Two-person Japanese set meal lunch with mandu sides in Busan

We went to Lotte Department Store Gwangbok and decided to have a solid lunch before shopping. That day we wanted a proper Japanese-style spread with rice and side dishes rather than sushi, so we headed to Daidokoro Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch on the 10th floor. With sets, curry, udon, and side dishes all on the menu, it was a great spot to pick a variety of things even as a party of two.

Getting to Daidokoro Gwangbok from Nampo Station, and parking

Daidokoro is directly connected to Nampo Station and the department store, so it's easy to reach by public transit, and if you drive you can use the department store parking lot. It's also a convenient spot to head to for a meal after spending time around Nampo-dong or Jagalchi.

There was a wait because of the crowd, but the place has a Very Excellent hygiene grade!

During lunch or dinner hours, you can reserve through Catch Table. Nampo-dong has plenty of BBQ and Korean restaurants, but on days when you're craving Japanese set meals or curry like this one, it's nice to have an easy option right inside the department store.

What's the atmosphere like?

The cute vibe catches your eye even before you step in. Characters and cute little props are scattered around, giving it a different feel from a typical department store food court, and there's a photo-friendly spot out front too. During busy times you can register for waiting through Catch Table, so keep that in mind if you're visiting on weekends or during lunch peak hours.

Once inside, there are quite a lot of Japanese-style props, so it's fun to look around while waiting for food. The overall vibe is casual and comfortable, making it a nice spot for a date meal or a no-pressure family dinner. If you're looking for a Japanese restaurant near Nampo Station but prefer a relaxed vibe over a stiff traditional one, this could be a good fit.

Menu lineup — sets, curry, udon, sides

The menu had way more variety than we expected. There are set meals like karaage set, chicken nanban set, and gangpungi (crispy sweet-spicy chicken) set that come with a main dish and side dishes, plus a range of curries like tonkatsu curry, fried shrimp curry, and croquette curry. There's also an udon set, so it works whether you're craving rice or noodles that day. Side dishes include mandu, fried shrimp, croquette, and more, which was great for splitting a bunch of things between two people.

For mains we each ordered one — a karaage set and a tonkatsu curry set. But looking at the menu, the sides were hard to pass up! So we added mandu and fried shrimp, and for drinks chose the blue lemon ade, which looked refreshing just from the color. Two mains alone would've been plenty, but with the sides added the table got pretty full. A single item is enough for a simple lunch at Lotte Department Store Gwangbok, but if you're visiting with others, adding a few sides to share is a solid move.

How was the karaage set?

First up, the karaage set! It comes with a generous portion of bite-sized karaage, plus rice, salad, and several side dishes.

The karaage was crispy on the outside and the chicken inside was moist rather than dry, making it great as a rice side. It's already seasoned savory on its own, but dipping it lightly in the sauce that comes with it gives it an even richer flavor.

If you like fried dishes, this is a solid main to pick. Being able to alternate between the different side dishes also kept it from feeling greasy compared to eating just the karaage on repeat.

Tonkatsu curry set: curry and tonkatsu in one

The one I was secretly looking forward to was the tonkatsu curry set. You know how curry alone can feel a bit plain and tonkatsu alone can feel a bit lacking?

With both together, you can dip the tonkatsu deep into the curry, or mix the curry into the rice for a bite — different ways to enjoy it each time. The crispy texture of the tonkatsu went really well with the smooth, mild curry, and I kept reaching for more than expected. The curry especially pairs well with rice, making it a satisfying choice when you want a hearty meal. If you're a fan of Japanese curry among Nampo-dong restaurants, the tonkatsu curry set is worth choosing.

Side dishes: mandu and fried shrimp

Adding sides on top of the two mains turned out to be a great call.

The mandu had a crispy fried outer layer with a springy shrimp filling inside, making it easy to pop one after another.

It had a different savory flavor from the sets, making it a nice thing to nibble on between bites.

The fried shrimp also had a crispy batter with springy shrimp inside, which suited our taste for fried food well.

Even with the karaage, we ended up with a lot of overlapping fried dishes, but each had a different texture and flavor, so it never felt too repetitive.

Blue lemon ade paired with the fried dishes

Since we ordered a lot of fried dishes, we picked the blue lemon ade for the drink. The vivid blue color made for a pretty photo alongside the food :) It was tangy and refreshing, and sipping it between bites of fried food or curry left the palate feeling clean — a good pairing overall. Especially if you're ordering a lot of crispy dishes like karaage, tonkatsu, mandu, and fried shrimp like we did, I'd recommend pairing it with a fizzy drink.

Having tried it this time, I found that Daidokoro works better when you pick one set and one curry and add sides to share, rather than sticking to just one main. The karaage set felt like a Japanese home-style spread, while the tonkatsu curry set was heartier and more familiar, so the two mains didn't feel repetitive at all. With mandu and fried shrimp added on top, it wasn't just eating one dish over and over — there was fun in picking and choosing. If you're looking for a Japanese restaurant near Nampo Station and craving rice dishes over sushi or sashimi, this kind of set meal lineup is a solid option.

Things to know before you go

Since it's inside Lotte Department Store Gwangbok, it's convenient to plan a meal around shopping. The food court can get crowded on weekends or during lunch hours, so if you're worried about the wait, try avoiding peak times or check whether Catch Table registration is available first.

Also, since there are so many menu items, you might spend a while deciding at the table. If you're visiting with one other person, picking different mains — one set plus one curry — and adding sides like mandu or fried shrimp works well for sharing a variety. If you're looking for a lunch spot at Lotte Department Store Gwangbok, plan your visit around your shopping route too.

Who this is for

• Anyone in Nampo-dong looking for Japanese rice dishes instead of sushi
• Fans of familiar, hearty dishes like karaage or tonkatsu curry
• Anyone who enjoys sharing sides like mandu or fried shrimp alongside a main dish
• Anyone looking for a Nampo-dong or Nampo Station restaurant to eat comfortably inside a department store

The Lotte Department Store Gwangbok food court has plenty of options, but what stood out about Daidokoro was the sheer range — sets, curry, udon, and sides all in one place. This time we had the karaage set and tonkatsu curry set as mains and added mandu and fried shrimp on the side, and splitting several dishes between two people made it more fun. We ordered a lot of fried food, but sipping the blue lemon ade in between kept things refreshing. If you're looking for a lunch spot at Lotte Department Store Gwangbok or a restaurant in Nampo-dong, Daidokoro is worth considering for its mix of Japanese sets and curry in one place.