Mala coriander jjamppong at a Haeundae Chinese restaurant: Bueokgan

• Upscale Chinese dining on Dalmaji-gil in Haeundae
• Private parking lot on the lower level behind the building
• A distinctive space, quite different from a typical Chinese restaurant

What kind of place is Bueokgan Chinese Haeundae Branch?

I visited Bueokgan Chinese Haeundae Branch on Dalmaji-gil in Haeundae.

It's quite different from a typical Chinese restaurant, from location to atmosphere, so the first impression stuck with me.

Rather than a Chinese restaurant sitting in the middle of a busy shopping street, it feels more like a dining space you seek out along Dalmaji-gil, which clearly sets it apart among Haeundae restaurants in terms of atmosphere.

The space itself is unusual. From the exterior, it's a far cry from the bold red or traditional Chinese-style interior most Chinese restaurants have — it feels closer to a stylish dining restaurant.

I came for Chinese food, but looking at the space alone, it felt like walking into a restaurant of a completely different genre — quite a distinctive experience.

Parking: the piloti lot on the lower level behind the building

Coming by car was also convenient. Bueokgan Chinese Haeundae Branch has a piloti-style parking lot on the lower level behind the restaurant.

Haeundae and Dalmaji-gil are areas where parking is one of the biggest worries when driving around, so having the restaurant's own parking space is a huge point in its favor.

If it's your first visit, you might be a little confused about where the parking lot is if you only look at the storefront — just check the lower rear of the building. For anyone searching for Haeundae Dalmaji-gil restaurants who also cares about parking, this is a pretty significant advantage.

The menu: jjajangmyeon, black vinegar pork and mala coriander jjamppong

What we ordered was jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles), black vinegar sweet and sour pork, and mala coriander jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup).

Along with jjajangmyeon, a basic Chinese menu item, I picked the eye-catching black vinegar pork and the strongly-named mala coriander jjamppong.

Looking at the menu, alongside familiar Chinese dishes there were items using poached eggs, black vinegar, mala, and coriander, which clearly shows Bueokgan Chinese's own concept. It was interesting that it's not just the interior that's special — the food lineup itself takes a different direction from a typical neighborhood Chinese restaurant.

Bueokgan jjajangmyeon (noodles in black bean sauce)

The jjajangmyeon was a solid basic dish that goes well alongside other food. On a first visit, it's hard to skip jjajangmyeon,

and ordering one familiar dish alongside distinctive ones like black vinegar pork and mala coriander jjamppong made for a good combination.

Black vinegar sweet and sour pork

The black vinegar pork feels different from ordinary sweet and sour pork right from the name. It's a good choice when you want something a bit different from the usual, and it suited Bueokgan Chinese's distinctive concept well. If you're visiting with a group, it's a good dish to order alongside your meal and share.

Mala coriander jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup)

The dish I was most curious about was the mala coriander jjamppong. Combining jjamppong with mala and coriander isn't common at all, so I was looking forward to it even before ordering.

If you'd rather try something a little new instead of just familiar Chinese food, this is worth a look.

If you already like mala or coriander, it's especially nice to have this kind of option on the menu.

Is Bueokgan good for a family meal or a date?

Bueokgan Chinese Haeundae Branch felt better described as Chinese dining you enjoy for the space and atmosphere together, rather than a Chinese restaurant where you eat quickly and leave.

The tables don't feel cramped and the overall interior is well put together, so it seemed like a decent option for a family meal, a date, or dining with friends.

Haeundae has no shortage of restaurants, but a Chinese restaurant with as clear a concept in location, space, and menu as Bueokgan Chinese is memorable. If you're looking for an atmospheric Haeundae restaurant on Dalmaji-gil, or a Haeundae Chinese restaurant that's a bit different from the ordinary, it's worth a visit.

Visit info: address, hours and break time

• Address: 200 Dalmajigil117beon-na-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00
• Break time: 15:00–16:30
• Parking: Private lot (piloti, rear of building), about 6 cars with double parking, roadside parking possible
• Restroom: Unisex