Kondae Students Recommend: Best 5 Eats Around Kondae (Konkuk University Area)
A lively student neighborhood around Konkuk University known for affordable, youth-oriented eateries. This roundup highlights five spots locals (students) recommend for casual, satisfying meals.
Key Highlights
- •Five student-picked places close to Konkuk University that offer great value and bold flavors
- •Expect a youthful, energetic atmosphere—ideal for casual meals and late-night dining
- •Tip: popular spots fill up on weekends and evenings; go early or be ready to wait
Overview
A student-driven guide to five popular Kondae (Konkuk University area) spots, covering spicy tteokbokki, made-to-order desserts, old-school fried chicken, fresh salmon rice bowls, and a small macaron bakery. Each entry includes location, hours, typical prices, and a short local review so you know what to expect.
(the area around Konkuk University) hums with youthful energy — a neighborhood where bargain-friendly eateries sit alongside quiet, tucked-away cafés that feel like your personal hideout. Here are five spots recommended by students themselves, places that locals actually eat at and send friends to.
1) Geondae Ajji (Spicy rice cakes with chewy wheat dduk), Hwayang-dong
Image credits: hane_ej93 (Instagram), leeroa (Instagram)
Tip
▲ Location: 53 Achasan-ro 29-gil, Gwangjin District, Seoul
▲ Hours: Daily 12:30–20:00, closed Wednesdays
▲ Prices: Ajji 3,000 KRW; Tteok + Sundae mix 3,500 KRW
▲ Review (user: 봄바랑살랑~*): 'I’ve been a regular here for 20 years. It’s tasty, clean, and I highly recommend it. Boss, take care of your health so we can enjoy this for a long time!'
This is classic, no-frills : fiery, a little sweet, and made with chewy wheat tteok that local students swear by.
2) Kkomeno (Made-to-order sweet desserts), Hwayang-dong
Image credits: hyemin_328 (Instagram), 3ahyeon3 (Instagram)
Tip
▲ Location: 29 Gunja-ro 7-gil, Gwangjin District, Seoul
▲ Hours: Weekdays 13:00–23:30; Weekends 12:00–00:30
▲ Prices: Tiramisu 6,000 KRW; Fondant au Chocolat 6,000 KRW; Chocolatte 5,000 KRW
▲ Review (user: wolsing): 'Cute place with tasty drinks and careful plating — I love it and want to come often.'
A small dessert spot that makes sweets to order; great for a relaxed afternoon or a casual date night after class.
3) Haenam Dakjip (Old-school fried chicken, great value), Hwayang-dong
Image credits: a.yo.haley_ (Instagram), seony.u_1024 (Instagram)
Tip
▲ Location: 46 Neungdong-ro 13-gil, Gwangjin District, Seoul
▲ Hours: Mon–Sat 13:00–01:00; Sun 16:00–23:00; closed on the 2nd and 4th Sundays
▲ Prices: Fried chicken 15,000 KRW; Yangnyeom (sauce) chicken 16,000 KRW; Soy-garlic chicken 16,000 KRW
▲ Review (user: 힘듦베이비): 'It used to be a tiny place when I went to school, now it has a second floor. Affordable portions that fill students up — crispy and perfect with beer. I often call ahead for takeout.'
This is the kind of neighborhood chicken joint students flock to: generous portions, reasonable prices, and reliably crispy.
4) Gyeoldonburi (Fresh, nutty-flavored salmon bowls), Hwayang-dong
Image credits: kxxyj2 (Instagram)
Tip
▲ Location: 135-1 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin District, Seoul
▲ Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00, break time 15:30–16:30, closed Sundays
▲ Prices: Sake-don (salmon bowl) 9,900 KRW; Gyudon (beef bowl) 7,900 KRW; Katsudon (pork cutlet bowl) 6,900 KRW
▲ Review (user: 레인보우Chu): 'I used to go when they were in Sincheon and was really sad when they disappeared. When I heard they moved to I went today — just as good as I remembered.'
A compact donburi spot serving fresh salmon and hearty rice bowls — quick, satisfying, and friendly for a solo lunch.
5) Hello Macaron (Thick fillings and chewy shells), Hwayang-dong
Image credits: 식신 content team; meon_g_ (Instagram)
Tip
▲ Location: 19 Gwangnaru-ro 12-gil, Gwangjin District, Seoul
▲ Hours: In March, open Fri–Sun from 12:00 until macarons sell out; monthly schedule varies (check official Instagram)
▲ Prices: Lotus macaron 2,000 KRW; Strawberry milk macaron 2,000 KRW; Fresh strawberry yogurt macaron 2,500 KRW
▲ Review (user: 캡틴아메리카): 'I visited at an odd hour and luckily snagged a few. Bought fresh strawberry, matcha, and choco — all three were delicious. They’re fat macarons with rich, dense filling and chewy shells.'
This tiny macaron bakery is worth checking on Instagram before you go — they sell out fast but reward patience with indulgent, chewy macarons.
Summary
- •Grab spicy, wallet-friendly tteokbokki at Geondae Ajji Tteokbokki — closed Wednesdays, opens midday.
- •For made-to-order desserts and Instagram-friendly plating, visit Kkomeno; check late-night hours on weekends.
- •Check Hello Macaron’s Instagram before going — they often sell out and operate on limited days.
Glossary
- Ddung-ccaron (뚱카롱)
- A colloquial Korean term for a 'fat' macaron — larger, chewier, and with more filling than the typical delicate French macaron.
- Gyudon (규동) / Katsudon (가츠동)
- Gyudon: thinly sliced beef simmered with onions over rice. Katsudon: breaded pork cutlet served over rice with egg — both popular donburi dishes.
- Kondae
- Short for the Konkuk University area — a lively student neighborhood in Seoul known for affordable food and nightlife.
- Miltteok (밀떡)
- Wheat-based tteok (rice cake) with a chewier, denser texture than traditional glutinous rice cakes.
- Sake-don (사케동)
- Japanese-style salmon sashimi served over rice (donburi).
- Sundae (순/순대)
- Korean blood sausage, commonly included in tteokbokki mixes or served as a street-side snack.
- Tteokbokki
- Spicy-sweet stir-fried rice cakes, a popular Korean street food; often made with chewy wheat or rice cakes.
- 가성비 (gaseongbi)
- A Korean term meaning 'value for money' — used to praise affordable, satisfying eats.