Rice Route Mapper · 91 stories
I write about restaurants I visit around Busan and Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars
Yuok (유옥) is a Japanese restaurant on Songjeonggangbyeon-ro in Haeundae, Busan, serving its own take on Osaka-style eel rice bowls. The pregnant writer sat at the bar with her husband, shared an unagi (eel) bowl and a salmon bowl set, and watched the eel being glazed and grilled again and again. Yuok is her first pick for a meal in Songjeong, and its signature eel bowl is a must-try.
Holstaco Yulha (홀스타코 율하) is a taco restaurant on Gwandong-ro in Yulha, Gimhae, Gyeongnam. Tired after shopping at Gimhae Outlet, a pregnant blogger and her husband shared a 30,500 won taco set with nachos, Jarritos and cola, and the crispy fried shrimp taco topped with tangy sauce and cabbage was the clear favorite. Holstaco Yulha is a good stop for a date or a meal with a baby after shopping at Gimhae Outlet.
Sanseong Sikyukjeom Jeonpo Direct Store is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Jeonpo Station in Busan where staff grill pork neck and pork belly coated in traditional nuruk (Korean fermentation starter) for you. Back from a trip to the Maldives and Singapore, the blogger made Sanseong Sikyukjeom the first meal out and had nuruk pork neck and pork belly with a range of sauces, radish soup, rolled omelet and freshwater shrimp doenjang sulbap (soybean paste rice stew); sets run 54,000 to 97,000 won. The golden, caramelized nuruk pork and sauce pairings that never got boring fully satisfied a long-held pork belly craving.
Anmin Busan (안민 부산점) is a Korean pork BBQ restaurant on Dongcheon-ro in Seomyeon, Busan, where staff grill the meat at your table. After falling for Anmin Busan on a first visit with her husband, the pregnant writer returned with her sister and brother-in-law for an early dinner. They had a meat platter with extra pork jowl (hangjeongsal), ramen and doenjang sul-bap (soybean paste rice), alongside a range of sauces and pickles; she was also impressed that staff brought aprons to match her light-coloured clothes. Verdict: a five-star Seomyeon BBQ she plans to revisit for highballs and draft beer after giving birth.
Taerae Queen Kyungsung University Branch is a dessert café in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, right by Kyungsung and Pukyong universities, serving taerae (thread-style) bingsu made from 100% milk with no water added. On a rainy day after shabu-shabu, the writer and her husband shared a melon milk bingsu with apple mango added; the thread-like milk ice melted softly on the tongue and the big melon chunks were sweet. Taerae Queen is a recommended Kyungsung date café for rich milk bingsu and coffee, open until midnight.
Geumsu Dwaeji Gukbap Gyeongseong-Pukyongdae Branch is a pork rice soup (dwaeji gukbap) restaurant near Kyungsung and Pukyong universities in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. the next day. A regular who always stopped by on workout days came alone for a weekday lunch and ordered the suyuk (boiled pork) set for ₩12,000 and a sundae (Korean blood sausage) sampler for ₩10,000, wrapping the pork in lettuce with soy-sauce onions. With unlimited rice and noodle refills, a self-serve side bar and baby chairs, Geumsu Dwaeji Gukbap is an easy pick near Kyungsung University for solo diners and families alike.
Taepung Gopchang (태풍곱창) is a Hanwoo beef tripe BBQ and hot pot restaurant on Dongcheon-ro 107beon-gil in Seomyeon, Busan. On a rainy day, a married couple ordered Taepung Gopchang's pre-grilled tripe and a beef tripe hot pot made spicy on request, with udon noodles added. With generous vegetables and a clean broth, Taepung Gopchang suits anyone who wants grilled tripe and hot pot in one meal.
Hohobak (호호박) is a rice cake shop in Hadan, Saha-gu, Busan, specializing in castella injeolmi (chewy rice cake coated in sponge-cake crumbs). Passing through Hadan, the writer reserved a large rice castella pumpkin injeolmi (₩25,000) one day ahead, shared it with her older sister's family and froze the leftovers. Hohobak's pumpkin injeolmi is sweet and chewy, with castella crumbs good enough to eat by the spoonful, and a definite place to return to.
Odd Bird Oliver is a pasta and brunch restaurant on Dongseong-ro 15beon-gil near Jeonpo Station in Busanjin, Busan. The writer went to Odd Bird Oliver several times for wedding-invitation gatherings, then returned before giving birth with her sister and brother-in-law for roe aglio e olio, jamón mushroom risotto, chipotle chicken steak and fries. The roe aglio e olio is her all-time favorite at Odd Bird Oliver, so good she craved it through morning sickness and went alone just to eat it.
Hana Donkatsu Songjeong Beach Branch is a Japanese-style tonkatsu restaurant near Songjeong Beach in Haeundae, Busan. On a day that hit 31°C, a couple ordered the 13,500-won spicy tonkatsu with a honey soba set plus kimchi cheese nabe (hot pot). The spicy tonkatsu is only about as hot as yangnyeom (sweet-and-spicy Korean fried) chicken, so it is easy even for people who can't handle much heat. With a Japan-like interior and ryokan-style restrooms, Hana Donkatsu is a satisfying hot-day meal of cold soba and tonkatsu.
Karen Lotte Department Store Busan Main Branch is a Taiwanese-style teppanyaki restaurant in the B1 food court of Lotte Department Store in Seomyeon, Busan. The writer, a Seomyeon local, ordered the premium set for two as a weekend brunch and sat at the griddle to watch the beef short rib, top blade, scallops, cuttlefish and tomato egg stir-fry cook. Karen's cuttlefish stayed tender down to the last piece, making it a satisfying meal before or after shopping.
Ryusenso (류센소) is a 24-hour Japanese ramen shop on Seojeon-ro 58beon-gil in Jeonpo-dong, Busan, near Seomyeon. On a weekday lunch off work, the writer ate alone and ordered Ryusenso kara ramen (₩11,000) and tori karaage (₩7,000). Spice level 2 suited the rich tonkotsu broth, and the karaage paired best with the mayo sauce. Ryusenso was a satisfying solo meal, with both the ramen and the fried chicken finished.
