Mackerel thistle rice with extra spicy relish near Seomyeon: Hyangtaek

Today I want to introduce Hyangtaek, a restaurant already loved in Daegu! Hyangtaek started at Gyodong Market in Daegu back in 2022 and has been a well-known favorite there. I heard the Daegu original had newly opened a branch in Busan too, so I got curious and went to check it out myself :) Let me walk you through what the place is like and how the food was 🤍

Location and hours of Hyangtaek Jeonpo Branch

• 📍 42-1 Seojeon-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan (417m from Seomyeon Station exit 8)
• ✔️ Daily 11:00–20:00 / break time 15:30–17:00 (last order 15:00, 19:30)
• 🅿️ No parking on site — a private paid parking lot is about 1 min walk away at a nearby building (parking fee is the customer's own expense)

The storefront had a calm, tidy vibe and wasn't hard to find at all! Walking a short distance up the main road at Jeonpo intersection, across from Busanjin Fire Station from Seomyeon Station exit 8, you'll run right into it. Very accessible if you're coming by subway too!

Interior seating

Inside, there are about 7 tables for four, so there's plenty of room to sit comfortably and eat at ease!

The signature dishes: mackerel thistle rice and eggplant soybean paste rice bowl

Hyangtaek's signature dishes are mackerel thistle rice (samchi gondeurebap) and eggplant soybean paste rice bowl (gaji doenjang deopbap) 😋 I went back and forth on what to order, but since it's the signature menu, I decided to try the mackerel thistle rice :)

I loved the thoughtful touch of serving barley tea instead of plain water. It was nutty and clean, so even the water tasted good.

The basic side dishes were soup, pickled cucumber, spicy seasoned relish, house sauce, and laver. It was a clean, simple spread that paired nicely with the main dish 👏🏻

How does the mackerel thistle rice taste?

Such a great-looking bowl of mackerel thistle rice arrived ‼️ Topped generously with nutty sesame, chives, mushrooms, and dried radish greens, it looked healthy just by looking at it 〰️〰️ It wasn't overly seasoned, so even the rice on its own was delicious. I really appreciated being able to taste the ingredients' natural flavors — such a healthy meal.

The mackerel had almost no bones, so it was easy to eat, and pairing it with nutty laver and spicy relish was truly delicious :) The clean mackerel and salty relish combo worked better than I expected. I think mackerel thistle rice is a dish almost anyone would enjoy without complaint 😊👏🏻 The mackerel itself was so soft and mild that even people who usually avoid fish because of its distinct taste could probably eat this comfortably. I really enjoyed it, and since it seems like a dish with very little to dislike, I'd recommend it!

How to enjoy Hyangtaek to the fullest

• Mix the prepared ingredients evenly into your rice or noodles.
• Try eating it together with laver and spicy relish. It's an unusual combo that makes it even more delicious.
• Finish it off with the house sauce for yet another layer of flavor.

Takeout, delivery, and the weekday receipt review event

Takeout and delivery are both available, and I heard there are new menu items — grilled deodeok and grilled deodeok with mushrooms — that I'd love to try next time!

Apparently if you leave a Naver receipt review, you get a mushroom platter as a free extra! I went alone and figured the portion would be too much for me, so I skipped it, but the mushroom platter review looked so good that I'll definitely try it next time with a friend :)

Looking for a clean Korean meal in Seomyeon?

This is a place worth visiting whenever you're craving Korean food in Seomyeon. The location was easy to find, and I was satisfied to taste such a clean, healthy Korean meal ☺️👏🏻

It's a good spot to eat leisurely on your own, but also fine to visit with a friend or partner, so I'd recommend it either way. If you're looking for a clean Korean meal in Seomyeon, be sure to give it a try!🤍