Jeonpo-dong izakaya for a last night in Busan: 12.24 Seomyeon

What to eat on the last night of a Busan trip

Hi, this is Edwood. My wife and I visited the beautiful city of Busan together for a two-day, one-night trip after a long while. It was a short itinerary, but we packed it full exploring different spots, and before we knew it, the last day of our trip — Saturday evening — had arrived. Wondering where to have our final dinner before heading back home without any regrets, we decided our last destination would be Jeonpo-dong, the street said to be the hottest and most youthful area in Busan right now.

Since it was the meal that would close out our trip, we wanted somewhere a bit fancy and atmospheric where we could sit and have a heartfelt conversation. After searching for a place that could deliver both delicious food and a romantic mood, we decided to explore the Jeonpo izakaya alley, said to be where Busan's hipsters gather. Among the countless options, the place that instantly caught our eyes had a very unique name: '1224'.

The sleek, all-numbers sign name sparked a curious intrigue right away, and after searching reviews that raved about the quality of the side dishes, we headed over without hesitation. Walking hand in hand up the trendy alley with my wife, my heart swelled with anticipation for the culinary experience this last meal of our Busan trip would offer. True to its reputation, this place lived up to being a great Jeonpo bar and restaurant spot.

12.24 Seomyeon: a Christmas Eve-themed izakaya in Jeonpo-dong

The moment we stepped inside, I instantly understood why the shop's name was made of numbers. Inside, a Christmas tree was beautifully decorated, giving off a feeling year-round as though we'd been invited to a warm, dreamy party on Christmas Eve, December 24th. The stylish lighting and cozy air combined to create an atmosphere irresistibly charming for couples to visit.

What impressed me especially was the neatly arranged open kitchen structure. Beyond the counter seats where you can vividly watch the cooking process up close, we could see handsome chefs carefully preparing dishes. The hygienic yet professional look raised our trust in the food even more. Once seated, we chose the signature dish famous here — mackerel bonjo sushi (pressed sushi rolls) — and also ordered the warm beansprout bulgogi with beef brisket, which seemed like it would pair wonderfully with seafood. To lift the mood, we ordered a bottle of Chungha, a soju-like rice wine that's light and clean going down.

What free starters come with your drinks at 12.24 Seomyeon?

As soon as we ordered, the basic side dishes arrived first, and the lineup exceeded our expectations. Crispy, sweet sweet potato snacks, crunchy fresh cabbage, and a fresh salad that whets the appetite came as standard. Even before the main dishes arrived, the basic side dishes alone were satisfying enough to empty a glass of Chungha. It gave me confidence that this really was a charming Jeonpo restaurant spot.

Mackerel pressed sushi and beansprout beef brisket, the two signatures

Before long, the main dishes we'd been waiting for were beautifully set on the table. First, the mackerel bonjo sushi, with its appetizing blue-green sheen, came neatly sliced into a total of 8 pieces. The visual of thick mackerel flesh wrapping around the rice was a work of art.

Next came the beansprout bulgogi, with crunchy beansprouts and savory beef brisket piled up generously like a mountain, tossed in a spicy-sweet special sauce that glistened on top and got the saliva flowing. We properly dug in with my wife.

The mackerel had absolutely no fishy smell, and the rich, savory flavor blended perfectly with the rice in each bite of sushi. Then, wrapping the beef brisket in the spicy sauce-soaked beansprouts and popping it in my mouth was simply fantastic.

Pouring the chilled Chungha into our glasses and toasting each other, one sip washed away a whole week's worth of fatigue — it was the best combination.

The rich flavor of the mackerel was cleanly balanced by the spiciness of the beansprout bulgogi, so we kept reaching for more without ever getting tired of it. I thought this was a high-quality izakaya that goes beyond mere drinking snacks — it filled us up like a proper meal while perfectly satisfying our taste buds.

This place fully earns its reputation as a beloved Seomyeon izakaya spot among drink lovers.

Why 12.24 Seomyeon is worth it among Jeonpo's stylish izakayas

We chose this place because we didn't want to let the last night of our Busan trip pass by uneventfully, but it gave us far more joy than we expected. My wife kept praising how great the atmosphere was, and thanks to the carefully made side dishes, our last memory of Busan turned out even more special and romantic.

Enjoying delicious food in such a wonderful space while chatting away, it was almost a shame that our train time was approaching. Jeonpo-dong is lined with countless bars and restaurants, but I don't think many places manage to keep both such a unique concept and such a high level of cooking at the same time.

12.24 Seomyeon Branch: address, hours and visit info

• Store: 12.24 Seomyeon Branch (visited September 2026)
• Address: 225 Jeonpo-daero, 1st floor, Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea
• Hours: 17:00–02:00, open daily
• Card payment accepted
• Signature menu: Mackerel bonjo sushi / Beansprout bulgogi with beef brisket