Nampo, Busan burger shop: shopping-break truffle burger at Downtowner

This is my record of a visit to Downtowner, a great place for a light bite when you get peckish at Lotte Department Store Gwangbok in Busan. In a clean, wide-open space, I ate my way through a Double Cheese Truffle burger, sweet potato fries and the new Cream Cheese Chicken Bites. Here's my honest take.

Downtowner: an easy bite at Lotte Gwangbok

Downtowner Busan Lotte Gwangbok is a handmade burger shop on B1 of the Aqua Mall in Lotte Department Store Gwangbok. When you visit Lotte Gwangbok in Busan, there is so much food from the basement all the way up. Walking through the food court, the smells are tempting, but sometimes you're not hungry enough for a big meal and it feels like too much. Those are the times my feet naturally head to Downtowner, my favorite spot.

What's the atmosphere like at Downtowner Gwangbok?

The Gwangbok branch is kept neat and clean, with an open layout that's wide open on all sides. There are no closed-off walls, so just sitting inside and looking around feels good, never stuffy. The location and mood make it perfect for dropping in for a rest when you're tired from shopping.

The self-serve bar is also kept tidy, and the whole place is clean enough to bring kids, so it suits all ages. As someone who values cleanliness above everything, this was a good choice for me.

Recommended menu combo at Downtowner in Nampo

On this visit I mixed my usual favorites with a new menu item. I really liked that the menu is varied, the sets are good and you can customize. I love handmade burgers so much that I figured I should taste my way through all of them, like clearing a dungeon.

How does the Double Cheese Truffle burger taste?

My main was the Downtowner Double Cheese Truffle burger. The moment I opened the box, a rich, luxurious truffle aroma spread out and got my appetite going.

Between the soft, fluffy buns are two thick beef patties and two slices of cheese stacked in layers. Take a big bite and your mouth fills with rich meaty juice and salty cheese. The truffle sauce gently wraps the meat, which could otherwise feel heavy, so I never got tired of it and enjoyed it to the end.

The bun was moist and chewy, the veggies inside were super fresh, and the patty had none of that gamey smell, so it was totally delicious.

What about the new Cream Cheese Chicken Bites?

The item I was most looking forward to this visit was Downtowner's newly released Cream Cheese Chicken Bites. To get straight to the point: really good.

Boneless chicken is fried crispy into bite-sized pieces and topped with a generous helping of smooth, rich cream cheese sauce. The chicken itself is moist, not dry, and with the savory cream cheese sauce coating it, it goes down soft with no dryness. I thought it would be heavy, but it actually doubles the chicken's savoriness. The size is just right to grab one now and then between bites of burger, and it tasted so good that I vowed to order it again next time, no question.

Sweet potato fries instead of regular fries

I added sweet potato fries as a side at Downtowner. With burgers you'd normally think of french fries, but at Downtowner you really should try the sweet potato fries.

They're fried crispy outside and moist and soft inside like steamed sweet potato. Take a bite of the salty burger, then grab a sweet potato fry, and the balance of sweet and salty is spot on. They have a different sweet charm from regular fries, and I kept reaching for them even when I was full.

Fried food with a burger can feel heavy, but with the sauce it wasn't greasy and I never got sick of it; I just kept eating. These were so good I think I'll come back just for them.

Would I go back to Downtowner Gwangbok?

After finishing my shopping and filling up properly at Downtowner, I walked out feeling refreshed. If you're heading to Lotte Department Store Gwangbok, stop by Downtowner and try the same combo I had. The clean shop, friendly service and high-quality food all satisfied me, so I'm 200% planning to return. If you want a light but proper meal, Downtowner is a great burger choice in Nampo.