Japanese eatery linked to Nampo Station: 2 sets & menbosha, Daidokoro

When you stop by a department store to shop, nothing beats being able to enjoy a neat, deeply flavorful Japanese meal right inside, without heading out into the crowded streets.

Daidokoro Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch sits on the 10th-floor restaurant floor of the Lotte Department Store Gwangbok main building. It's a Nampo meal spot that feels like a little Dotonbori souvenir shop, with cute touches, and serves seasoned, authentic Japanese home cooking.

From the mentaiko set, mixed with a special mentaiko sauce, to the Japanese-style kkanpunggi (sweet-and-sour fried chicken) set with extra-crispy chicken thigh, plus menbosha (shrimp toast) and mini udon on the side, here is a careful rundown of the generous meal the two of us shared.

Daidokoro Lotte Gwangbok in 3 seconds

• Key point: A Japanese restaurant near Nampo Station on the 10th floor of Lotte Gwangbok, where you can enjoy a set with a special mentaiko sauce carrying the know-how of a "Master of Living" TV feature, and crispy Japanese-style kkanpunggi, in a cute setting.
• Recommended for: Anyone looking for a comfortable, filling lunch before or after department store shopping, whatever the weather.
• Signatures: The mentaiko set with its popping, savory umami; Japanese-style kkanpunggi of crispy chicken thigh tossed in a sweet-and-sour sauce; a mini menbosha and warm mini udon to go with them!
• Visiting tip: The subway at Nampo Station connects directly to the department store's basement, so public transport access is excellent, and you can also drive and use the department store parking lot (check the free parking time for your spending bracket).

How to get to Daidokoro from Nampo Station, and parking

Get off at Nampo Station, take the underground connecting passage, and head up to the 10th-floor restaurant floor of the Lotte Gwangbok main building. It's easy to find.

If you're on foot, go in through the department store's 1st-floor entrance near Exit 10 of Nampo Station and take the elevator, which is the quick way up.

For parking, you can use the Lotte Gwangbok parking lot, which makes parking very comfortable whatever the weather. Free parking time varies by how much you spend under the department store's rules, so register your license plate at payment and get it confirmed.

Atmosphere and seating

The inside of Daidokoro is decorated with cute figurines and warm lighting, like a small shop in Japan, which gives it a cozy feel.

There are bar seats for solo diners and roomy table seats, so it works for a solo lunch for Nampo office workers and for a family meal out with kids. It's a Japanese restaurant near Nampo Station that suits both.

Daidokoro's menu and what the two of us ordered

To eat well, we added sides to two sets: the mentaiko set and the crispy Japanese-style kkanpunggi set, plus a mini menbosha, a mini udon and a Pepsi Zero.

With one set each as the base, we shared the crispy menbosha and the warm udon broth, and it was filling with nothing lacking. With solid sides on top of the main sets, it was perfect for enjoying a full range of textures in every bite.

The "Master of Living" mentaiko sauce: how does the mentaiko set taste?

Daidokoro's mentaiko set arrives neatly arranged on a full tray, and it looks mouthwatering from the first glance. The special mentaiko sauce, touched by a "Master of Living" feature, isn't overly salty and has a nutty, deep flavor.

Mix it into the warm rice and take a big spoonful, and the roe pops in your mouth with a soft, enveloping umami. I couldn't put my spoon down, which is exactly what you'd expect from a Nampo meal spot.

Crispy Japanese-style kkanpunggi set: 100% chicken thigh

The popular crispy Japanese-style kkanpunggi set uses only 100% tender chicken thigh, never dry breast meat, so the outside is crisp like a snack and the inside stays juicy.

The special sauce tossed evenly over the batter is pleasantly sweet and sour, a fantastic balance as a side for rice.

Mini menbosha and mini udon on the side

The mini menbosha came out freshly fried, with a crispy bread texture and the savory, bouncy bite of shrimp coming through.

Sip the warm mini udon's rich bonito broth in between, and it washes away the greasiness of the fried food so you can keep eating refreshed to the end.

Daidokoro Gwangbok Q&A

Is it easy to find from the subway station?

Nampo Station connects directly to the Lotte Gwangbok underground passage, so even on snowy or rainy days you can go straight up to the 10th-floor restaurant floor without stepping outside. Very convenient.

Is the menu easy to eat with kids?

The mentaiko set is savory without being harsh, the chicken thigh kkanpunggi is tender, and there's warm udon too. The sets suit all ages without being divisive, so it's a great family lunch.

Verdict: a tidy Japanese meal in Nampo with easy parking

Daidokoro Lotte Gwangbok was an authentic Japanese home-cooking restaurant where you can taste both the distinctive umami of the special mentaiko sauce and the well-made crispy-outside, juicy-inside chicken thigh kkanpunggi. Besides the satisfying, neatly laid-out meal, the comfortable department store facilities and friendly service kept us happy throughout.

If you want a no-fail, tidy Japanese meal with easy parking in Nampo or near Nampo Station, I strongly recommend stopping by for lunch at Lotte Gwangbok!

Hours and parking at a glance

• Hours: Daily 10:30–21:00, last order 20:00
• Parking: Available, at the Lotte Gwangbok parking lot