Pork jowl and pork rib rice bowl sets at Konkuk Station: Hekbap

Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch

Where is Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch, and what are the seats like?

There are plenty of restaurants around Konkuk University Station, but if you're looking for a solo-dining spot, Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is a solid choice. The menu is varied, and the interior is spacious and pleasant. It's about a 3-minute walk from Konkuk University Station. Located on the 2nd floor of the building, it has bar-table seating that's great for eating alone, along with tables for 2 and 4. Hekbap has a wide range of dishes — rice bowls, ramen, pork cutlets — and everything is above average, making it a crowd-pleasing restaurant near Konkuk.

A solo-dining seat near Konkuk with a lovely green tree view out front.

How varied is the menu at Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch?

Hekbap near Konkuk specializes in Japanese home-style cooking, offering pork jowl rice bowl, cube steak rice bowl, meat-loaded rice bowl, salmon rice bowl, spicy pork rice bowl, Korean beef large intestine rice bowl, karaage ramen, cold soba, mazesoba, spicy Fukuoka-style udon, fried chicken curry rice bowl, spicy Western-style pork cutlet, shrimp jang rice bowl, salmon-shrimp jang rice bowl, chicken mayo rice bowl, and pork rib seasoned rice bowl. From rice bowls to noodles — pretty much everything is covered, which is probably why it's such a popular solo-dining spot near Konkuk.

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Hekbap near Konkuk has a fun little trick to help you pass the wait time — a magic problem-solver of sorts. I gave it a try out of boredom, and it was actually kind of fun!

What ₩3,000 more gets you: fried chicken and mini udon with the set

Soon after, the pork jowl rice bowl and pork rib seasoned rice bowl set arrived. I ordered one as a set meal, and it came with fried chicken and mini udon included — great value. For just ₩3,000 more, you get to eat fried chicken and udon too, which seems like a good deal. Fried rice cake (tteok-twigim) also came along, almost like a dessert.

How the seasoned pork rib rice bowl tastes

The pork rib rice bowl has a sweet-and-savory sauce that pretty much everyone would enjoy, and the meat was tender, not chewy at all. King oyster mushrooms, green onion, and onion are mixed in too, adding good texture. There are also grilled cherry tomatoes and spicy Korean green chili peppers. Since the rice sits underneath, it's tastier to pile the pork rib and vegetables on top rather than mixing everything together.

The mini udon and fried chicken that come with the set

The mini udon portion was just right. Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch also has udon as a main dish, but ordering it as part of a set lets you enjoy both the rice bowl and the udon — two birds, one stone. The noodles were springy. The broth had that classic udon flavor everyone knows and likes. They also serve ramen, with a rich broth and generous portions, so it's worth trying either the udon or ramen depending on your preference.

The fried chicken was crispy and delicious too. Crunchy on the outside, soft and juicy inside. It comes drizzled with sauce, which might be a bit hit-or-miss depending on preference. You get two pieces, and they're a fairly generous size.

Pork jowl rice bowl: spicy seasoning and udon broth with the basic order

Personally, whenever I come to Hekbap, I always order the same thing — the pork jowl rice bowl. I love the spicy seasoning and the chewy texture of the pork jowl. At this solo-dining favorite near Konkuk, even if you order the basic rice bowl without the set, you still get warm udon broth on the side. And of course, the fried rice cake comes along too.

The pork jowl rice bowl would be great for anyone who enjoys spicy food.

Side order: mini pork cutlet at Hekbap

I also tried the mini pork cutlet as a side. The portion was quite substantial. The batter was fried crispy and perfectly done. It was a fairly thick cut too. The sauce was tasty enough that I'm thinking of ordering the full Western-style pork cutlet next time.

Dessert: tteok-twigim (fried rice cake)

Finally, for dessert, the chewy, sweet fried rice cake. Drizzled with honey, it's nicely sweet, and there's cheese inside the rice cake for a savory touch.

Who is Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch best for?

With so many tasty options on the menu, Hekbap near Konkuk works well for eating alone or for a casual date. Since it's right by Konkuk University, it's also a great spot for students to grab an affordable, satisfying meal.