Ulsan Banchan Counter · 16 stories

At the Side-Dish Window

I write about restaurants I visit around Busan and Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceGwangyang, JeonnamRestaurants

Charcoal eel restaurant in Gwangyang, salt → myeongi → sauce: Deokeun

Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch (더큰장어 광양점) is a charcoal-grilled pungcheon eel restaurant on Hangman 9-ro in Gwangyang, Jeonnam, where diners see and choose prepared eel on the 1st floor, then grill it on the 2nd floor with a view of Yi Sun-sin Bridge. On a low-energy spring day, the writer took their parents to Deokeun Jangeo and ate the grilled eel first with salt, then with myeongi (pickled wild garlic leaves), then with sauce, finishing with eel soup seasoned with sancho (Korean prickly ash) powder. Verdict: the parents were happy too, making Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch a restorative family meal worth coming back for.

Written Apr 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuseong, DaeguRestaurants

Burger shop in Suseong, Daegu: Avocado set with cup salad, Downtown

Downtown Daegu Believe Heritage is a handmade burger shop in Suseong, Daegu, sharing a space with Clap Pizza inside the Believe Heritage complex. On a weekend visit, the writer ate an avocado burger set in the shop with a cup salad instead of fries and Seagram's plain sparkling water as the drink, then took a single Downtown Burger to go and ate it the next day. Downtown Daegu Believe Heritage suits anyone who wants a hip space and quality burgers, and both dine-in and takeout were satisfying.

Written May 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gyeongju hanok Korean restaurant with wheelchair access: Goyu

Goyu is a modern Korean restaurant in a hanok-style building on Sajeong-ro, the main street of Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju. After complimentary radish soup and fresh geotjeori (quick kimchi), the writer had cold pork gangdoenjang kale ssambap for 18,000 won, cheese potato pancake for 12,000 won and Korean beef yukhoe bibimbap, all lightly seasoned and neatly presented. With high chairs and wheelchair-accessible seating and entrance, Goyu is an easy Hwangnidan-gil pick for both dates and family meals.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGijang, BusanRestaurants

Gijang outlet Western restaurant: pistachio jambon pizza, Bueokgan

Bueokgan (BUUK) is a European-style Western restaurant on the first floor of the old building at Shinsegae Simon Premium Outlets in Gijang, Busan. During a weekend shopping trip, the writer ordered the Bueokgan signature set: a grilled napa cabbage Caesar salad, pistachio jambon (French ham) pizza, shrimp anchovy oil pasta and a grapefruit drink. The writer also liked the roughly 70-pyeong (about 230 m²) dining room, the high chairs and children's tableware, and the tablet ordering. For a reliable Western meal at the Gijang outlet, whether on a date or with kids, Bueokgan is the answer.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangyang, JeonnamRestaurants

Gwangyang eel grill, regular since day one, back with parents: Deokeun

Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch (더큰장어 광양점) is a butcher-style eel restaurant on Hangman 9-ro in Gwangyang, Jeonnam, next to Rakhui Hotel, where you pick eel on the 1st floor and grill it over charcoal on the 2nd. A regular since opening day returned with their parents on a weekend and bought about 60,000 won of eel for 3 people; one eel was big enough to fill the whole grill, and a strip was still left after everyone was full. With Yi Sun-sin Bridge views and eel soup to finish, Deokeun Jangeo Gwangyang Branch is a great eel restaurant for taking your parents in Gwangyang.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJinju, GyeongnamRestaurants

Jinju naengmyeon spot: noodles wrapped in yukjeon, Songgiwon

Songgiwon Jinju Naengmyeon Direct Store is a Jinju naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodle) restaurant on Cheonsu-ro in Jinju, Gyeongnam, introduced as the first Jinju naengmyeon restaurant named a 100-year shop. On a weekend lunch with no wait, the writer drank two cups of warm broth, then ordered Jinju mul naengmyeon (13,000 won), seokkeum naengmyeon (mixed cold noodles, 14,000 won) and 1++ Korean beef yukjeon (pan-fried beef, 25,000 won); wrapping the yukjeon in the noodles and the clean, not-too-sweet mixed sauce stood out. For authentic Jinju naengmyeon with Korean beef yukjeon on a Jinju trip, Songgiwon Jinju Naengmyeon Direct Store is a sure pick.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceUlju, UlsanRestaurants

Ulsan duck restaurant for a summer energy-boost baeksuk: Tteuldamjip

Tteuldamjip (뜰담집) is a duck restaurant in Cheongnyang-eup, Ulju, Ulsan, that has specialized in duck for over 20 years. On a hot day when energy was low, the writer shared duck baeksuk (whole duck simmered in broth) with Mom, who praised it again and again: a broth that looks clear but tastes deep, duck that falls apart at the touch of chopsticks, and porridge cooked in the leftover broth. Tteuldamjip is a good Ulsan duck baeksuk spot for a restorative meal with your parents.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeosu, GwangjuCafés

Yeosu café for lunch with parents: bulgogi banh mi at Avocado Yeosu

Avocado Yeosu is a newly opened café on Tongjeyeong 4-gil near Yi Sun-sin Square in Yeosu, specializing in avocado drinks and banh mi made only with fresh avocado. The writer swapped lunch for an avocado smoothie, avocado coffee, a beef bulgogi avocado banh mi with optional cilantro and a hot americano with their parents, who don't usually enjoy avocado but still found it delicious. For a light family meal on a Yeosu trip, Avocado Yeosu is a refreshing alternative to the usual café.

Written Jul 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeogwipo, JejuRestaurants

Lunch box takeout in Seogwipo for a hotel balcony beer dinner: Jejju

Jejju Seogwipo New Town Branch is a takeout sushi and rice bowl lunch box shop on Gimjeongmunhwa-ro in Seogwipo, Jeju, known for salmon and stir-fried jjukkumi (baby octopus). On a hot summer Jeju trip, the writer took out the Jejju Lunch Box (₩17,800) and the Jungmun Lunch Box (₩16,800) and ate them on a hotel balcony with a view and a can of beer; the salmon, trimmed in-house, was fresh with no fishy taste, and the baby octopus had a strong smoky, wok-fired flavor. For a summer evening in Jeju when going out feels like too much, a Jejju lunch box makes a satisfying hotel dinner.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeogwipo, JejuRestaurants

Namwon tangerine warehouse restaurant with horn speakers: Nam-on Jeju

Nam-on Jeju is a Western-style restaurant and bar in Namwon-eup, Seogwipo, set in a renovated old tangerine warehouse of about 100 pyeong. The writer ate a Jeju pork neck steak (₩40,000) and a Jeju bracken chorizo pasta (₩19,000) while listening to music played through 1940s Altec A5 theater horn speakers. Nam-on Jeju suits Jeju travelers who want to enjoy the space and the music as much as the food.

Written Jul 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuCafés

Oedo-dong, Jeju bakery: tasting corner and Onyu Japssari, Bakery Onyu

Bakery Onyu Jeju Oedo Branch (베이커리온유 제주외도점) is a family bakery on Ujeong-ro in Jeju City, where the second generation carries on the craft of a father who is a certified master baker. On a Jeju food trip, the blogger arrived for the 9 a.m. opening, chose breads at the tasting corner and took away the signature Onyu Japssari, coconut bread, walnut chestnut red bean bread and Chiang Butter. With a large car park and reasonable prices, Bakery Onyu is a handy Jeju bakery for rental-car travelers picking up snacks for the accommodation or bread as a gift.

Written Jul 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Jjamppong broth shabu-shabu buffet in Suam-dong, Ulsan: Shabre Garden

Shabre Garden Ulsan Nam-gu Branch is a shabu-shabu, sushi and hotel-style buffet restaurant on the 2nd floor of the Medical Plaza near Suam Market in Nam-gu, Ulsan. At Shabre Garden, diners split the pot half and half between clear broth and jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) broth to cook vegetables and meat, then help themselves to sushi, tempura, chicken, pizza and bingsu (shaved ice dessert) from the buffet, with unlimited Cass and Hanmac beer. With 2 hours of free parking in the building's parking tower, Shabre Garden Ulsan Nam-gu Branch is an easy choice for both family meals and company dinners.

Written Aug 7, 2026Sponsored