Nampo Japanese eatery: solo karaage dinner after a movie, Daidokoro

It's getting hotter and hotter. I have atopic dermatitis, so summer is really hard for me💧 Please stay safe in the heat and have a healthy summer🍉 I went to see the movie 'Gunche' at Lotte Department Store Gwangbok, and afterwards I had dinner at a Japanese place near Nampo Station called Daidokoro. Let me introduce it to you!

Where is Daidokoro Gwangbok?

Daidokoro (다이도코로) is a Japanese home-cooking restaurant on the 10th-floor restaurant floor of Lotte Department Store Gwangbok in Busan. It's close to Exits 8 and 10 of Nampo Station, so it was easy to get to, and since it's inside the department store, it seems like a great place to stop when you get hungry while shopping.

The cute exterior caught my eye even before I went in. With a Shin-chan doll right at the entrance, how could I just walk past?.. Anyway, I really want that Shin-chan, don't you?

How does the waiting work at Daidokoro?

You can register for the waitlist through Catch Table. Enter your phone number on the device at the entrance and you'll get a KakaoTalk alert when it's your turn :) If you can't make it in time, you can postpone your turn or cancel the wait, so keep that in mind! The entrance also has pictures of the dishes and a short introduction, so it's easy to pick your meal before going in.

What are the interior and seating like?

The inside is mostly wooden tables and chairs, which gave it a warm, cozy feel.

The tables are spaced fairly generously, so I was comfortable and undisturbed throughout the meal. Seating is mostly 2–4 person tables, perfect for eating alone or chatting quietly with friends. There are also baby chairs, so it seems great for a family meal with a baby!

Daidokoro menu and prices

The set meals (jeongsik) start at ₩14,900 for the karaage set, and there are also sets for 2–3 people. You order on a tablet at each table, and the menu is honestly so varied that you have lots to choose from~

Set menus

• Set A for 2: kkanpunggi set + nanban set + chicken skin gyoza + 1 drink – ₩35,000
• Set B for 2: karaage set + katsu curry set + chicken skin gyoza + 1 drink – about ₩36,000
• Set for 3: 3 sets such as the karaage set, katsu curry set and chicken nanban set + 4 chicken skin gyoza + 2 drinks – ₩51,000

Set meals🍱

• Karaage set – ₩14,900
• Kkanpunggi set (sweet and spicy fried chicken) – ₩15,500
• Chicken nanban set – ₩15,500
• Katsu curry set – ₩14,900

Desserts & sides🍮

• Chicken skin gyoza (dumplings) – ₩5,000
• Milk pudding – ₩4,500
• Tokkuri (sake) – ₩8,000
• Plus soft drinks, Horoyoi (peach/soda), and more

How was the karaage set I ate solo at Daidokoro?

Since I came alone this time, I simply ordered the karaage set. The food came out not long after I ordered, and since I was already starving, the short wait at Daidokoro made me so happy👍

Look at this karaage set..🫶 Golden fried karaage in the center, with egg rice, pickled chili peppers, curry sauce, kimchi and pickled radish, plus sausage and soy-braised quail eggs. It's a full spread.

The karaage portion is very generous👍 Even though I really do eat a lot, I felt slightly full after about three pieces. There's a salad on the side too, which was nice to eat alongside. The moment I bit into the karaage, the outside was golden and crispy while the meat inside was juicy, so it couldn't possibly be bad💞

The seasoning was nicely salty, and the savory flavor kept coming, so it was addictive and I enjoyed it a lot. I was full but kept reaching for more, haha :)

Karaage with curry sauce: does it work?

Curry sauce on karaage?! When I dipped it lightly, the distinct curry aroma came through gently, and it was a better combination than I expected😋 It wasn't greasy at all, so I was satisfied.

Soft-yolk egg rice with curry sauce

When I poured the curry sauce over the egg rice from the karaage set, the savory flavor really came out, and the soft-yolk egg tasted rich and nutty. Above all, the curry sauce is creamy and smooth, so it was easy to eat without feeling heavy.

Of course curry has to be eaten with kimchi, right? A combination that can't be bad🥰 It cleans up the richness nicely :)

Finishing with milk pudding

I finished with milk pudding (₩4,500) to freshen my mouth. It was so soft and mild that I think even little ones would eat it well.

Who is Daidokoro Gwangbok recommended for?

If you want Japanese home cooking in Busan, I recommend Daidokoro near Nampo Station🫶💞

• Japanese home-cooking restaurant in Busan
• Karaage and curry spot in Busan
• Nampo-dong restaurant
• Close to Nampo Station, easy to reach
• Baby chairs available