Sketchbook Sitter · 25 stories

Cafe Sketchbook

I write about visits to cafes in Busan and Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Donburi in Busan: karaage-don, katsudon & cold soba at Peisen-dong

Peisen-dong Seomyeon is a Japanese home-style donburi (rice bowl) restaurant on Jeonpo Café Street in Busanjin, Busan, in the same spot since 2019 and reportedly named to the 2026 Blue Ribbon list. The writer and a friend arrived at opening time on a weekday and shared the set for two (2 rice bowls + 1 noodle dish + drink): cold soba, katsudon and karaage-don, all for 30,000 won and enough to leave both full. Peisen-dong Seomyeon is a good-value, satisfying Jeonpo-dong regular worth the wait.

Written May 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanCafés

8am vegan brunch café in Gwangalli: matcha lemonade, Famous Benny

Famous Benny Gwangalli Branch is a newly opened Australian-style brunch café on a side street in Millak-dong, Suyeong, Busan, open from 8am. The writer ordered the garlic butter egg (Turkish egg), matcha lemonade, iced americano and an acai bowl; the garlic butter egg looked unlike anything they had seen before and grew more addictive with every bite, and they drank the matcha lemonade to the last drop. For a vegan brunch before or after an early-morning walk by the sea, Famous Benny Gwangalli Branch is a good fit.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

Jungangdong poke shop, Busan: new pork belly scallion poke, PARENTS

PARENTS Coffee & Salad Jungangdong Branch is a poke and salad shop in Jung-gu, Busan, near Exit 14 of Jungang Station, right behind Busan Jungbu Fire Station. On a dinner visit with a friend, the order at PARENTS Coffee & Salad was salmon poke and the new pork belly scallion poke, both with the recommended oriental sauce, plus a side of chicken tenders. Verdict: PARENTS Coffee & Salad is a Jungangdong poke shop that feels light but has enough carbs, protein and fat for a filling meal.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Gwangalli pot rice lunch with Mom: eel ochazuke, pork bracken, Solsot

Solsot Gwangalli (솔솥 광안리점) is a Korean pot rice (sotbap) restaurant on Gwangnam-ro in Suyeong, Busan. On a weekday at opening time, the writer and her mom ordered the freshwater eel pot rice (25,000 won), the pork bracken pot rice and fried shrimp. She finished the eel pot rice ochazuke-style with tea and the pork bracken pot rice as sungnyung (scorched rice tea). Solsot Gwangalli is a quiet, neatly served lunch spot in Gwangalli for taking your parents out.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanCafés

Haeri-dan-gil café with free kids' milk: egg tart trio, Low & Sweet

Low & Sweet Bakery (로우앤스윗 베이커리) is a European-style bakery café on Haeri-dan-gil in Haeundae, Busan. On a showery weekday around 10am, just before lunch, the writer returned for an americano (5,500 won) with free milk for the child, plus an egg tart, a lemon madeleine and a chocolate financier. Low & Sweet Bakery was nearly full and its display shelves were emptying even that early, and the egg tart alone is reason enough to go back.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJinju, GyeongnamRestaurants

Jinju anglerfish restaurant: free liver and group tables, Yangpohang

Yangpohang Jinju Pyeonggeo Branch (양포항 진주평거점) is an anglerfish restaurant in Pyeonggeo-dong, Jinju, next to Panmuncheon Riverside Park. At an early lunch, the writer ordered the small flame-grilled anglerfish bulgogi, which comes with an anglerfish stew, and got anglerfish liver free for writing a review. With a spacious dining room, private group seating and baby chairs, Yangpohang Jinju Pyeonggeo Branch is a solid pick for family meals and company dinners.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Marine City Chinese, free parking: mala cilantro jjamppong, Bueokgan

Bueokgan Chinese Marine City Branch is a modern Chinese restaurant in Marine City, Haeundae, Busan. On a return visit, the writer, a regular, ordered mala cilantro jjamppong (spicy noodle soup, 14,000 won), BUUK jajangmyeon (black bean noodles, 8,000 won) and black vinegar pork tenderloin tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork, 28,000 won), and checked the 1 hour 30 minutes of parking support at the Adelis lot, the private rooms and the ocean view. Verdict: Bueokgan Chinese is easy to reach by car and consistently good, a Marine City Chinese restaurant that satisfies every time.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gyeongju Korean set meals near Donggungwon: Hyangtaek Byeolmiwon

Hyangtaek Byeolmiwon is a hanok-style Korean restaurant on Summeori-gil near Bomun Tourist Complex in Gyeongju. At Hyangtaek Byeolmiwon, the eggplant doenjang (soybean paste) rice bowl (14,000 won), Spanish mackerel gondre rice (15,000 won) and sikhye (2,000 won) come as individual set trays, with homemade side dishes, a self-serve bar, baby chairs and a free private parking lot. Hyangtaek Byeolmiwon serves mild, gently seasoned Korean meals that suit everyone from small children to grandparents.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceChangwon, GyeongnamRestaurants

Sea-view Western restaurant in Jinhae: steak & rigatoni, Jinhae Siktak

Jinhae Siktak (진해식탁) is a Western restaurant in Jinhae-gu, Changwon, Gyeongnam, serving pasta, risotto, steak and pizza. The writer ordered the top blade steak (32,900 won) and the jambon basil cream pasta (16,900 won), and was impressed by the tender meat, the rich, thick basil cream sauce and the white-and-wood dining room with sea views through floor-to-ceiling windows. With its own ground-floor parking lot, Jinhae Siktak is an easy recommendation for a date or group meal in Jinhae.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Busan milmyeon restaurant, beat the line at 10:30am: Seomyeon Milmyeon

Seomyeon Milmyeon is a milmyeon (cold wheat noodle) restaurant with herbal-medicine broth next to Eos Plaza by Seomyeon Station in Busanjin, Busan. Arriving for the 10:30am opening meant walking straight in for mul-milmyeon and bibim-milmyeon at 10,000 won each plus dumplings at 7,500 won, yet by 11:15am Seomyeon Milmyeon was full with a line outside. Parking at the Eos Plaza lot comes with parking fee support at checkout, so Seomyeon Milmyeon is an easy, wait-free stop by car if you go right at opening.

Written Aug 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanCafés

Haeundae bakery revisit: Dubai and ppuring salt bread at Zoblack

Zoblack (조블랙) is a salt bread bakery in Marine City, Haeundae, Busan. On a return visit, the blogger tried five kinds of salt bread: original ₩2,800, churros ₩3,300, ppuring and red bean butter ₩3,800 each, and Dubai ₩6,200. Buying bread at Zoblack also came with a 1-hour free parking coupon for the Marine City Xi underground garage. From the buttery original to the more unusual flavors, Zoblack is a worthy stop on a Busan bakery tour.

Written Aug 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Monday 11am mala cilantro jjamppong at Marine City Chinese: Bueokgan

Bueokgan Chinese Marine City Branch is an ocean-view Chinese restaurant on a second floor facing the coastal road near Dongbaekseom in Haeundae, Busan. Arriving at the 11am Monday opening meant no wait for mala gosu jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup with Sichuan mala and cilantro, 14,000 won), gochu ganjajang (chili black bean noodles, 10,000 won) and heukcho deungsim tangsuyuk (black vinegar sweet and sour pork loin, 28,000 won), and by 12:30pm three parties were already waiting. For a window seat at Bueokgan Chinese, arrive at opening time or book through Naver Reservation.

Written Aug 6, 2026Sponsored