Solo katsu meal near Konkuk Univ.: cheese katsu plus katsu, Kosi

Kosi, a Gwangjin restaurant that's good at both katsu and udon

When you're eating near Konkuk University, or setting up a meetup there, there are just so many restaurants that it's hard to decide, right? This is my genuine recommendation after N visits — Kosi Konkuk University Branch. (Honestly it's even better than Kosi's other branches...🤧)

If you're craving katsu near Konkuk University, or want that chewy noodle texture, this is the place to go!

Location, hours, and parking info

• Location: 197 Achasan-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Konkuk University Station
• Hours: Daily 11:10 - 20:30 (break time 15:00 - 17:00)
• Parking: 2-3 spots available on-site, call ahead to check

So many menu items, but you can't skip the katsu or the udon

Personally, what I like about this place is that it's not just good at one thing — you can eat delicious katsu and delicious udon both here! I ordered bukkake udon and cheese katsu, plus an extra katsu for 6,000 won. Ordering is done at the table via tablet.

If you love noodles, the bukkake udon is hard to pass up

You can really see how thick the noodles are. Chopped green onion, seaweed flakes, and tempura crumbs are scattered on top, with a slice of lemon perched on it, making the whole thing look clean and fresh from the start-✨

The broth comes on the side and you pour it yourself, so instead of dumping it all in at once, you can adjust the amount to your taste.

The biggest reason I remember Kosi as a Gwangjin udon spot is the noodles! They're thick and springy, and you can really feel that chewy bounce when you bite in. They're not the soft, easily-breaking type — the more you chew, the more that distinctive texture comes through.

I especially liked how the tempura crumbs soak up a bit of broth here and there, adding a nutty flavor! I've kept coming back for the udon on multiple visits, and this time was fully satisfying again.

Cheese katsu with cheese flowing out

The star of this meal was definitely the cheese katsu! Looking at the cross-section of the sliced katsu, the cheese completely fills the inside of the meat — and right when it came out, picking it up made the cheese ooze softly, it was that gooey.

Sometimes cheese katsu gets old fast if the cheese is too set, but what I had this time was quite soft. The outside has a crispy batter, the inside is meat, and in the middle warm melted cheese runs through, giving that combo of crisp and soft at once. This is the kind of thing you have to eat hot, right away, haha.

Glad I ordered the 6,000-won extra katsu too

It felt like a waste to only have cheese katsu, so I also ordered the extra katsu for 6,000 won. If cheese katsu has that rich, savory charm, the plain katsu was much cleaner and lighter to enjoy. The batter outside was crispy and the meat inside wasn't dry at all, which I liked.

Dipping it lightly in the sauce that comes with it adds that familiar sweet-and-salty katsu flavor. When it starts to feel a bit heavy after a while, adding a little of the Himalayan salt or wasabi that comes on the side was so good...! ㅜㅜ Everyone should try it...

If two or more of you are looking for katsu near Konkuk University, ordering a few different dishes and sharing them seems like a great option too.

After N visits, I realized right after opening is best

This wasn't my first visit to Kosi — it's already my Nth visit — and after eating here many times, personally I've found that going right when it opens is best if you can.

One thing to check before you go! Kosi has a break time from 15:00 to 17:00, so if you're planning to visit during that awkward window, check the time before heading over. Personally, I'd recommend just timing your visit to opening.

Final verdict

Udon and katsu are both easy dishes to eat solo, and with tablet ordering right at the table, it's a low-pressure spot for eating alone too. Both the udon and the katsu are top-notch, so I recommend this place to friends as well.

If you're after good udon and katsu for lunch or dinner, definitely check out Kosi Konkuk University Branch, a solid restaurant near Konkuk University haha.