Busanjin curry restaurant with shrimp tempura sides: Sarugak20

Sarugak20, a great lunch spot in Jeonpo, is about a five-minute walk from Exit 8 of Jeonpo Station, right across from the Jeonpo Administrative Welfare Center. It is right beside the alley with Makoto, also famous for tsukemen, so it is easy to find!

Go about half a floor down to the basement and it is quiet with such a lovely atmosphere. The moment I walked in, I felt as though I had traveled to a small Japanese town, and instantly felt at ease.

Inside Sarugak20 and its seating atmosphere

I had definitely gone down one floor from the entrance into the basement, but inside Sarugak20 was a bright, warm space filled with sunlight—such an unexpected contrast! There were quite a lot of tables and seats, too. Even on weekdays, it can get fairly busy around dinner and sometimes there is a wait, so I tend to visit at lunchtime on weekdays.

The natural light is wonderful, and calming orange lights are switched on throughout, giving the whole place a peaceful, warm feel. It is that feeling I remember from traveling through a small Japanese town, haha. There is even a large table where up to six people can sit together, so it looks easy enough to visit with a group.

There are also floor seats where you can take off your shoes and eat, which seemed convenient for bringing a baby. The round vintage wooden tables have such a nice mood, too! There are seats lined up facing the wall as well, so especially at lunch I noticed lots of people stopping by for a solo meal in Seomyeon.

The weather was so lovely that we chose the window counter seats, where sunlight poured in and a soft breeze came through the open window. For the restroom, you can use the one at the Administrative Welfare Center across the street, but for anyone who cannot be bothered walking over there, Sarugak20 has a small space inside to wash your hands. And there was even wonderfully scented hand wash and hand cream... the best!

Small items for purchase were displayed inside Sarugak20, too, so it was fun to browse after ordering.

The curries and side dishes we ordered

• Brisket Cream Curry
• Special Curry
• Sweet Potato Cheese Croquette
• Shrimp Tempura
• Melon Cream Soda

We ordered one cream curry and one Special Curry, then chose two kinds of fried sides because they were not expensive. We also got a cream soda that suited the atmosphere, which really made it feel like a trip to Japan.

By the way, you can also buy these delicious curries to take home for ₩5,000–₩6,000 a pack! With the good flavor and ingredients, it felt far more convenient and better value than making curry at home.

The melon cream soda came out first! It had a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, so it was both refreshing and sweet.

After a short wait, everything we ordered arrived together! The rice and curry portions were already very generous, but I was told that both rice and curry can be refilled as much as you want! Being able to get refills at a price in the low ₩10,000s is amazing. It would be hard to find a place in Jeonpo as tasty and atmospheric as Sarugak20 that is also such good value, so it is great for a solo meal and perfect for a date, too!

It has been getting noticeably cooler lately, with a gentle breeze in the air, and eating curry in the sunshine made it feel as if I had come to Japan without going far away. If you want a serene atmosphere, Sarugak20 is a wonderful Jeonpo lunch spot!

Everything arrived neatly and cleanly plated on a single dish.

Special Curry with generous toppings

First, the Special Curry! The basic portions of rice and curry were already plentiful, and they even offer refills...! But there was already so much that I was completely full just finishing this, haha. The Special Curry came topped with a poached egg, sausage, mozzarella, fried garlic flakes, mushrooms, and cute cherry tomatoes.

This is not what I expect for ₩12,000 in this era of high prices..! The sausage had such a satisfying snap, and with the poached egg, cheese, and fried garlic flakes, just looking at the photo makes me want it again, haha.

The curry itself also had so!! much!! cooked minced meat in it. Even mixed simply with rice, without any toppings, Sarugak20's Special Curry could not possibly have been anything but delicious.

Smooth brisket cream curry and fried sides

Next was another popular menu item, the Brisket Cream Curry! It had a touch of cream for a softer flavor, but it was not rich in a heavy way at all, so it was just right to eat.

It was topped with nicely cooked brisket, fried garlic flakes, and scallions, and mixed together it was really delicious.

Sarugak20 does not just do curry well—it does side dishes that go with curry well, too. We ordered shrimp tempura and sweet potato cheese croquettes, and the fried sides even came with cabbage salad. Such a thoughtful touch.

The shrimp was big and plump, while the batter was pure crispiness! It was delicious dipped in the sauce that came with it, and it paired perfectly with the curry, too.

The sweet potato cheese croquette was made with 100% sweet potato and a whole piece of mozzarella inside before being fried, so how could it not be delicious..? This was so good, too, and I definitely recommend it as a must-order side!! Sarugak20 was a great choice if you are looking for a good-value solo dining spot or lunch restaurant in Jeonpo :)