Yeonnam-dong dinner with a friend: kelp rice sake-don, Jongno Donburi

Where is Jongno Donburi Yeonnam, and when is it open?

Jongno Donburi Yeonnam is a Japanese rice bowl restaurant in Yeonnam-dong, Seoul, located at 9 Donggyo-ro 46-gil, Mapo-gu, B1. It's open every day — Mon/Tue/Wed 11:30–21:30 (last order 21:00), Sunday 11:30–21:00 (last order 20:30). Check Naver for holiday hours.

Walk straight ahead from Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station and you'll hit a Hollys coffee shop. Check the map from there and you'll find it easily haha. It's tucked in the alleys among Yeonnam-dong's famous restaurants, on the first floor.

Menu and prices: gyudon 13,000 won, katsu-don 11,500 won

Jongno Donburi Yeonnam is known for tendon, sake-don, and katsu-don haha. I really liked that you can see the menu from outside too haha. The in-store menu board has photos, which makes it even easier to choose. Everything's laid out so clearly.

• Gyudon ₩13,000
• Katsu-don ₩11,500
• Nabe ₩16,000

There's a nice range of rice bowls in the reasonable 10,000-won range. They also have special seasonal dishes.

Receipt review gift and coupons at Jongno Donburi Yeonnam

Jongno Donburi Yeonnam has its own Naver receipt review event! Write a review and get a drink, beer, or ade — read the photo above and join in!!

There's also a coupon system of their own, so if two of you come five times, you can use a coupon — even better haha.

Water and side dishes served with every bowl

Even the free water was nicely nutty ~ ~ I've been avoiding soda lately for health reasons, and this kind of barley tea is really great with a meal haha.

The standard sides: broth, pickled radish, and pickled vegetables. The pickled vegetables were so good I want them again. The staff serving us were kind too haha. The side dishes that came out with the food were really tasty. If you need more, you can just ask.

What we ordered: sake-don and katsu-don for 29,500 won

• Sake-don ₩18,000
• Katsu-don ₩11,500
• Total ₩29,500

We ordered the reasonably priced katsu-don, around 10,000 won, and the sake-don with its tender salmon.

Katsu-don, 11,500 won: crispy cutlet with soy-braised onion

The katsu-don at Jongno Donburi Yeonnam was delicious — the crispy pork cutlet and rich soy-braised onion are the charm here ~ The quality of the katsu-don was better than other places I've tried, so I really enjoyed it ~ The texture of the egg and onion, and the pork cutlet itself, were soft and tasty haha. Definitely something I'd order again if I come back!!! It's reasonably priced too, so I'd recommend it for a simple Yeonnam-dong dinner date.

Sake-don, 18,000 won: why the kelp rice makes the bowl

This place's sake-don is defined by its fresh salmon. What makes Jongno Donburi Yeonnam's sake-don special is the deep flavor of the kelp ~ I usually love shio kombu, so I'm a fan of kelp rice, and the seasoned rice here is really delicious!!

I'd recommend eating it with wasabi if that's your thing haha. The salmon was plump so the texture was great too, and being fresh made it even tastier ~ Highly recommend the sake-don haha.

What is the atmosphere like inside?

Jongno Donburi Yeonnam mirrors the cozy quietness of Yeonnam-dong's streets haha. If you like a calm, quiet restaurant atmosphere, this is the place for you. The space feels cozy, which I loved haha.

Is Jongno Donburi Yeonnam worth a dinner visit?

• Recommended if you're looking for a good rice bowl place in Hongdae/Yeonnam-dong
• The staff and owner are kind, and the place is clean, which I love
• A clean, delicious experience — I'll 100% come back again
• A good spot for a simple lunch or dinner of Japanese food in Yeonnam-dong
• A Hongdae/Yeonnam-dong go-to for katsu-don and sake-don
• Recommended as a Yeonnam-dong Japanese restaurant / go-to meal spot
• A good place for a date haha