Japanese set meals at a Busan department store food court: Daidokoro

This time I was shopping at Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch and stopped in for lunch at Daidokoro Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch. It's a great Japanese restaurant to visit in Nampo-dong when you want a clean set meal instead of Korean food or meat. We ordered the karaage set and the tonkatsu curry set, and topped it off by adding the mixed croquette, so we ate really well.

Where Daidokoro is on the 10th floor, and where to park

Daidokoro is located on the 10th floor food court of the main building at Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch. It's connected to Nampo Station so it's easy to get to by public transit, and if you drive, you can use the department store parking, which was nice.

Being able to eat right after shopping made it a pretty accessible lunch spot when looking for a good restaurant at Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch.

The Masters of Life panel at the Daidokoro entrance

When I arrived, the first thing that caught my eye at the entrance was a panel from the TV show Saenghwal-ui Dalin (Masters of Life)! Turns out Daidokoro was featured on the show for its pollack roe menu. I was curious since it's their signature dish, but that day I was craving something else so I passed, haha! I'll have to try it next time I visit.

Inside Daidokoro: a small, cozy Japanese-style dining room

The interior of Daidokoro had a cute, homey vibe, fitting for a Japanese home-style restaurant. Little decorative pieces were scattered around, which was fun to look at, and overall it was clean like you'd expect from a department store food court, so it was comfortable to eat in. It also didn't feel awkward to eat alone here, so it's worth keeping in mind if you're looking for a place to eat in Nampo-dong.

Daidokoro's menu and what we ordered for lunch

Daidokoro had a wide range of Japanese home-style set meals. Since there was that Masters of Life panel at the entrance, it seems their pollack roe dishes are especially famous. I wanted to try the signature menu next time too, haha.

What we ordered that day was

• 🍗 Karaage set
• 🍛 Tonkatsu curry set
• 🥔 Mixed croquette

Three things in total! Ordering a set meal was great because it comes as a full spread, letting you try several dishes alongside the main. What was especially satisfying was that a pudding dessert came out after we finished eating. 😊

With so many menu options, it seemed good for a simple solo lunch, and also good for a group where everyone orders a different set to share. If you're looking for Japanese food in Nampo-dong or a filling lunch at Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch after shopping, there's plenty to choose from depending on your taste.

The menbosha that comes with every set meal

Daidokoro's set meals came not just with the main dish but also with menbosha (fried shrimp toast). Crispy fried bread with springy shrimp meat inside made a great bite to have between mouthfuls of the main dish.

Rather than a simple set of just karaage or tonkatsu, getting menbosha too made the set feel even more substantial. And with pudding at the very end, you get to enjoy main, side, and dessert all in one spread, which made it a satisfying lunch at Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch. 😊

The karaage set at Daidokoro

First up, the karaage set! Alternating between the karaage, rice, and the side dishes that came with it made for a filling meal. It's a familiar dish that most people would like, so it's an easy pick for a first visit.

The tonkatsu curry set at Daidokoro

Next, the tonkatsu curry set. Crispy tonkatsu with curry and rice is a combination that's hard to go wrong with, haha. Being able to enjoy curry and tonkatsu together made it a solid choice if you're after a filling lunch at Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch.

Adding the mixed croquette plate

It felt like a waste to stop at just the set meals, so we added the mixed croquette too. You get to try several different croquettes, so it was good for two people to order one and share. Between the karaage, tonkatsu, and croquettes, it turned into a full-on fried food party, haha. The sweet potato cheese one was delicious.

Finishing with the dessert pudding

Once you finish eating, it wraps up with pudding! Having dessert included with the set made the whole meal feel really well put together. After the main dish and all the sides, finishing with sweet pudding made the meal feel properly complete.

Is Daidokoro worth it for lunch after shopping?

Daidokoro Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch is also known for the menu featured on Masters of Life. This time we had the karaage set, the tonkatsu curry set, and the mixed croquette, and overall the spread was generous, with a pudding dessert on top, making for a filling meal.

Since it's inside the department store, access and parking were convenient too, making it a good option when you're looking for a place to eat in Nampo-dong or craving Japanese food while shopping. 😊