New spicy pork cutlet and potato croquette near Kkachisan: Hekbap

Hekbap is a Kkachisan Station favorite for a hearty solo meal, with a wide, delicious lineup of Japanese rice bowls, ramen, mazesoba, udon, curry, pork cutlet and more. Since it's run as a direct company store, Hekbap Kkachisan Branch guarantees good ingredients, a neat table setting and generous portions with consistent quality no matter when you visit.

The atmosphere and solo seating

The store is spacious, so there was no worry about waiting even during busy lunch hours or on weekends, and the clean interior looked like a nice spot for a date too.

There's a window solo seat, which made Hekbap near Kkachisan Station perfect for eating alone. It felt like a holy site for pro solo diners like me — kind of nice to see, haha.

What's on the menu

There's the steak rice bowl and beef intestine rice bowl, made with meat pan-seared at 200°C the moment you order and finished with Hekbap's own sauce for a smoky, savory flavor; the salmon rice bowl piled high with fresh salmon; the pork jowl rice bowl with its lively texture; hearty ramen with deep, rich broth simmered the traditional Japanese way paired with chewy noodles; mazesoba, a Japanese mixed noodle dish tossed with special sauce and various ingredients for a rich, full flavor; Japanese-style udon combining chewy sanuki noodles with deep bonito broth; and Hekbap's own curry plus thick, crispy pork cutlet — a Kkachisan favorite with a wide range of dishes to enjoy.

The pork jowl rice bowl set came out generously as a full spread, alongside the addictive spicy Western-style pork cutlet. The portions were substantial enough that even an adult man could eat well — great to see at this Kkachisan favorite.

Pork jowl rice bowl set

The pork jowl rice bowl set at Hekbap near Kkachisan Station comes with mini udon and Japanese-style fried chicken, making for a satisfying combination. Carbs and protein party~~~

The pork jowl rice bowl adds a spicy special sauce to nutty, chewy pork jowl for extra flavor and umami. Loaded with crisp, crunchy pork jowl. Seared at 200°C, so it had no gamey smell and tasted amazing.

Shishito peppers and cherry tomatoes bring out the color. The pork jowl, pan-seared at 200°C right after ordering and finished with Hekbap's own spicy sauce, had perfect smokiness, flavor and texture!

The clean mini udon was great for taming the spiciness. It's a solid, unassuming dish you'd miss if it weren't there — the best friend for a spice wimp like me.

A perfect meal you can enjoy with crispy Japanese-style fried chicken and cabbage salad together. A Kkachisan favorite that covers both taste and nutrition.

A nice touch: sweet fried rice cake that feels like dessert.

New spicy Western-style jumbo pork cutlet, ₩11,900

The new menu item at Hekbap near Kkachisan Station: spicy Western-style jumbo pork cutlet for ₩11,900. Thick pork pounded thin and fried crispy, then generously drizzled with an addictive spicy special sauce. It comes with white rice, cabbage salad, diced radish kimchi, pickled radish, warm soup, and sweet fried rice cake too.

A spicy-looking dish that makes you sweat just looking at it. Honestly, it is spicy, but it's a tasty kind of spicy, so even spice wimps can take it on.

Extremely spicy but addictive special sauce. A mouthwatering look you'll want to eat again. The jumbo pork cutlet is huge, so even an adult man can eat well. It's a secret that the two of us left a few pieces because the portion was so big.

Side: potato croquette

The potato croquette we ordered as a side. Its nutty flavor helped tame the spiciness a bit — an excellent choice.

Location, parking and hours

Hekbap, a Kkachisan favorite great for solo dining, is located near Exit 3 of Kkachisan Station. Given the nature of the Kkachisan Station commercial area, there's no dedicated parking lot, but you can use Baedarigil Public Parking Lot, about a 10-minute walk away.

• Address - 2nd floor, 35 Gangseo-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours - Daily 11:00-21:00
• Break time 15:00-16:30, last order 20:30