Teppanyaki in Seomyeon, Busan: 3 sets tried, kimchi pork wins at Karen

Karen at Lotte Department Store Busan Main Branch is a Taiwanese-style teppanyaki (iron griddle cooking) restaurant.

There are lots of pop-up events at Lotte Department Store Busan Main Branch, so I made it to Seomyeon for the first time in a while. You know the saying: even Mount Kumgang is better after a meal. So I decided to eat first, before the lunch rush really kicked in. There was a teppanyaki place I'd been meaning to try since before I even left for Seomyeon: Karen, Taiwanese teppanyaki.

Karen Lotte Department Store Busan Main Branch: location and hours

Karen is in the B1 food court of Lotte Department Store Busan Main Branch, 772 Gaya-daero, Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea. It is open 10:30–20:00 and closes on the department store's holidays. Department store parking registration is available.

How to find Karen on Lotte Department Store's B1

Karen is on the first basement floor. Get off at Elevator Hall 2 and go around behind Samjin Eomuk (fish cake shop) to find it. I thought the place was just one corner, but there were more seats further inside.

Is Karen okay for eating alone?

Karen is a bar-table setup where everyone sits around the griddle, so it's easy to eat here alone. You can watch the cooking right in front of you, and plenty of people were dining solo. It felt comfortable for a solo meal.

Three teppanyaki sets at Karen and their prices

At Karen I ordered three sets: the grilled mackerel set, the top blade steak set and the kimchi pork belly set.

• Grilled mackerel set ₩13,900
• Top blade steak set ₩16,900
• Kimchi pork belly set ₩16,900

The menu is varied, so choosing was surprisingly hard. I wanted this, I wanted that. If you're indecisive like me, you'll probably stand in front of the menu for a long while.

Cooking started on the griddle the moment I ordered. Mackerel grilling, steak searing, kimchi pork belly stir-frying, all on one wide griddle. Since it all happens at once, the food came out quickly.

Watching teppanyaki while you wait is half the fun, right? Listening to everything sizzle made me even hungrier.

How is the top blade steak set?

Karen's top blade steak set (₩16,900) comes cut into bite-size pieces and seasoned with salt, which makes it a good pick if you want to enjoy the taste of the meat.

It was cut into easy bite-size pieces and cooked just right. Not tough or dry; it chewed tender.

Cooked with salt, it let the beef flavor come through, and it went well with rice.

Is the grilled mackerel set fishy?

Karen's grilled mackerel set (₩13,900) was crisp outside and moist inside, clean with no fishy smell. Honestly, mackerel is delicious as long as it's grilled well.

It wasn't overly oily, so it was nice and light. Putting the mackerel on top of rice felt like a home-cooked meal, too.

It was clean and easy to eat, with no fishy taste.

Kimchi pork belly set: the one I'd order again

Karen's kimchi pork belly set (₩16,900) is kimchi and pork belly stir-fried together on the griddle, and of the three sets it's the one I'd order again. I'd picked it because it seemed the safest option.

Kimchi and pork belly stir-fried on a griddle? How could that not be good. Griddle-fried kimchi is always delicious, no exceptions.

The slightly caramelized bits were great, and the sweet-and-salty seasoning soaked in well, so the rice kept disappearing. The kimchi cuts through the fatty parts of the pork belly, so it never got heavy.

If I had to choose again among the three, I'd order the kimchi pork belly set.

The stir-fried bean sprouts on the side

The stir-fried bean sprouts served with Karen's sets kept their crunch. They weren't limp, which I liked.

The seasoning was even too, so they went well with the mackerel, the steak and the kimchi pork belly. They were so crunchy that I kept reaching for more.

Is the portion at Karen enough?

The portions at Karen are neither big nor small. They're enough for a light lunch, but big eaters may find them a bit small. Extras and side dishes are available, so if it's not enough you can order more.

Many people were eating alone, and some had stopped in while shopping. With the bar tables, coming alone didn't feel awkward at all. Women and people having a light lunch will probably find it enough, while men may find the portion a little small.

Also, since it's inside Lotte Department Store Busan Main Branch, parking registration is available. Shopping, eating and parking all handled in a cool, air-conditioned place was convenient.

Is Taiwanese teppanyaki too unfamiliar?

Taiwanese teppanyaki might sound exotic, but Karen serves familiar dishes like grilled mackerel, steak and kimchi pork belly, cooked right on the griddle. It was a good place to grab a meal before or after shopping.