Late-night Korean BBQ in Nampo-dong, Busan: 5 cuts at Yakiniku Gaek

A great charcoal yakiniku spot near Busan's Kkangtong Market.

I was searching for a good beef restaurant in Nampo-dong and ended up at Yakiniku Gaek. From the quality of the meat to the taste, it exceeded my expectations and I left really satisfied! The atmosphere was great too and you can properly enjoy delicious beef here, so I wanted to introduce it as a Nampo-dong recommendation.

• 📍17 Gwangbok-ro, 1st floor, Jung-gu, Busan
• 🕖 Mon-Sat 14:00-01:00 / Sun 13:00-12:00
• 🅿️ Geukdong Parking Lot recommended
• 🧑🧑🧒🧒 Group seating available
• 🍾 Corkage allowed

Where is Yakiniku Gaek? On Gwangbok-ro facing Kkangtong Market

Yakiniku Gaek, a Kkangtong Market favorite, is located right in front of Nampo-dong's Kkangtong Market, so it was very easy to get to. It was also close to the nearby Geukdong Parking Lot, which was nice!

Inside Yakiniku Gaek: two tables for four and bar seats

Inside, Yakiniku Gaek has two 4-person tables and a bar (dachi) area — a small but pleasant space.

The bar seats are a great spot for couples to sit, so it seemed perfect for a date!

Even before dinner time, this Nampo-dong beef restaurant already had a lot of customers. Since they're open late into the night, it's also a great yakiniku spot to enjoy with a drink!

Ordering the Gaek platter for two at 65,000 won

True to a Busan yakiniku restaurant, there's a nice variety of beef cuts, right? The side dishes and meal items were also good quality.

For two adults, I ordered: •Gaek platter for two ₩65,000 •Drink ₩2,000 There was a table order device at each seat, which made ordering easy.

The side dishes came out neat and tidy. There were a lot of pickled sides that pair well with beef, so it was perfect for not getting sick of the flavors!

The charcoal grill and the clockwise grilling order

A strong charcoal fire comes right to the table!

A hearty yakiniku platter arrived. It came with five different cuts — galbisal, buchaesal, samgaksal, anchangsal and kkotsal — so it was great being able to taste so many different flavors on one plate!

The staff kindly explained that grilling and eating in clockwise order gives you the best experience! Following the order and grilling each piece one by one, I could really taste the natural flavor of each cut even more.

Prices have gone up so much lately that eating out can feel like a burden, but a beef platter this full for such a reasonable, good-value price is really nice!

Yakiniku really has to be grilled over charcoal to taste its best! Thanks to the strong heat unique to the grill, the juices stay locked in instead of escaping, so you get a much juicier and more delicious result!

How the five cuts taste, from galbisal to kkotsal

First cut: galbisal (boneless short rib)

I tried each cut in the clockwise order the staff recommended. First up was galbisal! Grilled over charcoal, the juices were fully locked in and it had a wonderful charcoal aroma.

A chewy, springy texture packed with savory fat and juices!! My eyes literally went wide on the first bite... so tender with just the right amount of fattiness!!

Second cut: buchaesal (top blade)

A thick cut of buchaesal with an outstanding clean flavor.

The buchaesal had a distinctive texture and a really nice, clean umami flavor.

This is exactly the doneness beef should be at!🤤

Buchaesal has its own subtle beefy aroma and a clean, light flavor. Adding a dab of wasabi on top made it even more delicious!!

Third cut: samgaksal (triceps)

Samgaksal, a cut with a great balance of fat and lean meat! Apparently it has the best marbling and is the most tender, prized cut. The rich, deep flavor of the meat itself, without being greasy, was amazing!

Fourth cut: anchangsal (outside skirt)

It just melts in your mouth. Anchangsal has a chewy grain and a deep, rich beefy flavor! Apparently it's a specialty cut that yields very little per cow!

Apparently it's the cut foodies seek out to enjoy the true flavor of the meat... I may not be a foodie, but I definitely know it was delicious..

Last cut: kkotsal (marbled chuck flap)

The last cut was kkotsal! After tasting it, I understood why it's saved for last! With snowflake-like marbling, just a light sear on the grill makes it melt away the moment it hits your mouth…🫠

A deep savory richness fills your whole mouth! It was the most flavorfully fatty of all and made for a perfect finish! Comparing the different textures and flavors of each cut was genuinely so much fun!

Why Yakiniku Gaek beat the yakiniku I ate in Fukuoka

Honestly, the meat quality and the composition of the meal were much better than the yakiniku I had on a trip to Fukuoka before, and I came away far more satisfied. At the reasonable price of ₩65,000, being able to enjoy five different specialty cuts full of charcoal grill flavor made me extremely happy!!! If you're looking for a Nampo-dong beef restaurant near Nampo-dong that has both great value and great taste, definitely give this one a visit!