Jeonpo-dong curry restaurant with cheese-topped beef curry: Sarugak20

There's nothing quite like the ache of losing a favorite restaurant you'd loved for years, out of nowhere 🥲 For me, that place was Moru Sikdang in Jeonpo-dong ｡ﾟ(ﾟ´ω`ﾟ)ﾟ｡ I was so sad the day I showed up and found it closed — but then, amazingly, I found out the owner had opened a brand-new, expanded version of the space.

So happy to hear this, I ran straight over — and came back completely won over by both the taste and the vibe of Sarugak20, a Jeonpo-dong curry restaurant in Busan.

Where is Sarugak20? A basement near Jeonpo Station Exit 8 with natural light

Sarugak20 sits on a quiet uphill alley near Jeonpo Station Exit 8, in the basement directly across from the entrance of the Jeonpo Community Center, so it's easy to find. You might assume a basement restaurant would feel dark and cramped, but Sarugak20 breaks that stereotype completely.

Walk in and you're greeted warmly by the friendly owner. The cozy wood-toned interior feels welcoming, and natural light streaming in near the windows gives the space a bright, cheerful mood. The sunny window seats looked perfect for a relaxed solo meal.

Since I visited a bit early, I had time to wander around and take photos, but before long the place filled up with customers. Besides the regular tables, there were window bar seats and cozy floor seating too.

There's even a tidy handwashing spot with hand wash and hand cream thoughtfully set out for guests — a nice touch that shows the owner's attention to detail. (By the way, this is a dog-friendly Jeonpo-dong restaurant!)

They also sell frozen curry to take home, and you can order online through their Smart Store — love that!

A photo of the curry I ate, after a long hunt, at the old Moru Sikdang..♥ A place packed with old memories..☆

Sarugak20's menu: Japanese curries, toppings and props on the shelves

Once we sat down, the owner brought over the menu and set out cold water, utensils, and cups.

She also let us know there was lime water and green tea water at the counter, ready to drink whenever we wanted something refreshing.

Before ordering, there's a little shop near the entrance selling cute knick-knacks, which was fun to browse while waiting for the food.

Sarugak20's menu is centered on rich, deep-flavored Japanese-style curry (카레), with plenty of variety on the side.

• Signature curries: half-and-half curry, cream curry, shrimp cream curry, beef brisket cream curry, special curry, deluxe curry, Sarugak curry
• Toppings and sides: scramble, poached egg, sausage, sweet potato cheese croquette, fried shrimp, tonkatsu, karaage
• Drinks and alcohol: Ebisu draft beer — a perfect match for curry — melon cream soda, and more

We ordered the half-and-half curry, the nostalgic combo we always used to get back at Moru Sikdang, added a scramble topping to one side, and got chicken karaage as a side dish too.

How does the half-and-half curry with chicken karaage taste?

It didn't take long before the gorgeous-looking half-and-half curry arrived! It came split evenly between smooth cream curry and rich, deep-flavored beef curry.

On the side came a clean, refreshing kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) that cut nicely through the richness of the curry.

The beef curry was piled generously with savory cheese, which made it even more tempting..!

The pairing of the smooth, savory cream curry with the deep, umami-packed beef curry was honestly perfect.. Eating it again after so long made it even more delightful..

The soft scramble went beautifully with the curry too, and tasting that familiar yet somehow even more upgraded deep curry flavor again made me smile without even meaning to haha. Yeah, curry really is best here...♥

The chicken karaage came with a crunchy cabbage salad, which was great, and it was freshly fried — piping hot outside, really juicy inside.

Dipping it deep into the rich curry sauce doubled the flavor..... I couldn't put my fork down..... Rice and curry refills are available, but we were so full we didn't need any....!

Is Sarugak20 worth it for Moru Sikdang fans? Final verdict

A day made even happier by rediscovering a beloved old restaurant, one I'd missed for so long, in a brand-new space..♡ The deep, dedicated flavors stayed exactly the same, but now you get to enjoy that delicious curry in a much cozier, more relaxed atmosphere. And knowing I can go back anytime now makes me so happy~ If you're looking for a proper Jeonpo-dong curry restaurant, I strongly recommend Sarugak20!