# Yeonnam-dong pork rice bowl for two: buta-don & mix katsu-don, Jongno - By Jaeha (https://superchart.com/en/@stainless-spoon-pages/) - Written Sep 14, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Mapo, Seoul - Sponsored: This review was written after receiving a complimentary meal from the restaurant. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@stainless-spoon-pages/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@stainless-spoon-pages/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/index.md) ## In short Jongno Donburi Yeonnam is a Japanese rice bowl restaurant in a basement space on Donggyo-ro 46-gil in Yeonnam-dong, Seoul, a newer branch of the original Jongno shop that opened in 2010. Two of us ordered the buta-don at 14,500 won and the mix katsu-don at 13,500 won, pairing smoky grilled pork over rice with an egg bowl topped with pork cutlet and fried shrimp. With everything from two-tops to counter seats, Jongno Donburi Yeonnam suits a date and a solo meal equally well. ## Good to know - **Buta-don**: 14,500 won - **Mix katsu-don**: 13,500 won - **Included with meal**: Clear soup, pickled radish, garlic scapes, jalapeños - **Seating**: Two-tops, larger tables, bar counter seats - **Address**: 9 Donggyo-ro 46-gil B1, Mapo-gu, Seoul - **Hours**: Daily 11:30–21:30 - **Parking**: Not available - **Other**: Groups, takeout, delivery and reservations available *as written by the visitor on Sep 14, 2026* ## 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. ![Jongno Donburi Yeonnam exterior with a Japanese noren curtain](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-01-10ce3-1200.webp) *Jongno Donburi Yeonnam exterior* ![Wood-toned entrance of Jongno Donburi Yeonnam](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-02-1qzj5-900.webp) 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. ![Jongno Donburi Yeonnam sits along a Yeonnam-dong alley](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-03-1vq3l-900.webp) 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. ![Interior of the basement dining room at Jongno Donburi Yeonnam](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-04-2rzf4-900.webp) *Inside Jongno Donburi Yeonnam* ![Seating with two-top tables and bar counter seats](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-05-1xg5w-900.webp) 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. ![Dining area with a view of the open kitchen](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-06-7lrdg-900.webp) 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. ![Jongno Donburi Yeonnam menu board](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-07-mfw9t-900.webp) *Menu board at Jongno Donburi Yeonnam, a Japanese rice bowl spot in Yeonnam-dong* - Buta-don — ₩14,500 - Mix katsu-don — ₩13,500 ![Sign explaining Jongno Donburi Yeonnam's menu items](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-08-x7nar-900.webp) *Menu description at Jongno Donburi Yeonnam* ![Signboard with rice bowl menu descriptions](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-09-10tap-900.webp) After ordering, they brought out miso soup and side dishes (pickled radish, garlic scapes, and jalapeños). ![Miso soup with pickled radish, garlic scapes, and jalapeños](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-10-8ldnv-900.webp) ## 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? ![A bowl of buta-don at Jongno Donburi Yeonnam](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-11-1e5h4-900.webp) 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. ![Pork soaked in sauce in the buta-don](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-12-1rhud-900.webp) 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. ![Buta-don topped with scallion shreds and pickled ginger](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-13-1xzpz-900.webp) The meat itself was really tender and generous, so I felt genuinely full and satisfied after finishing the bowl. ![An emptied buta-don bowl](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-14-1jb3p-900.webp) ## 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! ![Mix katsu-don topped with pork cutlet and fried shrimp](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-15-1m097-900.webp) The softly set egg and the sweet-salty donburi sauce soaked moistly into the fried items and rice, giving it an outstanding tender texture. ![Close-up of egg-covered mix katsu-don](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-16-6jvbd-900.webp) ![Cross-section of a thick pork cutlet](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-17-1g0s9-900.webp) ![A piece of fried shrimp from the mix katsu-don](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-18-17yu3-900.webp) 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. ![Coupon stamp received after the meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon-19-1ht92-900.webp) 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 ## Where it is - Jongno Donburi Yeonnam (종로돈부리 연남) - 9 Donggyo-ro 46-gil, B1, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 마포구 동교로46길 9 B1 - 37.562598, 126.925406 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%A2%85%EB%A1%9C%EB%8F%88%EB%B6%80%EB%A6%AC%20%EC%97%B0%EB%82%A8/@37.562598,126.925406,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@stainless-spoon-pages/jongno-donburi-yeonnam-butadon-mixkatsudon/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt