Konkuk Station rice bowl restaurant, croquette after work: Hekbap

📍Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch info Location: 127 Neungdong-ro, 2nd floor, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea Hours: Daily 11:00 ~ 21:00 (Break time 15:00 ~ 16:30, Last order 20:30)

It was one of those days where work was just uniquely busy.. On my way home I really wanted to grab something simple to eat before heading in.

I found a place near my house where I could have a clean, neat meal without it being too heavy, so I went! Let me give you my honest review of 'Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch,' famous as a Konkuk go-to spot.

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

Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch is on the 2nd floor of a building at 127 Neungdong-ro near Konkuk University Station, a 5-minute walk from the entrance to Konkuk's Food Street. The moment I stepped onto the 2nd floor, the interior was so clean I fell for it instantly.

There were seats for solo diners as well as 2- and 4-person tables, all well set up. It's near a school so there seemed to be a lot of students, but it also felt like a comfortable place for office workers to stop by alone after work for a quiet dinner!

The staff greeted me kindly too, so I could sit down feeling good. Looking at the menu, there were so many delicious options that I had a hard time deciding.. The menu is diverse enough that friends with different tastes could come together and all be satisfied.

📌Menu📌

Pork jowl rice bowl set and mazesoba: what they taste like

What I chose at Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch that day was the pork jowl rice bowl set (₩14,900), mazesoba (₩10,900), and a side croquette. I'd been craving noodle dishes a lot lately haha.

• Pork jowl rice bowl set (₩14,900)
• Mazesoba (₩10,900)
• A side croquette to go with it

Not long after ordering, the dishes arrived neatly arranged as a full table setting. Neat and tidy from the visuals alone.. The first thing I tasted, the pork jowl rice bowl set, had pork jowl grilled in a special sauce on top.

The moment I took a bite, that smoky charred flavor spread and the chewy texture was pure art. Since it's a set, the side dishes that came with it were clean too, so I could enjoy it deliciously without getting tired of it, right down to the last bite.

And then the mazesoba, which exceeded my expectations! I popped the egg yolk and mixed it evenly with the noodles and sauce before taking a bite,

The spicy yet savory seasoning practically demanded noisy noodle-slurping.. I even mixed the leftover sauce into rice and scarfed it all down..

It was perfect for eating alone, and with such a varied menu, it'd also be great to share with a friend. I get it now — why so many people name this place as a Konkuk go-to spot..

📌How to eat it deliciously📌

Side croquette and the self-serve banchan corner

The side croquette at Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch came out freshly fried, good to eat alongside the main, and extra banchan (side dishes) could be grabbed yourself from the self-serve corner. It felt like something was missing with just the main dish, so ordering the croquette as a side was a total win haha.

Crispy outside, fluffy and moist inside — pure softness. It came out freshly fried so I devoured it all in a hurry..

It also went really well paired with a spoonful of the sweet-salty mazesoba sauce or the pork jowl rice bowl. It was fried cleanly with no oily smell, so I finished it all without feeling greasy at all.

Is Hekbap worth returning to for a solo meal near Konkuk University?

I just stopped by after work thinking I'd eat something simple and plain, but I ended up having such a satisfying dinner beyond my expectations, and it put me in a good mood.

The food overall was clean and neat in flavor, so I think I'll find myself thinking about it often from now on! On days when you're craving solo dining or a clean, tidy meal near Konkuk, I highly recommend 'Hekbap Konkuk University Main Branch'~~~~~!!