After-work pork BBQ & drinks in Seomyeon: retro straw decor, Don J

You know those days after work when you just want great meat and a cold drink to go with it?

Today I'm introducing a really good Seomyeon BBQ place I found near the back gate of Lotte Department Store's Busan flagship: Don J. Staff grill all the meat for you on a huge pot lid from start to finish, and there's a special sauce secret I've never seen anywhere else! A perfect Seomyeon meat-and-drinks spot for a meal and a few glasses together. Let's start the review!

Where is Don J Busan Seomyeon, and what are the hours and parking?

Don J Busan Seomyeon (돈제이 부산서면점) is at 52 Gaya-daero 784beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 1st floor, on the lower park road behind Lotte Department Store. It's about a 5-minute walk (308m) from Exit 7 of Seomyeon Station. It's open 17:00–01:00 Monday to Thursday and Sunday (last order 23:30), and 17:00–02:00 on Friday and Saturday (last order 00:30).

There's no private parking lot, but Samhwan Parking (14-11 Jungang-daero 691beon-gil, Busanjin-gu) is close and convenient! It's open late, so it works as a hearty first stop, and it's just as good as a second or third round. A really appealing Seomyeon pub.

What's the interior of Don J Seomyeon like?

Don J Seomyeon mixes retro and industrial vibes. Exposed ceiling pipes and rough concrete walls give it an industrial feel, while rustic straw decorations like a country house blend in to create a very hip atmosphere. Near the entrance and waiting area, things you'd see in a village front yard, like soy sauce jars, firewood, old pumpkins and an old-fashioned scale, make it feel homey.

Bright yellow tables and old-school straw cushions add plenty of retro charm. Each table has a big, glossy pot-lid grill with a distinctive vent duct running straight up above it, which gives the place real famous-restaurant energy.

Playful lettering on the walls like "My money is my money, your money is my money" and retro posters promoting things like highland kimchi and Cheongdo Hanjae minari (water dropwort) make it even more fun as both a restaurant and a pub. Overall it reinterprets the feel of an old, time-worn eatery in a clean, trendy way, a lively space to enjoy meat and drinks comfortably and cheerfully with friends!

Don J menu

What comes with the basic table setting at Don J?

Don J reportedly doesn't use store-bought side dishes or sauces; they age their own rustic sauces and make every little thing by hand. You can feel that care right from the basic setup.

• Lettuce/perilla leaves, scallion salad, bean sprouts, kimchi, bracken
• Pickled garlic, pickled garlic scapes, pickled chili peppers, myeongi namul (pickled wild garlic greens)
• Potato, corn salad
• Salt, ssamjang (seasoned dipping paste), salted shrimp, fresh wasabi
• Breadcrumbs, Don J special sauce and egg-soy sauce

And then comes the big one: the "breadcrumbs & Don J special sauce & egg-soy sauce" combo, which was honestly crazy good. (Details below!)

What did we order at Don J?

• Pork neck-belly (600g)
• Highland kimchi stew
• Mill-style radish-kimchi cold noodles (naengmyeon)
• Pig rice

One of Don J's biggest strengths is that the staff grill all the meat for you from start to finish! It's a Seomyeon BBQ pub where you can chat easily with your group and sip your drink.

How does the pot-lid pork neck-belly taste?

Don J puts quality pork belly and pork neck on the big, glossy pot lid, then rings it generously with bean sprouts, kimchi, bracken, garlic, mushrooms, onion and potato. Amazingly, the meat doesn't burn even when left on the lid a long time, and it stays warm, which I loved.

The belly has a great lean-to-fat ratio! The fat isn't tough but soft and nutty, and one bite of the long-cut belly makes the juices burst.

The neck has zero dryness! It's really moist and tender.

How do you eat the Don J breadcrumb pork cutlet combo?

💡 Schnee's (the writer's nickname) favorite Don J-only tasting tip! Take a generous dip of the meat in a soft sauce that tastes like Don J's tonkatsu sauce lightly mixed with mayonnaise, then press it into the breadcrumbs served alongside and eat!

Suddenly your mouth turns it into a crispy-outside, juicy-inside pork cutlet, like magic. It's honestly a fun, delicious combo I've never seen anywhere else!

Don J side dishes: highland kimchi stew, pig rice and radish-kimchi cold noodles

Highland kimchi stew

One spoonful of Don J's highland kimchi stew and I was shocked: wow, why doesn't it taste like this when I boil it at home?!

The broth was so deep and rich that I checked the menu again, and it turns out the stew is made with "highland kimchi" (kimchi from high-altitude cabbage). Good ingredients really do make a difference. Rice thief, booze thief, confirmed!

Pig rice

Adding the hearty pig rice, which comes with pickled chili peppers, seaweed and dallae-jang (wild chive sauce), made me feel like I was about to burst!

Mill-style radish-kimchi cold noodles

Don J's mill-style radish-kimchi cold noodles (방앗간열무냉면) aren't the sharp, sweet-and-sour store-bought style but a mild, clean taste a bit like Pyongyang naengmyeon!

At first I thought, is it too bland? But put a piece of rich meat on top and that cool, clean flavor pairs perfectly with it.

How do you get the free ice cream dessert at Don J?

When you pay and head out, add Don J's KakaoTalk Plus Friend channel and you can pick one cold ice cream for free each! A sweet ice cream dessert after rich meat: isn't the owner's touch the best? 🤍

Verdict

Carefully homemade sides and sauces, quality meat, and friendly grilling from start to finish without burning: nothing was lacking, and it was a perfect meal. If you're curious about the unusual breadcrumb-coated meat, or you're looking for a Seomyeon BBQ pub with great food to go with your drinks, definitely stop by Don J.