Songjeong, Busan pork cutlet restaurant for three shared dishes: Deli

My friends and I came out for an outing after a long while, doing the Songjeong course. We had an early lunch, stopped by Haedong Yonggungsa temple to clear our minds by the sea and make a wish, planned a visit to a nice café, and then came to Deli Donkatsu in Songjeong for the 11am opening rush~

We left early so we arrived before opening — luckily there was a park right in front, so we sat and chatted while we waited. Kids from a nearby kindergarten came by in a line on an outing, so I got to see some cute little ones first thing in the morning and started the day in a great mood^^

Where is Deli Donkatsu, and what about parking and hours?

Deli Donkatsu is at 146 Songjeong-jungang-ro 9beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the 1st floor. There's no dedicated lot, but you can use the street parking beside and in front of the restaurant.

• Location: 146 Songjeong-jungang-ro 9beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea, 1st floor
• Parking: No dedicated lot; street parking available beside and in front of the restaurant
• Hours: 11:00–20:00
• Break time: 16:00–17:00
• Last order: 19:00
• Closed on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month

What Deli Donkatsu looks like inside and out

The photo on the pork cutlet banner out front looked so delicious haha. In these expensive times, this old-school Korean-style pork cutlet is great value for money.

The tables inside had decent spacing so it didn't feel too crowded, which I liked. Sometimes when tables are packed too close together at other restaurants, I get self-conscious about the neighboring table while chatting with friends.

Walking in, the place had a retro feel while still looking neatly kept.

There's a spot for solo dining on one side, and freshly brewed coffee nearby so you can have a cup after your meal.

There's also a cozy sofa seating area for anyone who wants a softer spot.

The kitchen is open so you can watch the cooking happen. Seeing how tidy it was made me trust the food even more, haha. Since we were there for the opening rush, there were no other customers yet, so it was quiet and we could eat slowly, which was nice.

I also liked that the restrooms are separated by gender. Sometimes shared restrooms feel like a hassle so I avoid them. There was a baby chair in front of the restroom too, so it seems like quite a few families with babies come here.

Do you need a reservation at Deli Donkatsu?

Deli Donkatsu accepts walk-ins without a reservation, but for groups of 6 or more it's more convenient to reserve through Naver first~^^

If there's a wait during lunch hours, you write your name here and wait.

Deli Donkatsu's menu and signature dishes

Deli Donkatsu's signature dish is, of course, the classic Korean-style pork cutlet set!

Classic pork cutlet, cheese pork cutlet and hot-plate cream kimchi fried rice

After ordering through the table tablet, diced radish kimchi and pickled radish came out as basic side dishes, followed by the soup that's a hallmark of old-school pork cutlet. I sprinkled on some pepper and enjoyed the smooth, savory soup.

When you order the signature classic pork cutlet at Deli Donkatsu in Songjeong, Busan, rice and cabbage salad come unlimited.

When it comes to pork cutlet, you just can't skip the cheese cutlet, right?!!!!

The cheese pork cutlet was stuffed with so much cheese it surprised me — which made it even more enjoyable.

I put a piece of the cheese-loaded cutlet on the bread that came out at first, added some cabbage salad on top, and it tasted just like the old-school hamburgers I ate as a kid. It brought back childhood memories while giving the cutlet a whole different flavor.

Worried that eating only cutlets might feel a bit greasy, we also ordered the hot-plate cream kimchi fried rice.

The great thing about going with friends is that you can enjoy several dishes together — everyone orders what they want and shares.

Verdict: always ask for the spicy sauce and chili peppers

We were going to order Deli Donkatsu's signature classic pork cutlet, spaghetti, and hot-plate cream kimchi fried rice, but decided that if we're having cutlet, it has to be the cheese cutlet, so we swapped the spaghetti for that instead. We hadn't thought of it, but apparently if you ask the staff, they'll give you spicy sauce and chili peppers ㅠㅠ

Eating just the cutlet and cheese cutlet was a little greasy, but the hot-plate cream kimchi fried rice cut through the richness for us. If we'd known about the spicy sauce and chili peppers, it would have tasted even better.^^

Eating with my friends, I found myself thinking I'd like to bring my kids here next time. As moms, we all agreed our kids would probably love this place, and said we should come back with them next time^^