Japanese diner in Daeyeon-dong, Busan: solo butadon set, Myeonsikdang

When you look for a place to eat near Kyungsung and Pukyong National University, there are so many restaurants that choosing a menu becomes the biggest worry.

One day I want a hearty rice bowl, then a crispy tonkatsu comes to mind, and then ramen or rice noodles too. So this time, instead of a place that sells only one thing, I visited Myeonsikdang Pukyong National University Branch (면식당 부경대점), where you can enjoy a range of main dishes.

From the name alone, I assumed it was a specialty shop for noodle dishes like ramen and rice noodles,

but when I saw the menu, it had not only ramen but also tonkatsu, butadon (pork rice bowl), soba and rice noodles, so you can choose to suit your taste. I liked that.

What is on the Myeonsikdang menu?

Myeonsikdang Pukyong National University Branch is a place to try many kinds of Japanese-style dishes in one spot. The mains include ramen, tonkatsu, rice bowls, soba and rice noodles.

With such a variety of mains, it looked good for visiting alone, and also for coming with several people, ordering different dishes and sharing.

The wide choice was satisfying from the first impression, and it is the kind of restaurant that naturally makes you look forward to trying other dishes next time.

Self-serve but stress-free: broth, kimchi and pickled radish bar

At Myeonsikdang, you can help yourself to warm broth, kimchi and danmuji (pickled yellow radish) without any fuss.

No waiting around, and you can take just as much as you want, which I liked, haha.

Preparing it the way I like before the meal meant no wasted food, which was nice.

Large butadon + demi-glace fillet katsu single set, with extra bean sprouts

This time I ordered the large butadon and the demi-glace fillet katsu, plus extra bean sprouts.

The first thing I noticed when the food arrived was the bean sprouts and meat piled high on the butadon!! The faint smoky, fire-grilled aroma, the crunchy sprouts and the garlic flakes stimulated my appetite just by looking.

On the first bite, the flavor of the fire-kissed meat came through first, and the salty-savory seasoning went well with the rice. I thought adding the extra bean sprouts was a really good decision.

The sprouts were not tough and kept their crunch, so eaten together with the meat the texture became richer, and I could enjoy it comfortably to the very end.

With the nutty garlic flakes added, it was a butadon with layers of flavor the more you chewed.

Demi-glace fillet katsu: crisp outside, juicy inside

The demi-glace fillet katsu that came with the set was a total hit too! The outside was fried crisp, but the inside was moist and tender, so the contrast in texture was obvious.

The coating is not thick, so you really get the texture of the meat itself, and it went well with the demi-glace sauce, so I enjoyed it to the end.

Eating it with the butadon, I could taste two different charms, which made it an even more satisfying meal 🤗 (Ah, I want to eat it again. Slurp.) I think anyone looking for a tonkatsu spot near Kyungsung University would be happy with this. 👍

Next time I want to try the ramen and rice noodles!

This visit I chose a rice bowl and katsu, but looking at the menu, what I was most curious about were the ramen and rice noodles.

I usually like soup dishes, so next time I really want to try the signature ramen that people come to the Pukyong University area for!!

From the ramen, where I expect the deep broth of a ramen master, to the light rice noodles, the wide choice means you can try something new every visit, and that is a big strength of Myeonsikdang.

Single sets and custom two-person sets

Myeonsikdang offers single-person sets, good for coming alone, as well as custom two-person sets where you combine the dishes you want.

If you come with friends or family, you could order ramen, tonkatsu, butadon and rice noodles one each and enjoy a bit of everything, and choosing seems like fun too.

Overall verdict

What impressed me most about Myeonsikdang Pukyong National University Branch was being able to enjoy so many Japanese-style dishes in one place.

The large butadon I had balanced smoky meat, crunchy bean sprouts and garlic flakes nicely, and I think adding the extra sprouts was a good choice.

The demi-glace fillet katsu was also charming, crisp outside and moist inside, and a great pairing with the butadon.

I would like to try the ramen, soba and the rice noodles of Daeyeon-dong one by one next time, and if you are looking for a good place near Kyungsung or Pukyong University, I would recommend giving it a visit.

Recommended for

• Anyone looking for ramen near Pukyong National University
• Anyone looking for tonkatsu near Kyungsung University
• Anyone looking for rice noodles in Daeyeon-dong
• Fans of smoky, fire-grilled butadon
• Fans of crispy fillet katsu
• Solo diners who want a wide choice of dishes
• Groups who want to share several dishes with friends