Mapo Japanese restaurant for solo salmon don: Jongno Donburi Yeonnam

Leaving a little review of my weekend solo meal. I was craving a salmon rice bowl, so I went to Jongno Donburi Yeonnam!! Had salmon don topped with fresh salmon and delicious karaage!!!

Jongno Donburi Yeonnam location and weekend visit

Address: 서울 마포구 동교로46길 9 B1 Hours: Weekdays: 11:30–21:30 (break time 16:00–17:00) Weekends: 11:30–21:00 (no weekend break time)

I really loved that there is a break time on weekdays, but not on weekends.

I visited at that awkward time in the afternoon on a weekend and was able to get seated right away without waiting.

Seating for solo meals through dates

The restaurant is on basement level one, but it is clean and cozy without feeling cramped!!

There is a varied layout, from bar tables that are great for solo diners to tables for two to four people,

so it feels fine whether you are eating alone or coming with friends or a partner!!

There is also a clean restroom toward the back!!

The seat where I sat, haha. There are lots of seats where you can come alone without feeling awkward, so no pressure at all!!!

Salmon don and karaage order

As you would expect from a donburi specialist, there are lots of rice-bowl options. Everything on the menu looked delicious, so I deliberated for ages before finally choosing the following.

• Salmon don: ₩18,000
• Chicken karaage: ₩7,000
• Onsen tamago: ₩1,500

Salmon don is one of the signature dishes here, so it was a must, and I added karaage as a side. Then I spotted a hot tip on the menu saying it tastes even better with an onsen tamago, so I naturally added one of those too.

Miso soup, pickles, yellow pickled radish, and more arrived right away. That spicy pickle-like thing was such a rice thief. The mayonnaise was for the karaage.

Salmon don topped with thick-cut salmon

After a short wait, my salmon don arrived! The sight of that thick-cut salmon had me drooling. A staff member said the salmon was especially good that day, and its glossy sheen really looked fresh.

I first tried the salmon on its own with a little wasabi, and the moment it hit my mouth, the texture was wonderfully soft yet springy. Its mild, nutty salmon flavor came through well, and there was absolutely no fishiness—so clean.

The rice was insanely good too, so I kept shoveling it in. Taking a big spoonful with the salmon was seriously delicious. The portion was quite generous too. Highly recommended!!!!!!

How to enjoy it with onsen tamago

Onsen tamago (soft-cooked egg), ₩1,500. I definitely recommend this egg. It comes in a small dish with sauce; crack it open and dip the fried karaage in it, or lightly dip the salmon from the salmon don in it. Both are super tasty.

One extra egg works well with several dishes, so I recommend adding one.

Hot and crispy chicken karaage

The chicken karaage I ordered as a side was delicious too. The portion was generous for the price, and it came out freshly fried and piping hot. You can probably tell from the photo, but the coating was very crispy.

Totally crisp outside, tender inside. The chicken itself was well seasoned and delicious, but it was even better dipped in the mayonnaise sauce. A perfect side when salmon don alone feels a little incomplete!!

A place with both great food and a cozy atmosphere!!!! It is not super cheap, but considering the quality and quantity of the salmon, it is awesome. Next time I will try another rice bowl. Officially designated a place I will return to!!!