Cheonan burger takeout: 3 burgers over 2 days at Downtown Burger

Downtown Burger (DOWNTOWNER) is hands down my favorite handmade burger brand in Korea, and there's one in Cheonan too, so I went! Whatever you order, the patty quality is so overwhelming that I've never been let down. It's inside Shinsegae Department Store, so it's super easy to get to in Sinbu-dong, Cheonan. I stopped by happily to fill my rumbling stomach after a movie, before heading home.

Where is Downtown Burger Shinsegae Cheonan-Asan, and when does it close?

Downtown Burger Shinsegae Department Store Cheonan-Asan is on the 4th floor of Building B at Cheonan Shinsegae, right next to CGV, and it's open daily from 10:30 to 20:30. You can park comfortably in the Shinsegae lot, and the closed days match the department store's regular holidays.

Address: Building B, 4th floor, 43 Mannam-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, Chungnam (right next to CGV) / Hours: daily 10:30–20:30 / Parking: Shinsegae Department Store lot available / Closed: same as the department store's regular holidays

The Cheonan-Asan branch sits literally right beside the CGV cinema, so the route is ridiculously convenient. It's also a stylish combined store run together with the trendy Clap Pizza, so you can order hip pizza and premium burgers in one space and share them. It's a perfect Sinbu-dong spot when your friends can't agree on a menu.

Is there a wait at Downtown Burger Cheonan? When is it quiet?

I visited around 4 p.m. on a Friday, one of those in-between, relaxed hours. As you probably know, Downtown Burger starts grilling the patty the moment an order comes in (100% cooked to order), so on weekends or at mealtime peaks you have to put up with a serious wait at this hot spot. Luckily I missed the peak, so I ordered quietly and without any fuss. There are also plenty of tables inside for sitting down comfortably, so eating in looked totally fine too.

What are the Downtown Burger menu and prices?

The Cheonan-Asan branch has a whopping 12 burgers, priced from ₩6,800 to ₩12,900. For handmade burgers, that's pretty reasonable.

• Downtown Burger: ₩9,900
• Classic Cheese Burger: ₩8,900
• Shrimp Deluxe Burger: ₩11,800

If your wallet is light or you want good value, the classic smash burger line is just right, and the burgers with unusual chicken or shrimp patties are great too. If you're a first-timer overwhelmed by the choices, order the Downtown Burger, the basic signature named after the brand itself, and you won't regret it. You can also upgrade to a Double patty if you like, and the rich meaty juiciness multiplies several times over, which is honestly moving.

Downtown Burger side menu

Besides burgers, the side menu is nicely stocked too. The fries come in a whopping 5 flavors (₩4,800–₩8,300), and the boneless chicken bites come in 3 flavors (₩5,800–₩7,300). There are also big jumbo mozzarella sticks, onion rings and a refreshing cup salad (₩3,300–₩4,800), so there's plenty of choice.

Downtown Burger set upgrade: a great-value tip

For a small extra charge, you can turn a single burger into a set with a drink and a side. And there's a huge value tip hiding here!

• Drink + original fries: +₩4,900
• Drink + onion rings: +₩5,300
• Drink + cup salad: +₩5,500

Here's the fun part: original fries cost ₩4,800 on their own, right? Yet the set upgrade costs ₩4,900, which means for just ₩100 more you get a drink that costs ₩3,000 on its own, thrown in! Isn't that a crazy deal?

How does Downtown Burger pack takeout burgers?

I was taking these home to eat that day, so with tears in my eyes I skipped the sides and drinks and ordered just 3 single burgers to go.

If you write a receipt review, they also give you a corn salad.

For takeout, Downtown Burger puts the 3 burgers neatly and cleanly in their own kraft boxes so they don't tip over. The moment I got in the car with the takeout bag, the savory, rich smell of meat and fried food filled the air, and I honestly couldn't resist.

How did the Shrimp Deluxe Burger taste?

The Shrimp Deluxe Burger (₩11,800) had a nice balance of crispy coating, plump whole shrimp, coleslaw and smoky onion mustard sauce. I couldn't hold out until I got home, so I pulled the Shrimp Deluxe out first in the car and took a big bite. A shrimp patty like this is deep-fried and crispy, so eating it right when it's freshly fried is the best thing in the world, right? Wow, my instinct was right! The moment it hit my mouth there was a cheerful crunch, and the inside was packed with bouncy whole shrimp, so the texture was a work of art. The crisp, fresh coleslaw veg and the smoky onion mustard sauce cut through the greasiness a fried patty can have, so there was zero heaviness, just a light, clean finish with a perfect balance. I devoured it in the car like a storm.

What goes into the signature Downtown Burger?

The Downtown Burger (₩9,900) is the signature item, with a charcoal-flavored beef patty, tomato, romaine, grilled onion, bacon, American cheese and house sauce. After polishing off the shrimp burger in the car as an appetizer, I opened the Downtown Burger as my main meal the moment I got home safely. (I carefully stored the leftover Classic Cheese Burger in the fridge to have as a hearty breakfast replacement the next morning.)

It's the flavor I've eaten the most and a familiar menu item, yet it's a bewitching burger that makes me marvel every single time. One bite and the juice of the tender, charcoal-scented beef patty gushes out, filling your mouth. Fresh, tangy tomato and bright green romaine add freshness, and the sweet flavor of the flame-grilled, soft onion lies underneath as a base. The salty, chewy bacon, the creamy melted American cheese and the umami of the secret house sauce all come together, and it felt like a gorgeous festival in my mouth. The bun itself is also super soft and chewy, so it clings to the meat and sauce wonderfully.

The Classic Cheese Burger I ate the next day

I ate the Classic Cheese Burger (₩8,900) the next day, and it was a clean, authentic American-style burger with plenty of rich cheese and the true flavor of the meat, a great taste with nothing lacking.

Who should go to Downtown Burger in Sinbu-dong, Cheonan?

Downtown Burger in Sinbu-dong, Cheonan lived up to its reputation: a gem of a place where I could taste the essence of handmade burgers and was 100% satisfied. Being inside Shinsegae Department Store makes parking pleasant and convenient, and since it's right next to CGV, the route is ideal for a date before or after a movie or a family outing meal.

The packaging quality was also very tidy, so it seems like a great choice for stocking up on several burgers to go, like me, and enjoying them at home as a brunch or late-night snack. If you're looking for a juicy, premium handmade burger spot in central Sinbu-dong where the chance of failure is close to zero, I strongly recommend visiting Downtown Burger on the 4th floor of Shinsegae Building B!