Jeonpo curry restaurant: half-and-half lunch for three, Sarugak20

Why I picked Sarugak20 for lunch in Jeonpo

Sarugak20 (사루각20) is a curry restaurant I stopped by while looking for lunch in Jeonpo. Honestly, when I come to Jeonpo I usually end up at pasta or brunch places, but this day I suddenly wanted curry, searched around, and walked in! It's also run by the owner of Moru Sikdang (모루식당), so I figured the taste was guaranteed.

Weekend lunch atmosphere and solo seats at Sarugak20

On a weekend lunch hour Sarugak20 already had quite a few diners, and there's a solo dining counter, so it's a good place to go alone. Some people came by themselves and lots of tables were friends, so it seems popular for lunch in Jeonpo. The solo counter makes eating alone just right. If you're looking for a good solo meal in Jeonpo, highly recommended!

The interior is cozy and so pretty. It totally has that Japanese curry shop feel.

Sarugak20 menu and prices

The curries at Sarugak20 are half-and-half curry (반반카레) ₩10,000, brisket cream curry (차돌크림카레) ₩11,000, Special curry (스페셜카레) ₩11,000 and Sarugak curry (사루각카레) ₩12,000. There were more varieties than I expected and I agonized for a while, but since three of us came and wanted to try different flavors, we ordered two half-and-half curries and one Special curry. We added karaage as a side. Prices were easy on the wallet.

• Half-and-half curry ₩10,000
• Brisket cream curry ₩11,000
• Special curry ₩11,000
• Sarugak curry ₩12,000

These days lots of places in Jeonpo charge well over ₩10,000 for a meal, so this felt fair. A half-and-half curry for just ten thousand won, is that crazy or what? T_T

The half-and-half curry we ordered is exactly what it sounds like: two curries in one dish. When you order one dish you always wonder about the other flavor, and the half-and-half curry spares you that dilemma.

What does the Special curry taste like?

The Special curry at Sarugak20 comes with sausage and a soft-yolk fried egg on top of the rich curry. It looked so pretty and seemed filling. I popped the runny yolk and mixed it into the curry, and the yolk's nuttiness made the flavor much smoother.

It looks so pretty that it's perfect for a date too. At first I thought the rice portion was small, but it's actually really big... And they'll even give you more curry and rice if you ask. So generous!

Half-and-half curry: cream curry vs. rich curry

Smooth cream curry

One side of the half-and-half curry was a smooth cream curry. My first bite told me it was really smooth. The creamy richness comes through strongly, yet it isn't heavy. It felt like something even people who can't handle spicy food could eat comfortably.

Hearty rich curry

The other side was the rich curry, which is the same curry as in the Special curry. It definitely had a different mood from the cream curry. The curry flavor was deeper and the taste was hearty. The sausage was bigger than I expected, with a nice bite, and went well with the curry. I thought it was just a topping, but it had real presence haha

Personally, I liked it better alternating between the two. Eating only cream curry might get a bit cloying, and the rich curry balanced it out in between. I can see why the half-and-half curry is a popular menu item.

Why the kkakdugi stayed with me

What I remembered most, surprisingly, was the kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) served with the curry. Honestly I don't expect much from kkakdugi at a curry place, but the one at Sarugak20 was really good. The crunchy texture was great and it was pleasantly sweet and sour, so a bite between spoonfuls left my mouth feeling clean.

Curry can be quite heavy, but thanks to the kkakdugi I never got tired of it until the end. My friends said the kkakdugi was delicious several times.

Does the karaage side go well with curry?

The karaage we ordered as a side at Sarugak20 was so good too!!! Crispy outside, juicy inside. The batter wasn't too thick, and the chicken itself was tender.

Karaage is often just a snack, but at Sarugak20 it went even better with the curry. A bite of crispy karaage then a spoonful of curry made the textures more varied and the meal more satisfying. The rich curry and karaage combo was especially good. It's tasty dipped lightly in the curry sauce, and also with rice.

What to order on your first visit to Sarugak20

I think Sarugak20 is a great spot for lunch in Jeonpo. There's a variety of curries, the prices are fair, and above all the flavors are well balanced. The smoothness of the cream curry, the depth of the rich curry and the heartiness of the Special curry each have their own charm, so going with several people and sharing would be even more satisfying.

If you're looking for a good curry place in Jeonpo, Busan, it's worth a visit, highly recommended! Personally, for a first visit I'd recommend the half-and-half curry. You get both flavors at once, so I think it shows off Sarugak20's charm best.