Haeundae Korean restaurant for a Busan trip finale: Songjeongok

On the last day of our Busan trip, I was craving a proper, filling Korean meal rather than something overly intense, so we went to Songjeongok Songjeong Main Branch ☺️ We ordered the abalone pot rice and seafood hinoki-steam set for two that day! To give you the conclusion first, it was so delicious that I genuinely felt choosing it for our final meal in Busan was the best decision 🤍

Getting to Songjeongok Songjeong Main Branch and its hanok-inspired exterior

Songjeongok has an eye-catching hanok-inspired exterior near Songjeong Beach, so it was easy to find! The traditional atmosphere created by the wood and roof tiles was memorable, and it already felt a little different from an ordinary Korean restaurant from the entrance, so I was excited before we even went in.

What are the atmosphere and interior like?

The interior was also so impressive, with a traditional Korean style that flowed beautifully from the exterior 🤎

With wooden finishes and traditional ornaments throughout, it felt less like we had simply come out for a meal and more like we had come for a proper Korean set-course dining experience. The restaurant is split across the first and second floors, so it was quite spacious, and it looked like a nice spot for a family meal or a larger gathering too ☺️ Above all, the owner was truly kind, which made the wait for our food pleasant as well ^_^

What comes with the two-person abalone pot rice and seafood hinoki-steam set?

This is what we ordered that day ❕

• Abalone pot rice and seafood hinoki-steam set for 2

Ta-da~!!! The table was practically going to collapse under all that food ❤️

As the dishes came out one by one, the whole table was filled so generously 😳

First, a variety of banchan (Korean side dishes) arrived. Each was plated so neatly that they were lovely to look at, and there was everything from salad to different kimchi, seasoned vegetables, dressed dishes, and spicy marinated raw crab. It was fun trying a little of this and that 😋

Tender gaburi bossam

And then the main dish: gaburi bossam (boiled pork slices)! It had such a lovely sheen, and when I took a bite, it was incredibly tender 🥹

It was tender and moist with none of that dry texture, so it was delicious on its own and also went beautifully wrapped with the side dishes. I expected ordinary boiled pork because it was bossam at a Korean restaurant, but the meat itself was much more tender and nutty than I expected, which really stayed with me 🤍

Light and clean seafood hinoki steam

Another main dish in this set was the seafood hinoki steam! When we opened the hinoki cypress steamer lid, it was packed with seafood, and I loved it from the visual alone 🦐

Because the seafood was steamed in hinoki rather than stir-fried in oil, the clean natural flavors of the ingredients came through, and the different textures made it fun to pick out and eat each one. The seafood was delicious simply on its own, but dipping it in the peanut and chili sauces gave it another flavor entirely 🫢

Pot rice mixed with abalone innard sauce, plus scorched-rice tea

And finally, the abalone pot rice I had been waiting for 🍚 When the pot lid came off, abalone was resting over the warm rice, with abalone innard sauce served alongside, and the nutty aroma rose right up. I mixed the abalone and innard sauce through the rice, and it was seriously delicious 🥹🤍

The abalone's characteristic chewy texture was still there, while the sauce's rich, nutty flavor deepened the rice so much that I kept reaching for it even on its own. It was not aggressively seasoned; the ingredients' nutty flavors were at the center, so alternating between the bossam, seafood hinoki steam, and side dishes was such a great combination.

After the pot rice, we could even make sungnyung (scorched-rice tea) with the remaining rice, which made for a filling finish right to the end 😋

How was it for the last meal of a Busan trip?

Rather than receiving just one abundant dish, the set let us enjoy bossam, steamed seafood, and abalone pot rice all at once, so it was truly satisfying for two people. Above all, each dish was tidy and not overly intense, making it just right for the last day of a Busan trip 🤍

If you want a clean, filling Korean meal in Songjeong, Busan, or are looking for a restaurant to visit with your parents, this feels like a place worth stopping by at least once!

We visited for our last meal of the Busan trip, and I personally was really satisfied 💓 The traditional atmosphere was lovely, the owner was so kind, and most of all, the abalone pot rice and seafood hinoki-steam set itself was truly delicious! I enjoyed it so much as a final-day meal in Busan that I will remember it as somewhere I would like to revisit if I am back around Songjeong 😙