Suwon Japanese rice bowls, torch-seared beef: Gyudongjip

With the lively energy of Ajou University’s new-semester season in the air, I stopped by Gyudongjip Ajou University Branch for a neat, generous Japanese rice bowl meal in the university district.

I went in excited after reading that I could enjoy smoky grilled meat over rice along with crispy karaage.

Gyudongjip near Ajou University’s main gate

It is near Ajou University’s main gate, with Wi-Fi and parking available. There is also bar seating, so it works for dining alone.

Menu and prices

• Gyudon full set: ₩10,900
• Gyudon set: ₩9,900
• Gyudon (regular): ₩7,900
• Sous-vide chashu-don set: ₩12,500
• Sous-vide chashu-don: ₩10,900
• Yukhoe-don set: ₩10,900
• Yukhoe-don: ₩9,500
• Homemade curry: ₩7,500
• Karaage, 5 pieces: ₩5,000

A warm, compact dining room

Inside, the warm, tidy wood-toned interior welcomes you in.

Cute character figurines and atmospheric lighting create the cozy feel of a local restaurant in Japan. The owner seems to be a Crayon Shin-chan fan, haha.

The space is on the compact side, so it was busy with university students coming in for meals right after the semester began. Still, the wall-side bar seats for solo diners and tables for two to four are arranged efficiently.

Gyudon set, chashu-don set, and karaage

I ordered the gyudon set, chashu set, and karaage as a side. You can choose udon or soba, and I picked udon!

The gyudon set I ordered that day arrived neatly arranged on a round wooden tray: gyudon piled high with beautifully torched beef, mini udon, onsen tamago (a soft poached egg), karai sauce, and plum tea.

The moment I took a bite of the gyudon, the rich grilled aroma came through with the savory-sweet house tare sauce. The nutty flavor of the moist beef brisket paired perfectly with every grain of rice.

The chashu-don set that came alongside it was especially pleasing to look at, with thick, tender sous-vide chashu arranged like flower petals around the rim of the bowl.

The chashu, smoked on the outside with a torch for that appealing grilled flavor, pulled apart tenderly along the grain when picked up with chopsticks. Add wasabi and sliced onion, and the rich juices burst across your mouth.

The extra side of five pieces of karaage had the ideal combination of a crisp coating and moist, hot chicken thigh meat. Dipped in the house cream sauce, it was wonderfully rich and nutty.

Everything was well seasoned and delicious, so I cleared every last bit :)

The perfect pairing: poached egg and karai sauce

After eating about half of the gyudon, crack the poached egg provided into the middle of the bowl to add the soft richness of the yolk.

Then, whenever you want a little heat, mix in the karai sauce bit by bit. It cuts through the richness of the meat, which could otherwise become heavy, so you can enjoy the bowl at its best to the end.

What to know before a lunch visit

Because the dining room is small and compact, it fills up quickly during the new-semester season and at the lunch peak, so there may be a short wait.

The gyudon and chashu-don were wonderfully finished with a deep charcoal-grilled aroma, while the karaage side and udon set offered excellent value. With its neat presentation and cozy space, I recommend it for a solo meal or a satisfying meal near Ajou University. ⭐⭐⭐⭐➄ (4.5/5)