Pork neck BBQ in Seomyeon, Busan after a Pokémon pop-up: Don J

BUSAN / SEOMYEON Don J Busan Seomyeon (돈제이 부산서면점) 🐷

I spent a weekday evening on a Seomyeon date-style outing with a friend.

We'd heard a Pokémon pop-up store was running at nearby Lotte Department Store Busan Main Store, so we went to have a look. We browsed the cute Pokémon goods and took photos, a nice full indoor outing. After all that wandering we got hungry and started craving savory grilled meat and a cold drink. So we headed to Don J Busan Seomyeon, a well-known Seomyeon Station restaurant close to the department store!

Don J Busan Seomyeon: location, parking and how to get there from Seomyeon Station

Don J Busan Seomyeon is tucked inside an alley in Bujeon-dong, Busanjin-gu, Busan, so it's easy to reach by public transport. It's within walking distance of both Seomyeon Station and Lotte Department Store Busan Main Store.

• Transport: walkable from Seomyeon Station and Lotte Department Store Busan Main Store
• Parking: as is typical in Seomyeon, the restaurant's own lot can be small, so I'd recommend a nearby public or private lot.

After the pop-up we strolled over slowly, and it was a quick walk, which worked out perfectly. If you're doing indoor shopping or a pop-up in Seomyeon, I'd suggest checking this as your dinner follow-up.

Retro interior and tablet ordering

Stepping inside Don J Busan Seomyeon, the mood was clean yet full of retro charm!

Every table has an electronic tablet, so you can check the menu and order without calling over a staff member.

Looking through the menu, we ordered the signature pork neck (₩38,000), plus Cass (₩5,000) and Joeun Day (₩5,000) to go with it. It was handy that the tablet shows photos and prices and you just add items to the cart.

Old-style tray of side dishes and sauces

Once we'd ordered, a big old-fashioned countryside tray arrived loaded with side dishes and sauces. There was bracken, seasoned bean sprouts, spring onion salad and pickles, plus sliced potatoes to grill alongside the meat.

The sauces were varied too, from salt and ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) to a house special sauce, so mixing and matching to taste was fun. The retro feel starts with the tray, and I was in a good mood before even touching the meat haha.

Pork neck grilled on a cauldron lid: ₩38,000

Soon a traditional-looking black cauldron-lid grill was set up and our pork neck arrived.

Thick, nicely colored pork neck and pork belly cuts, plus mushrooms, spring onion and onion, went onto the lid to turn golden.

Cooked on the lid, which conducts heat well, the juices stay in and the meat gets crispy outside and moist inside.

I first tried a well-cooked piece dipped lightly in plain salt, and it was so good!

The more I chewed, the more the savory juices spread through my mouth, and trying the sauces one by one meant a different flavor each time, so it never got boring.

Ice bucket drinks and cold somaek

Another thing that impressed me at Don J Busan Seomyeon was the drink setup!! When we ordered alcohol, it came in a retro bucket filled with ice, so it stayed cold down to the last glass.

For the first round we mixed Cass and Joeun Day into somaek (soju-beer mix) and cheered, cheers!

The light tiredness from walking around the department store pop-up seemed to vanish with the fizz. The savory meat with cold somaek was a great combo, and we ended the evening on a happy note haha.

How to join the tablet review event

While you eat, check the tablet screen, because there's a fun review event running. If you order through the tablet's review event and join with your receipt, there are prizes: 1st a ₩100,000 Lotte Department Store gift card, 2nd a meal voucher, 3rd a plate of pork neck, and 4th two side dishes.

If you visit, I recommend joining in for a bit of fun and a small perk~

A Seomyeon date route to pair with Don J Busan Seomyeon

Here are some Seomyeon date spots that pair well with Don J Busan Seomyeon.

• Lotte Department Store Busan Main Store: brand pop-up stores and exhibitions often run here, making it a perfect indoor date stop before dinner.
• Seomyeon Café Street: after the meal, a stylish café with dessert and coffee is a relaxed way to end the day.

Recommended for

• People looking for a convenient place to eat after shopping or a pop-up in Seomyeon
• People who want cauldron-lid grilled meat with a variety of sauces
• People looking for a Seomyeon BBQ pub with an ice bucket drink setup for a relaxed drink with the meal

If you're planning a light neighborhood trip and a full date route in Seomyeon, do keep Don J Busan Seomyeon in mind too!!