are great for eating alone, plus 4-person tables and group seating.
You order with the T-order tablet on the table. You can order and pay all in one go, which was really convenient!
Single bowl vs. set meal
The menu is wide: rice bowls (donburi), udon, soba, ramen, curry and more. You can order a rice bowl on its own, or as a set (jeongsik) with 2 karaage (Japanese fried chicken) and a mini udon. If you want a heartier meal, I'd recommend the set.
The self bar and how to eat your rice bowl
At the self bar you can grab wasabi, danmuji (yellow pickled radish) and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi). Wasabi is a must with a rice bowl, right?
The table has 4 tips on how to eat the rice bowl properly, haha. It says not to mix it, but to scoop it up with a spoon so you can taste each ingredient!
What I ordered at Hekbap and the prices
- Cube steak bowl: ₩12,900
- [New] Spicy buta bowl set: ₩14,900
They say each rice bowl is made to order, with the meat pan-seared at 200℃ and finished with sauce.
What does the cube steak bowl taste like?
The cube steak bowl is Hekbap's signature dish, and it comes with udon broth, cheese rice cake and salad.
The cube steak had no meaty smell and was tender. It also has vegetables like shishito peppers, scallions, mushrooms and onions, so it felt less greasy than just eating meat, and the combination worked well!
Following the eating tips, I stacked rice, then topping, then wasabi on my spoon. It was nutty and tender!
The new spicy buta bowl set: how spicy is it?
The spicy buta bowl set (buta means pork) is Hekbap's new menu item, and it comes with mini udon, karaage and cheese rice cake.
It has shishito peppers, meat, onions, mushrooms and more. I can handle spicy food pretty well, but this was spicier than I expected, haha. To me it felt hotter than Shin Ramyun but milder than Buldak? If you like spicy food, I think you'll enjoy it!
They say not to mix the rice bowl, but I didn't listen and just stirred it all together, haha.
The mini udon and karaage in the set
The mini udon in the set is generously filled with noodles and fried tofu pouches (yubu). The noodles were springy and chewy, and the broth was clean and refreshing, so it went well with the spicy buta bowl.
The karaage comes as 2 pieces on top of a salad.
The karaage was crispy outside and juicy inside. Putting some salad on top of the karaage cuts the richness and it was really good, haha.
That's how I enjoyed both the cube steak bowl and the spicy buta bowl.
Mouth freshener and restroom before you leave
Before you leave, Hekbap has jelly and grape candy out. Grab one to freshen your mouth.
The restroom is inside the restaurant.
Who is Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch for?
Hekbap was a great Japanese home-style spot for a light meal near Konkuk Univ. The menu is varied and there are solo seats, so it should feel easy to visit alone too.
- Anyone looking for a place to eat near Konkuk Univ. Station
- Anyone looking for a good solo meal near Konkuk Univ.
- Anyone who likes Japanese food
If you're looking for a good restaurant or Japanese home-style food near Konkuk Univ., I recommend Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch!
Where it is
2F, 127 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 광진구 능동로 127 2층
Haekbap Konkuk University: hours, menu and prices →
