Korean BBQ in Seomyeon, Busan: grilled kimchi & raw egg dip, Don J

How much did two people spend at Don J Busan Seomyeon?

Two of us spent ₩61,000 in total at Don J Busan Seomyeon (돈제이 부산서면점). That was pork neck-belly (600g) for ₩38,000, extra meat (200g) for ₩13,000, highland kimchi stew for ₩4,000, pig rice at ₩2,000 × 2, and a drink for ₩2,000.

• Pork neck-belly (600g) - ₩38,000
• Extra meat (200g) - ₩13,000
• Highland kimchi stew - ₩4,000
• Pig rice (dwaeji-bap) - ₩2,000 × 2
• Drink - ₩2,000
• Total ₩61,000

Don J Busan Seomyeon is open 17:00-01:00 with no regular closing day. The address is 52 Gaya-daero 784beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan (lot-number address Bujeon-dong 5195), and for parking you need to use the paid lots nearby.

How does the waitlist work at Don J Busan Seomyeon?

You register on Catch Table in front of the restaurant and go in when your turn comes. I'd been looking for a unique BBQ place in Seomyeon and the name Don J caught my eye right away. I heard it's known by word of mouth for its distinctive menu even among Seomyeon BBQ spots, so I went in with high hopes.

Register on Catch Table in front of the restaurant and you'll be seated in order.

Inside Don J Busan Seomyeon

The inside was cozier and more stylish than I expected. It's a BBQ place, but it has a trendy feel, so it looked just right for a date or a group meal.

It was dinnertime and already fairly full, and I liked the lively atmosphere.

Each table had a neatly set grill, and the ventilation was pretty good too.

Don J's menu and side dishes

The menu at Don J Busan Seomyeon has an unusual layout, unlike a typical BBQ place. Every item name was fun, so just reading the menu was enjoyable.

After we ordered, the basic side dishes came out first. They went well with the meat and were neat and carefully made. There were various sauces along with seasoned vegetables (namul), all nicely prepared.

Don J's 600g pork neck-belly, grilled by the staff: how does it taste?

The main dish at Don J Busan Seomyeon is the pork neck-belly (600g, ₩38,000), and the staff grill it for you. From the moment the thickly cut pork hit the grill, my expectations went up.

As it sizzled on the grill, a rich, savory smell spread across the whole table.

With the richness of belly and the clean taste of neck served together, it looked appetizing from the start. And the marbling on that neck meat was insane.

Don J grills bracken, bean sprouts and kimchi too

Once the meat is partly cooked, the staff grill bracken, bean sprouts and even kimchi. The kimchi was honestly the best part.

The plus of Don J is that the staff grill the meat, so you get it in its best condition. The outside turned crispy while the inside stayed juicy. I dipped a piece in salt, and the clean, savory flavor of the neck and belly filled my mouth.

Raw egg sauce, scallion salad, wraps and the breadcrumb tonkatsu-sauce combo

Next I dipped the meat in the raw egg sauce the staff recommended. Midway, eating it with the scallion salad wiped out any greasiness and left a fresh taste. The combo worked far better than I expected, so I kept reaching for more.

A piece of meat and garlic on a lettuce leaf, wrapped up, was the perfect combo. I lost count of how many wraps I ate.

Dipping the meat in tonkatsu sauce and breadcrumbs is Don J's own charm. As oil soaked into the grill, the meat tasted even better toward the end. I never got tired of it from start to finish, and we added 200g more meat (₩13,000).

What does Don J's pig rice come with?

The pig rice (dwaeji-bap, ₩2,000) at Don J Busan Seomyeon comes with ssamjang (seasoned dipping paste) stir-fried with chili and meat, plus grilled seaweed. After enjoying the meat for a while, pig rice naturally came to mind.

Wrapped in the seaweed, it's an amazing combination.

Finishing with highland kimchi stew

We finished the meal at Don J Busan Seomyeon with highland kimchi stew (₩4,000). The bright red stew arrived bubbling in a aluminum pot, and the sight stirred up my appetite.

The crisp, refreshing flavor typical of highland kimchi soaked through the whole broth. The spicy yet clean soup settled my stomach nicely after the meat.

Is Don J Busan Seomyeon worth going back to?

If you're looking for a BBQ place with personality in Seomyeon, I'd strongly recommend Don J. The neck and belly quality is good and the menu is unique, so the whole meal was fun. The course of a mid-meal break with pig rice and a clean finish with highland kimchi stew was perfect. It stuck in my memory as one of the best on my Seomyeon BBQ tour.