Jokbal restaurant in Busan with baby chairs and dishes: Sasang Paldo

My friend lives in Deokpo-dong, Sasang-gu, Busan, and I visit that neighborhood sometimes. I found a really tasty, wallet-friendly jokbal (Korean braised pig's trotters) restaurant there, so let me introduce you to Sasang Paldo Jokbal.

Sasang Paldo Jokbal is open 16:00–24:00 (closed Tuesdays).

Sasang Paldo Jokbal menu and prices

The small jokbal at Sasang Paldo Jokbal is ₩23,000. It's on the first floor along Baekyang-daero in Deokpo-dong, and with lots of apartments nearby, the place had a relaxed, neighborhood vibe — plenty of takeout and delivery orders too.

I can handle spicy food too, so I wanted half-and-half, but my husband was craving the original jokbal, so I'll try half-and-half next time I'm at my friend's place.

Inside Sasang Paldo Jokbal: seating and room for groups

The interior at Sasang Paldo Jokbal is clean and tidy. The tables are big, so there's room for your bags and plenty of space — totally fine for group visits.

The owner seems really kind and meticulous — the place was genuinely spotless. If they cozied up the interior a bit more, I think the dine-in crowd would grow a lot. Perfect for a work dinner, don't you think?

Why Sasang Paldo Jokbal works with a baby

Here's the basic side dish setup at Sasang Paldo Jokbal. I came with my baby, and the owner wiped down the baby chair with wet wipes and brought out baby dishes without me even asking — such a nice touch!

I love the pickled peppers and dried radish, ha. A soup came out too, so I mixed it with a bit of rice for the baby, and she ate it right up ☺️☺️

Small original jokbal, 23,000 won: how much food you get

As soon as we ordered, the owner sliced the jokbal fresh right at the front of the restaurant where you could watch. Jokbal has to be eaten warm — the glossy sheen alone got my appetite going, and the smell was incredible.

Eating the chewy skin together with the soft meat, you really get the signature jokbal flavor and texture. Even the small size came out huge, which probably explains all the local regulars. I even sent a photo to my friend who lives in Deokpo. The meat was tender without being mushy, and the ratio of lean meat to collagen inside felt just right — like a perfect fifty-fifty split... I was so, so satisfied.

You can't skip the wasabi-onion soy sauce that comes with jokbal — I hadn't wrapped jokbal in lettuce in a while, and it was so good. All the other customers looked like locals who come often, which made me trust it'd be tasty — and it really was. Great flavor, big portions!!

Makguksu, 4,000 won: does it go with jokbal?

I also ordered the makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles) at Sasang Paldo Jokbal, ₩4,000. You can't skip this when eating jokbal — since jokbal is meat, this kind of tangy, sour noodle dish pairs so well with it 💙

My husband loves sour flavors, so this was right up his alley. I love bibim-style makguksu too, so I piled some meat on top. The vegetables on top were fresh and in great condition — maybe that's part of why it tasted so good?

The bones: the best part of the jokbal

And then there's the bone you can't skip when eating jokbal — this is genuinely my favorite part, so I shamelessly didn't share it with my husband and ate it all myself. There was so much meat and collagen still stuck to it, so much to chew on, and I loved every bit. Doesn't Sasang Paldo Jokbal sell this part on its own? My mom always says I've loved gnawing on this since I was a baby, haha.

Self-serve rice balls, 3,000 won: how to make them

Partway through eating, I also ordered the self-serve rice balls at Sasang Paldo Jokbal, ₩3,000. When you order jokbal, there are certain side dishes you just have to try, or you'll feel like you missed out...

You mix it yourself. They didn't skimp on the flying fish roe and seaweed inside, so it wasn't bland at all and had a lovely nutty flavor — so good!! I got completely hooked on this rice ball that day, and I always end up eating it straight from the bowl with a spoon once it's mixed. You should try eating it that way too.

You mix the rice ball like that and then top it with a piece of jokbal meat. The jokbal isn't too salty, so it's just right. The jokbal here is so good~~! Even my husband, who's picky about finding good restaurants, loved it. (Not just the owner but the staff were kind too.)

Free sliced apples, and why the writer will return

While we were deep into our meal, the owner suddenly came out from the kitchen with apples for my baby, saying they were for her. She was so fond of my little one — I was so grateful, it almost made me tear up.

The food is delicious, but I think customers also keep coming back because they love the owner. The jokbal was so good I kept thinking about it afterward. The seasoning is spot on, the restaurant is clean, and the meat was cooked just right, so even my baby ate really well.