Croquette curry set dinner near Nampo Station, Busan: Daidokoro

On a weekday evening, after visiting my parents' place, I went out to have dinner with them for the first time in a while. Trying to figure out where to go around Nampo-dong and Jagalchi Market, I ended up at Daidokoro Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch, a Japanese restaurant near Nampo Station in Busan. ^^ It's a Japanese home-style restaurant on the 10th floor of the Lotte Department Store Gwangbok main building!!!

Parking is always a low-key worry when eating out in busy Nampo-dong, but since you can use the department store's basement parking lot, it was really nice to visit without any parking stress.

Where is Daidokoro Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch, and what are its hours?

Daidokoro Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch is located at 2 Jungang-daero, Jung-gu, Busan, on the 10th floor of Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch. Hours are Monday through Sunday, 10:30–21:00, with last order at 20:00.

• Address: 10th floor, Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch, 2 Jungang-daero, Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea
• Hours: Monday–Sunday 10:30–21:00 (last order 20:00)
• Other: Takeout available, Wi-Fi, separate men's/women's restrooms, group-friendly, free parking, local currency accepted

Inside Daidokoro: a small Japanese-style dining room in Nampo-dong

Once we got up to the 10th floor and stepped inside, I liked the vibe right away. ^^

The cute interior seemed to capture a bit of Dotonbori's charm, with adorable figures and Japanese-style props decorating the space here and there.

With the warm lighting added on top, it almost felt like stepping into a little Japanese knick-knack shop or a home-style diner?! My mom and dad liked the atmosphere too.

And besides table seating, there are also bar seats that are great for eating solo, so it looked like a comfortable place to visit alone too. And since it's inside a department store, being able to eat comfortably regardless of the weather was another plus. ^^

What our family of four ordered at Daidokoro

We ordered two karaage sets, one tonkatsu curry set, and one croquette curry set, and while we chatted and waited, the food came out sooner than expected.

We tried the karaage (Japanese fried chicken) set first, and true to form for Japanese-style fried chicken, it was the textbook definition of crispy outside, juicy inside. ^^ The chicken was really tender and full of juice, so the word 'delicious' came out the moment I took a bite. The batter wasn't overly thick either — clean and light — so it wasn't heavy at all, and it seemed like they used clean oil, which made it even more enjoyable.

How does Daidokoro's 100-hour aged curry taste?

I couldn't skip the curry either. They say it's simmered and aged for a whopping 100 hours, and maybe that's why the flavor was quite deep and rich. Even so, it wasn't overly salty or sharp, so it paired well with both the tonkatsu and the croquette. The combination of crispy tonkatsu and curry was, as always, a can't-miss flavor!! ^^

The croquettes came in two kinds, potato and sweet potato, and these too were delicious, crispy outside and soft inside. Both the tonkatsu and the croquette really nailed that crispy-outside-juicy-inside texture. ~^^

Is Daidokoro a good dinner spot for parents?

I was a bit worried that Japanese home-style food might not suit my parents' taste, but thankfully my mom and dad enjoyed it, and I felt proud for some reason. 😊 That just goes to show it's a place anyone, young or old, can enjoy without any hesitation, right?! Hahaha.

The food was clean and the menu wasn't overwhelming, so it was a good place to eat with my parents too. If you want to eat comfortably without worrying about parking in the very congested Nampo-dong area, or if you're looking for clean Japanese home-style food, I think it's worth stopping by Daidokoro, the lunch spot on the 10th floor of Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch. ^^

Thanks to the cute Japanese-style atmosphere, it would also work well as a date spot, and it's a space that suits everything from solo dining to family outings. ^^ That day, I finished up a great meal with my parents on a happy note~! Most of all, the best part of the evening was seeing my mom and dad enjoy their food. ❤️