# Salmon belly rice bowl lunch with chicken karaage: Jongno Donburi - By Haon (https://superchart.com/en/@dining-room-errands/) - Written Sep 8, 2026 - Updated Sep 14, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Mapo, Seoul - Sponsored: This visit and meal were provided by the restaurant. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@dining-room-errands/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@dining-room-errands/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/index.md) · [日本語](https://superchart.com/ja/@dining-room-errands/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/index.md) · [简体中文](https://superchart.com/zh-cn/@dining-room-errands/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/index.md) · [繁體中文](https://superchart.com/zh-tw/@dining-room-errands/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/index.md) · [Tiếng Việt](https://superchart.com/vi/@dining-room-errands/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/index.md) · [ไทย](https://superchart.com/th/@dining-room-errands/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/index.md) · [Bahasa Indonesia](https://superchart.com/id/@dining-room-errands/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/index.md) · [Bahasa Melayu](https://superchart.com/ms/@dining-room-errands/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/index.md) · [Español](https://superchart.com/es/@dining-room-errands/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/index.md) ## In short Jongno Donburi Yeonnam is a Japanese rice bowl restaurant in a basement space in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. The thick-cut salmon belly rice bowl came with onsen tamago and chicken karaage for a filling lunch, with a good rice-to-fish ratio and freshly fried, crispy karaage. If you're not a big fan of fatty fish, pairing it with fresh wasabi and pickles is a smart move. ## Good to know - **Ordered**: Salmon belly rice bowl, onsen tamago, chicken karaage (tori-gara-age) - **Location**: 9 Donggyo-ro 46-gil B1, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea - **Parking**: No dedicated parking or very limited; public transit recommended - **Visit tip**: Seats fill quickly during lunch peak — go right at opening or slightly after lunch hour *as written by the visitor on Sep 8, 2026* Jongno Donburi is the kind of restaurant made for anyone craving a hearty meal — thick, fatty slices of raw fish piled onto rice with crispy fried sides. It carries that tidy, cozy feel typical of Japanese restaurants around Yeonnam-dong, making it an easy spot to drop into for a satisfying lunch without much fuss. The well-cooked rice and the texture of the main ingredient come together in good balance, so even a single bowl feels like a complete, satisfying meal. ![Entrance view of Jongno Donburi Yeonnam](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl-01-w3fx6-966.webp) ![Outside signage for the Yeonnam-dong Japanese rice bowl restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl-02-8di00-966.webp) ![Passageway leading down to the basement restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl-03-1ntnr-966.webp) ## A tidy dining space that drew me in at lunchtime I opened this restaurant's door in the middle of a busy day, looking for a lunch that was both filling and clean. Leaving the bustling street behind and stepping inside, a calm, well-arranged air greeted me first. The warm wood interior and tidy table layout gave off a neat impression, making it a comfortable place to focus entirely on the meal whether you're alone or with company. ![Tidy seating area with wood interior](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl-04-26xst-966.webp) The lighting and the spacing between tables throughout the restaurant were arranged without any sense of crampedness, so a feeling of ease set in right from the entrance. Even as office workers and passersby filled seats one by one for lunch, there was an orderly rhythm rather than chaos. ![Interior filling up with lunchtime guests](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl-05-lc5zg-966.webp) The cozy, unpretentious mood that the Japanese restaurant alley in Yeonnam-dong is known for naturally seeped into every corner of the interior. The tableware and sauce containers on the table were neatly kept too, which gave me the impression that the overall management was solid even before the meal began. I also liked that the menu wasn't scattered with too many options — the core rice bowls and side dishes were clearly organized, so there wasn't much agonizing over what to order. ![Menu neatly organized with rice bowls and side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl-06-cmvm6-966.webp) ## The thick-cut texture of the salmon belly rice bowl The main dish I focused on that day was the salmon belly rice bowl. After it went through cooking and arrived on a neat tray, the sheen and clear grain of the salmon belly immediately caught my eye. Unlike thinly sliced regular salmon, this had real thickness — I could feel the weight of it the moment I picked it up with chopsticks. ![Salmon belly rice bowl served on a tray](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl-07-15964-966.webp) ![Close-up of thickly sliced salmon belly on rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl-08-1yivp-966.webp) Salmon belly is a rich, fatty cut, and the first bite delivered a savory flavor that spread through my mouth along with a texture that melted softly away. The rice grains stayed distinct rather than mushy, so the ratio of rice to salmon worked out really well. The mild sauce soaked into the rice tempered what could have been an overly rich, fatty flavor from the belly, cutting through the heaviness nicely. ![Salmon belly rice bowl served with fresh wasabi](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl-09-zr3qv-1200.webp) That said, if you're not a huge fan of fatty fish, you might start to feel it's a bit greasy by the time you finish the whole bowl. In that case, piling on plenty of the sharp fresh wasabi served alongside, or alternating in bites of the pickled side dish, helps you clean out the bowl to the very last spoonful much more refreshingly. ## A hearty combo rounded out with onsen tamago and chicken karaage So the bowl alone wouldn't leave anything to be desired, I ordered onsen tamago and chicken karaage (tori-gara-age) as sides to fill out the table. The onsen tamago, sitting round like a poached egg, released a rich yolk when I gently popped it with a spoon, coating the rice grains softly. Mixing this egg gently into the soy-based rice bowl deepens the savory flavor considerably. ![Onsen tamago ordered as a side dish](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl-10-i8k48-966.webp) ![Yolk popped open and poured over the rice bowl](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl-11-q8heg-966.webp) ![Mixing the egg into the rice bowl](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl-12-f29n1-966.webp) The chicken karaage came out freshly fried and still steaming, with a nice contrast between the crispy batter outside and the juicy chicken inside. The batter itself was seasoned with a good salty edge, so the flavor felt balanced even without dipping into extra sauce. The crunchy sound and savory frying aroma really brought out that tidy charm typical of Japanese restaurants in Yeonnam-dong. With the soft, moist onsen tamago and the crispy, hearty karaage alternating in my mouth, there wasn't a dull moment through the whole meal. Pairing the rice bowl with the egg to maximize the savory flavor, then taking a crispy bite of fried chicken in between, made for a very solid, filling lunch combination. ![Freshly fried chicken karaage](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl-13-xjsf1-966.webp) ![Lunch table filled with rice bowl and karaage](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl-14-ajl6y-966.webp) ## Getting to Jongno Donburi and visit tips If you're planning a visit, it's worth checking public transit access first. The restaurant sits within an easy walk from a subway exit, so even on a first visit, pulling up a map app and walking should get you there without trouble. That said, given the nature of the surrounding alley, there's no dedicated parking or it's very limited, so I'd recommend coming by subway or bus rather than driving. ![Street view around the restaurant in Yeonnam-dong](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl-15-exzum-966.webp) Seats tend to fill up quickly during lunch peak hours especially, so if you want a relaxed meal, timing your visit for right after opening or a bit past the lunch rush is a good approach. ![Table at Jongno Donburi Yeonnam after finishing the meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl-16-vwdvv-966.webp) The signature salmon belly rice bowl shows a reasonable price point given the freshness of the thick-cut fish and the generous portion, and the onsen tamago or chicken karaage sides are affordable enough to add without hesitation, boosting overall satisfaction. If you want to focus on the natural flavor of quality ingredients atop a rice bowl and enjoy a hearty, satisfying Japanese meal, this is a place worth putting on your list. ## Where it is - Jongno Donburi Yeonnam (종로돈부리 연남) - 9 Donggyo-ro 46-gil B1, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 마포구 동교로46길 9 B1 - 37.562598, 126.925406 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%A2%85%EB%A1%9C%EB%8F%88%EB%B6%80%EB%A6%AC%20%EC%97%B0%EB%82%A8/@37.562598,126.925406,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@dining-room-errands/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-salmon-belly-bowl/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt