Yongsan Japanese restaurant solo meal: Goshi Goshi mackerel bowl

A Japanese meal that is great for eating alone near Sookmyung Women’s University Station

I finally visited Goshi Goshi Sookmyung Women’s University Station Direct Branch (고시고시 숙대입구역직영점), which I’d occasionally spotted while passing by Sookmyung Women’s University Station! I thought they only had noodles because basil soba is their best-known dish, but there were so many choices, from rice bowls to tonkatsu, so it was a perfectly fine stop even for me, on my weekday flour-restricted diet.

Honestly, the food isn’t wildly special, but it’s an easy place to visit alone without any pressure. It’s just right when you want a simple meal or need a solo-dining spot near Sookmyung Women’s University Station.

• No regular closing day
• Monday–Sunday 11:00–22:00; last order at 21:00
• Naver Reservation available
• No on-site parking; use a nearby public parking lot

Getting there from Exit 8

Goshi Goshi Sookmyung Women’s University Station Direct Branch is on the road leading up to Sookmyung Women’s University from Exit 8! It’s about a five-minute walk from the station. The green Goshi Goshi sign has such a cute feel.

Wood tones and deep green for a comfortable solo meal

Inside Goshi Goshi Sookmyung Women’s University Station, the wood tones plus deep green were more stylish than I expected! I expected a typical chain restaurant, but maybe because it’s in a women’s university area, it felt like they had put care into the interior, which I liked. Eating alone in an atmosphere like this just feels better, you know!

The staff were very kind, too, and plenty of people besides me were dining alone.

My flour-restricted combination from a big menu

Goshi Goshi Sookmyung Women’s University Station Direct Branch has quite a large menu, so I’ll substitute a video for the menu board! You can pause it at whatever part you want to see. Basil soba is their most famous item, so I was curious, but...

Since I limit flour on weekdays, I ordered the butter garlic mackerel rice bowl and added tonkatsu as a side for a little more protein. The first kiosk screen also lists things to note when using the Sookmyung Women’s University branch, so please have a look.

Butter garlic mackerel rice bowl with handmade tonkatsu

Butter garlic mackerel rice bowl (₩12,900), handmade tonkatsu topping (₩4,900). Goshi Goshi’s butter garlic mackerel rice bowl arrived smelling deliciously of mackerel! The glossy, glistening mackerel alone earned my seal of approval.

The mackerel itself was fairly thick with tender flesh, and the rich, nutty butter flavor made it taste different from the grilled mackerel I usually eat! I expected imported mackerel, so I was surprised it was domestic, then surprised again by how large it was! It came with a soft-poached egg and scallions. The scallions meant I could get some fiber in too, which was good... (I’m really particular about getting fiber.)

Cabbage and kkakdugi came as side dishes, and they’ll give you more if you ask for refills, so it doesn’t seem like a bad choice for anyone who wants lots of vegetables or is looking for a healthier meal. (That person is literally me.)

The side tonkatsu was fried to a delicious-looking rosy color inside... I’m really sorry, but I peeled off a little of the coating because of the breadcrumbs! Still, I tried one bite as is, and it was crispy, with tasty, nutty breadcrumbs. I’m pretty picky about tonkatsu, but among chains like this, I thought it was quite good.

Do mackerel and butter work well together?

The butter garlic mackerel rice bowl pairs mackerel’s savory, umami-rich flavor really well with butter’s soft, nutty taste! A fish rice bowl might make you worry it will be fishy, but the mackerel’s rich flavor comes through more strongly, making it perfect with rice.

If you normally like mackerel, this is a menu item worth trying at least once when you want something a little different from a typical Japanese rice bowl! It’s not a bad option for a solo meal at a Sookmyung Women’s University Station restaurant.

Who I think this would suit

• People looking for a lunch spot near Sookmyung Women’s University Station
• People looking for a Japanese restaurant where they can dine alone
• People who enjoy a range of Japanese dishes such as rice bowls and tonkatsu
• People who want to try something different, like a butter mackerel rice bowl rather than a Korean-style rice bowl