If you’re arriving into Busan Station on the KTX and wondering where to grab a good meal fast, here’s an easy answer: Kokamome, a Japanese tendon (tempura rice bowl) shop about a two-minute walk from the station. I stopped in on a work trip, ate solo at the counter, and it turned out to be the perfect meal to slot in right before catching my train — especially paired with a cold beer.
What is tendon (텐동)?
Tendon (天丼) is a Japanese rice bowl topped with tempura — lightly battered, deep-fried shrimp, fish and vegetables — finished with a sweet-savory soy-based sauce called tare. It’s simple comfort food: crispy tempura on top, fluffy rice underneath, with a soft onsen (hot-spring) egg to mix through. Kokamome specializes in tendon with a local Busan twist.
How to get there (near Busan Station)
Kokamome is at 76 Choryang-ro 13beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan, only about 145 m (a 2-minute walk) from Busan Station. Come out of Exit 5 or 7, cross the main crosswalk into the alley, walk past Ijaemo Pizza, and turn the corner at Yunyeondang — you’ll see the “こかもめ (Kokamome) 天丼” sign. There’s no parking (the street out front is a no-stopping zone), so if you drive, use the Chinatown public lot or a nearby paid lot. Honestly, walking from the station is easiest.
What does "Kokamome" mean?
The name is charming: "ko" means small and "kamome" means seagull in Japanese — a little seagull, echoing Busan’s coastal symbol, flying toward a big dream. The shop moved from its original Choryang location to this spot right by the station, so it’s now even easier to reach.
Inside & solo dining
The space is bright and spotless. There’s an open kitchen with a bar counter right in front, so you can watch the tempura being fried — and it’s ideal for eating alone. A few four-person tables in the back work for groups too. The restroom is inside and clean (just one stall). It’s not huge, so at peak lunch/dinner times you may wait; they run a waitlist through an app, and there’s a small waiting area.
Free refills: rice, tare sauce & miso soup
A big plus here: rice, tare sauce and miso soup are all free refills. The recommended way to eat is to move the tempura onto the lid, then crack the onsen egg over the rice, add tare, and mix. The tempura is surprisingly filling, and being able to top up the rice and soup means you leave properly full — great value.
Great with a beer before your train
Even eating solo, I ordered a cold draft beer, and it was the move. Crispy tempura + cold beer is a fantastic pairing, and the miso soup cuts the richness so it never feels heavy. If you’ve got time to kill before (or after) your KTX, this is a relaxed, satisfying way to spend it — a proper meal, not just station food.
Menu & prices
| Menu | What’s in it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Kokamome Tendon | 2 shrimp + veg + onsen egg | ₩11,500 |
| Ebi (Shrimp) Tendon | 4 shrimp + veg | ₩13,500 |
| Special Tendon (what I had) | conger eel + 2 shrimp + veg + onsen egg | ₩18,500 |
| Jangeo (Conger Eel) Tendon | conger eel + onsen egg + wasabi | ₩13,500 |
| Karaage Don | fried-chicken rice bowl | ₩13,500 |
| Tempura Udon | udon + tempura | ₩11,500 |
| Cold Soba (summer) | chilled buckwheat noodles | ₩9,500 |
| Set (for 2) | tendon + 2 mini udon/soba | ₩34,000–42,000 |
First-timers usually go for the Kokamome Tendon; shrimp lovers pick the Ebi Tendon; and for the most variety, the Special Tendon adds a whole conger eel. Rice, sauce and miso soup are free refills across the board. A single bowl is plenty for one person.
What I ordered: the Special Tendon
I went for the Special Tendon (conger eel + shrimp). The tempura is stacked tall and looks fantastic, and having the conger eel means you get to taste several different fried toppings in one bowl.
The batter is thin, so it’s crispy without being heavy, and the shrimp stayed springy while the eel was tender. Best of all, it was seasoned just right — not too salty, not bland — and it stayed crisp even as it cooled, which won me over. Mix in the onsen egg and tare, and the mushroom, pumpkin and pepper tempura round it out. A genuinely satisfying, well-priced meal.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Kokamome from Busan Station?
About a 2-minute walk (145 m) from Exit 5 or 7 — cross the crosswalk, into the alley past Ijaemo Pizza, and turn at Yunyeondang.
What is tendon?
A Japanese rice bowl topped with crispy tempura and a sweet-savory tare sauce, often with an onsen egg.
Is it good for solo dining?
Yes — there’s an open-kitchen bar counter that’s perfect for eating alone.
Are refills free?
Rice, tare sauce and miso soup are all free refills.
What are the hours?
Daily 11:00–20:30 (break 15:00–17:00, last order 20:00), closed Tuesdays. No parking.
Final take
Kokamome is a Busan-local tendon specialist that’s incredibly convenient to Busan Station. Solo-friendly counter, free rice/soup refills, tempura that stays crisp, and a menu from an 11,500-won bowl up to the Special Tendon — add a cold beer and it’s an easy, satisfying stop before or after your KTX. If you’re passing through Busan Station and want a real Japanese-style meal fast, put this on your list.
Written by WY, a Seoul-based local sharing honest, first-hand guides to Korea. Nothing here is sponsored — I go and pay my own way. More about me →
#BusanStation #BusanFood #Tendon #WhereToEatBusan #BusanRestaurants #KoreaTravel #SoloDining #JapaneseFoodKorea #KTX #Choryang