Two udon sets compared at Kosi, a Konkuk Univ. udon restaurant

I went to Konkuk Univ. and found an udon place with insanely good noodles! The restaurant is spacious and clean, the food is delicious, and the staff were friendly, so I left in a great mood. Here's my review of Kosi Konkuk University Branch, a Konkuk Univ. udon spot :)

Where is Kosi Konkuk University Branch, and when is it open?

Kosi Konkuk University Branch is at 197 Achasan-ro, 1F, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea. There's 1 hour of free parking in front of the restaurant, and it's open daily 11:00–21:00, with a break time from 15:00–17:00 and last order at 20:30.

• 🚘 Parking: 1 hour free parking in front of the restaurant
• ✔️ Daily 11:00–21:00
• ✔️ Break time 15:00–17:00
• ✔️ Last order 20:30

It's within a 4-minute walk from Exit 1 of Konkuk University Station. Just keep going straight!

Full house at 1 p.m.: what Kosi feels like inside

I visited around 1 pm and there were so many customers. When I walked in, there were only 1-2 tables left and the rest was packed. I imagine there's definitely a wait during peak hours.

Here's the inside of Kosi Konkuk University Branch. Black & white plus wood-tone interior. I got a very clean impression the moment I walked in.

The tables are mostly 4-person tables, and they're quite spacious, making for a comfortable meal. During the lunch hour I visited, there were a lot of couples and coworkers. There are also bar seats by the window, which seemed perfect for solo dining near Konkuk Univ.

Every table has a tablet, so you check the menu and order and pay all through the tablet.

Kosi's menu and its self-made udon noodles

The reason it's known as a famous udon restaurant near Konkuk University is the noodles! They're made from just three ingredients — salt, water, and flour — through a second fermentation process.

Apparently the noodle-rolling master even appeared on SBS's Master in the House (생활의 달인) as a udon noodle-rolling expert!!

The main menu had various types of udon — cold udon, hot udon, gama udon, mazesoba udon — plus a katsu menu too!

I ordered the set version by adding ₩4,000 to the base menu.

• ✔️ Gamaten bukkake udon set
• ✔️ Tenbukkake udon set
• ✔️ 2 drinks

The food came out in under 10 minutes — I was surprised it was so fast!

It's a really generous spread (drinks not included in the set).

Gamaten bukkake udon set: chilled broth with springy noodles

This is the gamaten bukkake udon set. It comes with udon, a side salad, and tempura.

The cold udon and sauce come separately, so you pour it to your taste.

I poured it all in without hesitation 👍 mixed it lightly, and tried the broth first.

It's deep, clean, and refreshing. There were bits of tempura crumbs in there too, adding a nutty, savory touch. Fried shrimp and sweet pumpkin tempura are also placed on top.

The shrimp tempura is huge. It's really big and the batter is thin, so you get both the crispy texture and the shrimp's own texture. I also tried the udon noodles on their own — wow, the texture is amazing...

Since it's cold udon, the chewiness and springiness are doubled. It really bounces like a spring, and that chewy texture was addictive.

Eating the chewy, bouncy udon noodles together with the tempura was really harmonious. Konkuk Univ. restaurant approved..!

Tenbukkake udon set: warm udon mixed with tsuyu

This is udon mixed with tsuyu poured over the noodles. Since it's a set menu, tempura is added.

You pour the tsuyu to your taste and mix it all together. Right from the mixing, unlike the cold udon, it clearly has a heavier, thicker feel. I put a bite on a spoon and tried it —

The warm, bouncy, chewy udon noodles are soaked in umami-rich tsuyu, and the sauce blends in well instead of just sitting on top.

Maybe because of the starch released as the noodles mix with the tsuyu, it gets seriously thick and rich. Given the weather, I kept reaching for the warm tenbukkake udon. I'd recommend the gamaten bukkake udon in summer, and tenbukkake on cold or chilly days!!

The five tempura pieces and inari sushi in the Kosi set

When you upgrade to the set menu, you get tempura like this.

Sweet potato tempura, shrimp tempura, sweet pumpkin tempura, perilla leaf tempura, and inari sushi (seasoned fried tofu rice) come out. But this inari sushi is no joke. It's really different from the strongly sweet-and-sour inari sushi you get at the supermarket. This inari sushi is packed with deep, nutty flavor.

It kind of has an upscale inari sushi feel??

The inari sushi is so good that I'd strongly recommend adding it as a side even if you don't order a set. (₩2,000 for 2pc) I also tried the tempura pieces that came with the set — they were all crispy and really delicious.

The batter is really thin so it wasn't greasy at all. It went well with the udon, and dipping it in the accompanying sauce made the seasoning just right. The set portion was so big that I ended up leaving a few pieces of tempura ㅜㅜ It really tasted so good, and I hated myself for being too full to finish it. Sigh, what a waste.

On the way out, there are cute palate-cleanser candies placed at the counter.

Looks like Tayo candy. So cute (the kind of kids' vitamin candy sold at pharmacies).

How to order at Kosi if you come as a pair

That was my review of Kosi Konkuk University Branch. Because the udon noodles are self-made, the chewiness, bounciness, and springiness were on a different level. I liked that you can enjoy udon in different temperatures and styles depending on your mood or the weather!

The portions are on the generous side, so if two people visit, I think ordering one à la carte dish plus one set would be just right! I enjoyed both the cold udon and the gama udon I ordered, so I think I'll visit again next time I'm at Konkuk Univ.!! If you're looking for a Konkuk Univ. udon restaurant, give Kosi Konkuk University Branch a try!!