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The Busan Sideboard

I write about restaurants I visit in Busan and Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Things to do

PlaceSeo-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Daegu Korean restaurant lunch for 3: zucchini doenjang stew to yogurt

Pyeongsang Myeonok Sotbap Bansang Duryu Negeori Branch is a Korean restaurant in Seo-gu, Daegu, near Duryu Station Exit 17, serving individual set meals with sotbap (rice cooked in a stone pot). Three diners at lunch ordered the Susumi Bansang set, the healthy burdock pot rice and the Korean beef yukhoe bibimbap (raw beef rice bowl), then had zucchini doenjang (soybean paste) stew, sungnyung (scorched rice tea) and yogurt; the Korean beef yukhoe bibimbap was the best of the three. Pyeongsang Myeonok is a good fit for families who want a hearty yet clean Korean meal.

Written Nov 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Daegu gopchang restaurant: B Set served fully grilled at Gopchang119

Gopchang119 Anjirang Branch is a gopchang (grilled intestine) restaurant near the entrance of Anjirang Gopchang Alley in Nam-gu, Daegu. Three women ordered the vegetable gopchang B Set, snow cheese fried rice and a Zero Coke at Gopchang119; the gopchang came out fully grilled and ready to eat, the vegetable and gopchang portions were generous, and the glass noodles hidden at the bottom had soaked up the sauce. Finishing with torch-grilled snow cheese fried rice topped with saved gopchang, Gopchang119 Anjirang Branch is a meal worth recommending on a Daegu trip.

Written Nov 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, BusanRestaurants

Dog-friendly Korean BBQ in Busan with heart fried rice: Wanbeoljip

Wanbeoljip Kyungsung University Branch (완벌집 경성대본점) is a pork belly restaurant near Gyeongseongdaebugyeongdae Station in Nam-gu, Busan, where staff grill each cut and bring it to the table. The writer brought a dog indoors in a cage and ate the Wanbeol mixed platter for two (aged pork belly, charcoal gochujang pork belly and spicy pork skin), jin doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) and a make-it-yourself goseul fried rice. Wanbeoljip Kyungsung University Branch is a good Korean BBQ pick near Kyungsung University for dates or get-togethers with your dog, since you don't have to grill and pets are allowed.

Written Nov 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, BusanRestaurants

Myeongji, Busan seafood jjim with a DIY kimchi pancake: Haemullae

Haemullae Myeongji is a stone-plate seafood and pork neck bone jjim (braised dish) restaurant in Myeongji International New City, Gangseo, Busan, across from The Sharp Myeongji Complex 3. Arriving right at opening time, the writer ate a DIY kimchi pancake fried at the table, a stone-plate seafood bone jjim for 2, free shrimp sushi and fried rice scraped down to the scorched rice. With generous seafood and a friendly owner, Haemullae is a solid pick for a family dinner or group meal in Myeongji.

Written Nov 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSaha, BusanRestaurants

Korean buffet in Dangni, Busan: ₩9,000 Friday chicken, Sangwa Deure

Sangwa Deure (산과들에) is a prepaid Korean home-style buffet costing 9,000 won per person, in the alley in front of Saha-gu Office near Dangni Station in Saha, Busan. The writer visited Sangwa Deure on a Friday evening, an hour before closing, and ate two plates of the Friday mains, chicken and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), plus curry and a wide range of side dishes. With a main dish that changes every day and an easy setting for solo diners, Sangwa Deure is a good-value pick for home-style Korean food.

Written Nov 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSaha, BusanRestaurants

Saha, Busan sushi takeout: aged salmon & live fish sets at Baekchobap

Baekchobap Saha (백초밥 사하점) is a sushi restaurant on Jangnimbeonyeong-ro in Saha-gu, Busan. The writer ordered takeout of an aged raw salmon set, a live fish sushi set, flounder sushi, handmade egg sushi and flying fish roe gunkan (battleship sushi), and because orders were piling up, the owner added free fried shrimp during the wait. With thick slices of fish and a 10% takeout discount, Baekchobap Saha's takeout sushi was generous enough for two people to share over two days and offered great value.

Written Nov 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, BusanRestaurants

Hanwoo BBQ in Myeongji, Busan: shiitake wasabi galbisal, Yong Hanu

Yong Hanu Myeongji Branch (용한우 명지점) is a hanwoo (Korean beef) restaurant in the restaurant alley near Neoul Park in Myeongji, Gangseo, Busan, known for grilling its beef over corn. On a friend's recommendation, since the restaurant is that Myeongji local's regular spot, two adults shared the Han SET of 1++ sirloin and galbisal (boneless short rib), plus meat doenjang stew (soybean paste stew), rice and hanwoo striploin yukhoe (beef tartare). The shiitake wasabi pairing and the beef-packed seaweed soup stood out. Yong Hanu Myeongji Branch offers solid beef quality for the price and a generous spread of sides, making it a good pick for a company dinner or family meal.

Written Oct 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, BusanRestaurants

Ramen shop by Neoul Park, Busan: chilly-day tomato ramen at Menmen

Menmen Main Branch (멘멘 본점) is a Japanese ramen and soba shop in front of Neoul Park in Myeongji, Gangseo, Busan. On a chilly walk through Neoul Park, the writer ordered Menmen's spicy tonkotsu ramen at regular spice (about as hot as Yeul Ramen instant noodles) and tried tomato ramen for the first time; the spicy tonkotsu was hearty enough to finish with rice from the self-serve bar. For a different kind of ramen, Menmen Main Branch's tomato ramen was the standout.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlacePyeongtaek, GyeonggiRestaurants

Pyeongtaek kalguksu restaurant: half clam, half beef hot pot, Songdam

Songdam Kalguksu (송담칼국수) is a kalguksu restaurant on Gangbyeon-ro in Anjung-eup, Pyeongtaek, serving hot pot kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) with house-made noodles. On a cold, rainy day, after a short wait, two diners ordered one serving of fresh clam hot pot kalguksu and one of beef hot pot kalguksu, added 140g of extra beef plus meat and kimchi meatball dumplings, and left full. Songdam Kalguksu is a noodle spot worth returning to in Pyeongtaek whenever a warm broth sounds good.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Daegu peanut bread stall by Seomun South Gate 2: Daesin Peanut Bread

Daesin Peanut Bread (대신땅콩빵) is a peanut bread and egg bread stall in the first spot on the peanut bread lane inside Seomun Market in Jung-gu, Daegu. The address that comes up in searches leads to an office building, so the writer went back into Seomun Market toward the South Gate 2 entrance and bought 45 peanut breads and 2 egg breads for 10,000 won. With more than 5 peanuts in each peanut bread and generous portions, Daesin Peanut Bread was satisfying for both taste and quantity.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Indoor dog-friendly Korean restaurant in Jung-gu, Daegu: Taegyeongok

Taegyeongok (태경옥) is an indoor dog-friendly Korean restaurant on Gukchaebosang-ro near Jung-gu Office in Jung-gu, Daegu. On a Daegu trip with her dog Gucci, the writer ordered hanwoo yukhoe bibimbap (Korean beef tartare rice bowl) and a small Seoul-style bulgogi, got a free honey apple sorbet for booking through Naver, and staff brought Gucci dog treats. Taegyeongok is a good choice for neat, carefully made Korean food in an Asian-style dining room with your dog beside you.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, BusanRestaurants

Choryang pork cutlet: double portion and Cheese King, Dal and Sixpence

Gyeongyangsik Dal and Sixpence Main Branch (경양식 달과6펜스 본점) is a nostalgic gyeongyangsik (Korean-style Western) pork cutlet restaurant in Choryang, Dong-gu, Busan, between Busan Station and Choryang Station and a 2-minute walk from Busan Station. At lunchtime the writer ordered the double-portion gyeongyangsik pork cutlet, which had nicely judged meat thickness and a moist sauce, and tried the Cheese King Cutlet for the first time, its center packed with mozzarella. For a hearty, old-fashioned pork cutlet lunch near Busan Station, Gyeongyangsik Dal and Sixpence Main Branch is a good fit.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored