[FOOD COURT] The best places to eat near Sungkyunkwan University

K-campus

Published: 21 Mar. 2023, 09:17 Updated: 21 Mar. 2023, 10:15

[FOOD COURT] The best places to eat near Sungkyunkwan University

Gikku Sushi and Sakedong with udon and marinated salmon [KIM DONG-EUN]

Walking from the subway to get to Sungkyunkwan University can be torturous — if you're hungry, that is.

The long walk from exit 4 at Hyehwa Station is lined with all sorts of dinner options, from street food and franchise cafes to fast food, deserts and meals you wouldn’t normally go for unless you were feeling especially flush with cash.

With so much on offer it can be tough to decide, but do not fret — here are five picks around Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) recommended by the Korea JoongAng Daily.

Manokamana

Manokamana's curry and naan never fail to disappoint. [KIM DONG-EUN]

In Nepali, Manokamana means hope. This Indian restaurant might shed a light of hope for those zealously searching for good Indian food.

The vibe and the menu are not particularly luxurious, but the setting does filter out some of the noise from the hectic Hyehwa crossroads. Many of the restaurants that are near the university tend to be compact, just enough to accommodate a few groups of two or three, but Manokamana welcomes not just groups of friends but also couples and families sitting down for meals.

The curry here is well seasoned yet modified to suit the Korean palette. Palak Paneer, 11,000 won, is a curry made with spinach and paneer, a type of Indian cheese. Its texture is soft and it has a rich, savory flavor, so a good choice for people that don't like their curry too spicy.

If you are looking for something a little spicier, try the Chicken Masala, 12,000 won. The curry might actually end up tasting less spicy and more sweet to those used to Korean spice. The Nepali chef puts extra effort into the naan bread, which come in a range of options. If you need some recommendations, try the butter naan and garlic naan at 3,000 won each.

Manokamana has four branches in total and offers a huge variety of dishes as well as set menus. The restaurant offers a five percent discount for those uploading their review on Instagram. It is a popular spot for visitors to Hyehwa, so be prepared to wait for ten to twenty minutes until the chef brings the dishes to your table.

@man_kamana
236 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno District, Seoul, 2F
Business hours: 11:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
02) 763-8850
http://www.mankamana.com/

Geonganghan Bbang

Geonganghan Bbang is easy to miss, but visitors that do manage to find it are in for a bready treat. [KIM DONG-EUN]

Geonganghan Bbang, meaning healthy bread in Korean, built its identity on its name.

It is a tiny bakery located in the middle of an alleyway near the campus. You might want to keep your map turned on until you spot a little brick cornershop. It serves various types of bread, to-go. The bakers cut down the unnecessary sugar and keep the items not overdone, just mildly sweet.

One of the most famous bread options is the Ang-butter, 4,500 won, a baguette-textured bread containing a block of butter and some red bean paste. Young Koreans love this combination, calling this type of bread dan-jjan-dan-jjan, an alternation of sweet and salty.

Bread is displayed on the shelves at Geonganghan Bbang. [KIM DONG-EUN]

Chestnut bread, 6,000 won, is also one of their steady sellers, made with a water roux and known for its soft texture. With big chestnut chunks hidden in the loaf, it has a rich nutty flavor that is not too overwhelming even to those that do not favor the sweet taste. The shop also has a fridge filled with eight different flavors of dacquoise, small French dessert cakes made with meringue, whipped cream and nuts. A dacquoise costs between 3,000 won to 3,500 won.

Some of the names given to the displayed bread are witty and sometimes hilarious, so you may take a look at the shelves for entertainment.

148-1, Myeongnyun 3-ga, Jongno District, Seoul
Business hours: 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Closed on Sundays
02) 6494-0049

Gikku Sushi

People spend the evening enjoying their meal at Gikku Sushi. [KIM DONG-EUN]

Gikku Sushi can only accommodate up to 10 people at once, yet it is constantly sought after by students of SKKU. It is extremely rare to spot the little restaurant without a small queue waiting outside. The main reason to its popularity is the reasonable price, the cheapest dish starting from 11,000 won and the most expensive, the V.I.P sushi with 16 pieces, costing 26,000 won. The taste is also surprisingly satisfying, especially the salmon which comes in particularly thick pieces.

All orders include servings of marinated salmon and udon — Japanese thick noodle soup — without an extra charge. The two cheapest dishes are the Gikku Sushi and Sakedong, salmon rice bowl, which will not disappoint students craving good sushi. However, Gikku sushi includes some pieces that are not universally loved, such as crab sticks and fried tofu sushi. Those who do not like these items may choose to pay 3,000 won extra for the Mini Assorted Sushi, replacing the two with egg and tuna.

2 Seonggyungwan-ro, Jongno District, Seoul
Business hours: 11:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Break time 3:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.)
02) 762-5200

Dep Trai

Hanoi Rice Noodles and Buncha serve as a great combination of Vietnamese food. [KIM DONG-EUN]

Dep Trai is a popular Vietnamese restaurant in Hyehwa that serves handmade rice noodles. It produces fresh noodles every morning and puts them into the broth to create its signature menu, Hanoi Rice Noodles, served at 10,000 won.

Hanoi BBQ Buncha is a good addition to the rice noodles for a salty and sour punch. The dish costs 14,000 won and offers marinated and grilled pork on top of unseasoned rice noodle and vegetables. Sweet fish sauce comes out in a bowl for dipping. Apart from the main menu, Nem, Vietnamese dumplings with pork and vegetables, and Nuocmam Fried Wings are also popular side dish options, both 8,000 won. Dep Trai has Vietnamese drinks too, such as Saigon Beer and Hanoi Beer, at 7,000 won per serving.

The colorful interior design and the friendly Vietnamese chefs naturally make you feel as if you were in a local shop. If you visit around closing time, the broth may be saltier than you expect since the long cooking time simmers it down. The restaurant also handles delivery, so if you want to order from nearby, go for it.

@dep_trai_korea
41-4 Daehak-ro 11-gil, Jongno District, Seoul
Business hours: 11:00 a.m. –10:00 p.m. Last order at 9:30 p.m.
0507-1421-1915

Nanumee Tteokbokki

Nanumee Tteokbokki keeps its feet routed in the past with old posters, television shows and autographs of old celebrities on display. [KIM DONG-EUN]

Tteokbokki comes in two types of rice cakes — wheat or rice — and both have their own traits. Wheat tteokbokki absorbs the sauce better and lasts longer without getting soggy. Rice tteokbokki is the original version, with a chewy and sticky texture, and also has a thicker body than wheat tteokbokki.

Nanumee Tteokbokki is a 24 hours bunsik — snack food in Korean — place that serves rice tteokbokki. It provides relief for students who are pulling all-nighters during the exam period as they can dash down to get their comfort food. This place has been open since 1989 and is still a popular tteokbokki spot guaranteeing an original taste and a deep broth of fish cake skewers. The price has been raised in accordance to climbing inflation rates, with tteokbokki at 5,000 won per portion and a fish cake skewer at 1,500 won. Sundae, steamed pig intestines filled with glass noodles, costs 5,000 won.

Tteokbokki is served on a green plastic plate, the same plate it has been served on for generations, adding a punch of nostalgia even for young university students. The sauce is red, but is not too spicy for those who are used to the usual Korean spice standards. The rice cakes used for the dish are exceptionally chewy and fluffy, not to mention the seasoning of the sauce is pleasing to bunsik lovers.

9-1 Seonggyungwan-ro, Jongno District, Seoul
Business hours: 24 hours
02) 747-0881