Gwangjin Japanese restaurant with crispy pork cutlet: Hekbap

I heard there was a delicious Japanese restaurant around Konkuk University Station in Seoul, so I went! It really is a great Konkuk University spot, you know? It was an amazing place where you can choose from all kinds of Japanese food, from pork cutlet and ramen to sake-don (salmon rice bowl) and other rice bowls! Warm udon would be nice in winter, and chilled soba would be great when it is hot too, right?

Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch location and hours

Daily 11:00–21:00 15:00–16:30 break time 20:30 last order

Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is so conveniently close to Konkuk University Station on Subway Lines 7 and 2, and it is really close to Konkuk University too. It would be perfect for university students' lunches and dinners, right??

I arrived at Hekbap! It is on the second floor, you know??

Head around the back and you can find the Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch banner~~

Walk up the inner staircase and you will be there in no time?? Haha

It originally started as a popular rice-bowl and ramen place in Seongsu-dong, apparently? Now it has become a Japanese restaurant loved by Konkuk University students in Jayang-dong?? Haha

About 80 seats and space for solo diners

Shall we go inside?? I was so surprised by how spacious and clean it was~~ With about 80 seats in the dining room, coming with a group would not be a problem at all, right??

There are two-person tables like this too, so it would be nice if you are looking for a date spot or a date restaurant around Konkuk University!

There are single-person bar tables—counter seats—too, so if university students are worried about eating alone around Konkuk University, they can have a solo meal here with no pressure at all!

There are four-person tables as well, so it would be great for a family meal or a get-together with friends, right?

Homestyle rice bowls and ramen—there is no need to travel to Japan! Haha If you are coming by car, it is handy to park at Konkuk University Hospital or Lotte Department Store, so keep that in mind!

There is a self-service corner, so you can freely help yourself to danmuji (pickled yellow radish), kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), or fresh wasabi if you need them!

They even have disposable aprons, which is so nice?? Haha

Two rice bowls ordered at the table kiosk

Then shall we order?? Maybe because it is such a popular place with lines around Konkuk University, even the menu is huge! Ramen, rice bowls, pork cutlet, soba, udon, and curry with the kind of local Japanese feel you would travel to Japan for—choosing was so difficult, you know?

Every table has a kiosk, so ordering is easy!

First, I ordered the tonkatsu curry rice bowl! I love pork cutlet so much~~

Then I ordered the salmon rice bowl! Salmon is another menu item I really love, so I ordered it right away without hesitation! The menu is good value and priced nicely, so Konkuk University students can enjoy it without feeling burdened, right? And it is good for solo dining too, so you can eat comfortably whenever you come!

It was nice that the table also kindly explained how to enjoy the food! I should eat the wasabi with the pork cutlet! Haha For the rice bowls, I should use my chopsticks to eat the toppings together with the rice, right??

Crispy whole pork loin cutlet and tender salmon

The food we ordered came out! The selection was great, but it also arrived so quickly, which was wonderful! You could have a quick meal before a movie or before rushing off to an exam!

First, the salmon rice bowl came with salmon, egg yolk, flying-fish roe, and pickled onion, apparently?

The tonkatsu curry rice bowl consisted of whole pork loin cutlet, curry, and fried garlic!

Maybe because they fry the pork cutlet as soon as you order, it was truly crispy, and the meat was so thick! The thick meat and well-balanced sauce went so well with the curry! If you are looking for a great pork cutlet place around Konkuk University, you have to come here. It really has that Japanese atmosphere~~

The salmon was thick too, with no fishy taste at all! I do not know whether they age the salmon separately, but its softness and lack of fishiness made it number one!

The salad had what seemed like sesame dressing too, which I loved~~ I ate the salmon rice bowl with salmon, onion, and wasabi on a spoon! You know it is best when you take a big mouthful, right? Haha

The curry sauce was not overly seasoned either, which was nice! It came with fried garlic flakes, so eating it with the pork cutlet added a nice crunch and was the best! I properly enjoyed this great Konkuk University and Konkuk University Station restaurant! I will come often~~ It was so nice to enjoy it without having to travel to Japan! Haha