Basement curry shop in Busanjin with props on display: Sarugak20

While looking for a lunch spot in Jeonpo, I ended up at a slightly unusual curry place. Walking through the alley, you'll spot a sign that reads Sarugak20.

At first I thought it might be a café, but going down the stairs to the basement revealed a cozy little curry restaurant. It fit right into Jeonpo's distinctive alley vibe, and there was fun to be had just looking around the space, not only eating. Here's my story of Sarugak20, a Jeonpo lunch spot.

Finding Sarugak20's location and entrance

Sarugak20 sits in the basement level of a building. There's a white standing sign out front, so it wasn't too hard to find once I got close. From the entrance, the restaurant is one flight down a staircase.

Jeonpo has plenty of distinctive shops tucked into alleys or basements, and Sarugak20 had that same feel. Since you can barely see inside from the street, I was a little curious what kind of space would show up as I went down the stairs.

Once inside, there was so much to look at that it felt like more than just a restaurant, which was fun. So this seemed like a great Jeonpo lunch spot for people who want more than a quick meal in and out — somewhere you can enjoy the atmosphere too.

A cozy interior and props like a Japanese home

The interior was decorated mainly in warm wood tones. Between the deep brown of the stairs and floor and the furniture and props throughout, the overall feeling was calm and comfortable.

What stuck with me most was that they were also selling small props. Cute little items like bracelets and keyrings were displayed on one side, which made for good browsing while waiting for food. Even though it's a curry restaurant, the space had a bit of the feel of a small Japanese-style café or prop shop mixed in, making it quite charming overall.

Seating from solo spots to seated-floor and table seats

The seating options were more varied than I expected. There were solo seats good for eating alone, along with 2-person, 4-person, and larger group tables. Both floor seating and regular table seating were available, which was nice since it gave a wide choice depending on group size or preference.

A menu and prices built around curry

Sarugak20 is all about curry. On the menu board I saw during my visit: cream curry ₩9,000, spinach curry ₩9,000, miso curry ₩6,000, and beef curry ₩6,000. I expected curry places to just have variations on one theme, but the range of sauces here made choosing genuinely fun. We ordered a bowl of Sarugak curry along with the brisket cream curry.

Brisket cream curry: savory with a slight kick

The brisket cream curry caught my eye first. A generous portion of curry and rice topped with brisket looked quite hearty. Eating the brisket together with the curry brought out the meat's savory flavor even more, and the cream curry wasn't just rich — it had a subtle spiciness that I liked.

It started off soft and savory, then a gentle heat followed, which kept me coming back for more bites. Mixing plenty of curry into the rice and then eating it together with the brisket in one bite made the savory flavor even richer.

My order came with brisket added on top, which made it much more filling than curry alone would have been. Mixing the curry sauce, rice, and meat topping bit by bit meant the flavor never felt one-note through the whole bowl.

Sarugak curry, filling in its own way

The Sarugak curry was much darker in color than the brisket cream curry, and the difference was obvious when the two were placed side by side. With a generous amount of rice and curry plus extra toppings, it didn't feel lacking as a full meal.

Popping the egg yolk and mixing it into the rice and curry made it even smoother to eat.

A cheese-like topping and crispy garnish were also added on top of the curry, giving some texture variation along the way.

Above all, the two curries felt so different that I thought it'd be worth ordering different kinds and sharing if you're visiting with a group. If you like savory flavors with a moderate kick, the brisket cream curry in particular would suit you well.

When you're craving a warm lunch in Jeonpo

When people think of Jeonpo, cafés and dessert shops usually come to mind first. But when lunchtime rolls around, there are days you just want a proper meal. Sarugak20 was a Jeonpo lunch spot worth remembering for exactly those days.

You can eat a filling meal centered on curry, and the quiet, cozy atmosphere made it fun to slowly take in the space while eating. In particular, with seating ranging from solo spots to group tables, it seemed easy to visit whether for a solo lunch or lunch with a friend.

If you like little props, there's also fun to be had browsing the small items displayed on one side.

A Jeonpo lunch spot that stuck with me

Sarugak20 had a somewhat unusual feel starting from the basement entrance, and going inside led to a warm-toned space filled with cute little props. Most of all, the curry was savory with a subtle kick, and I enjoyed it right down to the last bite.

There were also menus with hearty toppings like brisket, which made for a satisfying lunch. If you're in Jeonpo craving something warm and filling instead of a café, and looking for a lunch spot with a bit of atmosphere, this is worth a visit. Next time, I'd like to try a different kind of curry than what I had this time.