Yeonnam-dong pork rice bowl for two: buta-don & mix katsu-don, Jongno

What kind of restaurant is Jongno Donburi Yeonnam?

Jongno Donburi Yeonnam is one of the hottest new donburi spots rising in Yeonnam-dong right now. 'Donburi (丼)' means Japanese-style rice bowl, and Jongno Donburi apparently first served its bowls back in summer 2010, in a narrow back alley of Jongno, sticking stubbornly to a same-day-sale principle with fresh ingredients prepped every dawn.

After all the love it's gotten in Jongno over the years, the brand finally set up a warm new nest here in Yeonnam-dong, so I visited with high expectations.

The exterior alone, with its neat wood-toned hanok feel and a Japanese noren curtain, gives off a healing vibe from the moment you walk up. It's easily one of the most eye-catching restaurants tucked into the Yeonnam-dong alleys!

Inside Jongno Donburi Yeonnam: counter seats and two-tops

Even though it's a basement space, Jongno Donburi Yeonnam is much bigger than expected and has a surprisingly varied seating setup. There are cozy two-top tables perfect for a date, group tables, and bar counter seating (dachi-seok) that's great for solo dining or a beer in the evening.

I especially loved watching steam rise softly off the freshly cooked rice through the open kitchen — it kept all my senses entertained while waiting for the food.

It's the kind of place that works for a hearty lunch, or for enjoying a tasty rice bowl and a beer under cozy lighting in the evening.

The menu at Jongno Donburi Yeonnam and what we ordered

I liked that you can check Jongno Donburi Yeonnam's menu board right in front of the shop before going in. My partner and I ordered buta-don for 14,500 won and mix katsu-don for 13,500 won.

• Buta-don — ₩14,500
• Mix katsu-don — ₩13,500

After ordering, they brought out miso soup and side dishes (pickled radish, garlic scapes, and jalapeños).

Buta-don, 14,500 won: smoky grilled pork over rice

The first dish to arrive was the buta-don. Doesn't the look of it alone make your mouth water?

The pork was browned to a nice char and thoroughly soaked in a special sauce — the first bite filled my mouth with savory depth and smoky aroma.

Topped with scallion shreds, red pickled ginger, and a touch of wasabi, eaten with the rice it had zero greasiness and stayed nutty and clean all the way through.

The meat itself was really tender and generous, so I felt genuinely full and satisfied after finishing the bowl.

Mix katsu-don, 13,500 won: pork cutlet and fried shrimp in one bowl

Next up was the mix katsu-don, which lets you enjoy a variety of fried items at once. A thick pork cutlet with soft egg and crispy batter, plus a plump fried shrimp on top, made for a satisfying look from the start!

The softly set egg and the sweet-salty donburi sauce soaked moistly into the fried items and rice, giving it an outstanding tender texture.

It's a katsu-don where you get both crispiness and moistness at the same time, so I'd strongly recommend it to anyone torn between a plain pork cutlet bowl and a shrimp tempura bowl.

After the meal, they stamped our coupon card like this! Visiting a few more times as a couple, we'd fill it up in no time, haha 😁

Would we go back to Jongno Donburi Yeonnam?

Yes, definitely 🙆🏻‍♀️. True to its practice of prepping fresh ingredients every dawn and sticking to a same-day-sale principle, every dish felt full of care.

The space is pretty and the seating is varied, so I'd recommend it for a date course, a gathering with friends, or a solo meal alike. If you want to experience Yeonnam-dong's Japanese donburi scene and a cozy atmosphere, definitely pay Jongno Donburi Yeonnam a visit!

Jongno Donburi Yeonnam: address, hours and parking

• Address: 9 Donggyo-ro 46-gil, B1, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:30–21:30
• Parking not available
• Group dining, takeout, delivery, and reservations available