Slow Cup Local · 51 stories

A Cup Later

I write about visits to cafes in Busan and Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Bars · Shopping · Things to do

PlaceChangwon, GyeongnamRestaurants

Changwon Korean lunch before a trip, June sea squirt set: Anyeosane

Anyeosane Jecheol Hansang Sangnam Main Branch is a Korean set-meal restaurant in Sangnam-dong, Changwon. On the day of a trip, the writer ordered the Jecheol Hansang seasonal set for two at ₩18,000 per person and tried clear soft tofu hot pot, gondeure (Korean thistle) rice, spicy stir-fried pork, braised mackerel, Beolgyo cockles and a side of ormandungi (warty sea squirt), which is in season in June. At Anyeosane Jecheol Hansang every side dish eats like a main, making for a filling, easy-on-the-stomach lunch before travel.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeoje, GyeongnamRestaurants

Geoje pork rib restaurant: braised ribs for 2 and butterfish, Geumson

Geumson Deunggalbi Sundubu Geoje Main Branch (금손등갈비 순두부 거제본점) is a Korean restaurant on Junggok-ro 1-gil in Geoje, Gyeongnam, specializing in braised pork ribs, grilled pork ribs and sundubu (soft tofu stew). A lunch set of braised pork ribs for two with gondre (Korean thistle) pot rice cost 36,000 won at the regular spice level. The ribs slid off the bone at a touch of the chopsticks, the gondre pot rice came already seasoned, and grilled butterfish served with sungnyung (scorched-rice tea) stood out. Geumson Deunggalbi Sundubu Geoje Main Branch is a local favorite in Geoje that works for a hearty lunch or as food with drinks.

Written Jun 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Griddle-side teppanyaki in Seomyeon: grilled fish wins Set A at Karen

Karen Lotte Department Store Busan Main Branch is a teppanyaki restaurant in the B1 food court of Lotte Department Store in Seomyeon, Busan. Sitting right in front of the griddle, the writer had Set A for two (37,900 won) with top blade steak, pork neck steak, grilled fish and egg, and the golden, moist grilled fish was the best dish of the set. With the fun of watching everything cooked up close and a generous set, Karen is a good-value teppanyaki meal in Seomyeon.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanCafés

Rainy-day café in Jeonpo, Busan: plum ade & chocolate pudding, Hippy

Hippy (HEAP.P) is a dessert café on Dongseong-ro 25beon-gil in Jeonpo-dong, Busanjin, Busan, which the writer says was named a 2025 Busan promising business in the unique-desserts category. On a rainy day the writer ordered an iced Americano (5,000 won), a plum ade made with house-made plum syrup (7,000 won), chocolate pudding (7,000 won) and a Mont Blanc topped with candied chestnuts (8,500 won), and was most impressed by Hippy's wood-toned interior and the outdoor space inside the café. Hippy is a good Jeonpo pick for a day when you want pretty desserts in a space with real atmosphere.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanCafés

Jeonpo, Busan café open till 10 PM: sweet-bitter lattes at Day of Week

Day of Week Jeonpo is a wood-toned café on the second floor of a building on Jeonpo Café Street in Busanjin-gu, Busan, open 12:00–22:00 with no days off. Having already had coffee that day, the writer ordered a strawberry latte and a matcha latte (₩6,000 each), and the sweet homemade-syrup strawberry latte and the bitter matcha latte made a 'sweet-bitter' pair that was good to sip back and forth. Day of Week Jeonpo is a good pick for a late date or a solo café visit in Jeonpo.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSasang, BusanRestaurants

Sasang pork belly BBQ with Gijang seaweed salt: Sanseong Meat Shop

Sanseong Meat Shop Sasang Branch (산성식육점 사상점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant on Sasang-ro 202beon-gil in Sasang, Busan, serving aged pork belly and nuruk (fermented rice starter) pork neck. On a late-evening visit, the blogger ordered 2 servings of pork belly, 1 serving of nuruk pork neck and freshwater shrimp doenjang rice (rice simmered in soybean paste stew); the staff grilled the meat to the end, and the accompaniments ranged from Gijang seaweed salt to truffle green onion cream sauce. Sanseong Meat Shop Sasang Branch is a Sasang pork belly spot that satisfies on both meat quality and side spread.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Seomyeon pasta date: fish roe & pistachio jambon at Odd Bird Oliver

Odd Bird Oliver (오드버드올리버) is a pasta and brunch restaurant on Dongseong-ro 15beon-gil in Jeonpo, Busanjin-gu, Busan, near Seomyeon. On a date, the blogger waited behind 3 groups, then ordered the roe aglio e olio (₩18,000) and the pistachio jambon pasta (₩19,000), and was struck by the bright room, open kitchen and friendly service. Odd Bird Oliver is a great spot for a pasta date in Seomyeon and Jeonpo, and the blogger would happily go back.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

Nampo, Busan birthday sashimi course with seaweed soup: Ppong Sashimi

Ppong Sashimi is a Japanese sashimi course restaurant near Jungangdong Station in Jung-gu, Busan, close to Nampo. For a boyfriend's birthday date dinner, the writer ordered the assorted sashimi B course (60,000 won per person) for two and treated the seaweed soup (miyeokguk) served with the course as the traditional Korean birthday soup. The Ppong Sashimi B course runs from sashimi and tuna through grilled dishes and hot pot to roe rice and roe soup, making it a satisfying dinner for a birthday or other special day.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Seomyeon rib pub for a first round, iced soju bombs: Sinchon Yangpuni

Sinchon Yangpuni Seomyeon Main Branch is a 20-year-old Korean pub in an alley in Seomyeon, Busan, that specializes in braised pork back ribs. A group of friends came for a first round and ordered 5 servings of level 2 braised ribs (₩14,000 per 250g serving), with soju served frozen, beer for soju bombs and self-made rice balls, while the owner de-boned the tender ribs at the table. Sinchon Yangpuni Seomyeon Main Branch is a solid first-round pub in Seomyeon for eating and drinking in one stop.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

Nampo-dong tripe grill, weekday salt-grill date before 3pm: Bupyeong

Bupyeong Yang Gopchang (부평양곱창) is a beef tripe (yang gopchang) restaurant on the tripe alley in Bupyeong-dong, Jung-gu, Busan, where a couple dropped in around 2:30pm on a weekday for a date and ordered the medium salt-grill (45,000 won). Because the visit was on a weekday before 3pm, Bupyeong Yang Gopchang added soybean paste stew, steamed egg and patbingsu (red bean shaved ice) for free, and the staff-grilled special tripe and daechang (beef large intestine) were rich and nutty with no gamey smell. For a date or group dinner featuring tripe near Nampo-dong, the salt-grill at Bupyeong Yang Gopchang is a solid pick.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanBars

Gastropub in Seomyeon, Busan for birthdays: seafood yaki udon at Yohai

Yohai is a Korean gastropub on the 2nd and 3rd floors of a building in Seomyeon, Busan, with a mini karaoke room, an indoor smoking room and a projector screen, which makes Yohai well suited to group birthday parties. A group of 6 celebrated a birthday at Yohai over grilled pollock roe (18,900 won) and seafood yaki udon (stir-fried udon noodles, 18,900 won); the pollock roe came in a generous portion and the yaki udon was loaded with seafood, filling enough for a meal. If you want a Seomyeon birthday party spot where you can sing and smoke, Yohai is a good fit.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanBars

Busan bar in Seomyeon for third-round chili fritters: 5 Budu Twigimjip

5 Budu Twigimjip (5부두튀긴집) is a bar in an alley by the back entrance of Lotte Department Store in Seomyeon, Busan, where Korean snack food such as tteokbokki, fritters and sundae (Korean blood sausage) is served with beer and soju. The writer stopped by for a third round and ordered the tteok-twi-sun set (tteokbokki, fritters and sundae) for 22,000 won, 5-minute pan fish cake, seasonal herb fritters and pollack fritters, and especially liked the crispy Instagram-famous giant chili fritters, the minari fritters, and the sundae with its secret ssamjang dipping paste. Verdict: at 5 Budu Twigimjip, the giant chili fritters are a must-order.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored