Busan restaurant in Asti Hotel with hand dumplings: Yeongdong

The Busan Station pork soup the writer missed most

The moment I got back to my hometown Busan after a long time away, the first thing on my mind was a steaming bowl of dwaeji gukbap (pork soup). I'd been craving that deep, savory broth even while living elsewhere, so the second I arrived, lunch was a no-brainer — it had to be gukbap.

I thought about heading to some old-school place tucked in a neighborhood alley, but when I searched nearby, a gukbap restaurant on the 2nd floor of a clean hotel building caught my eye. Instead of the usual market-street chaos, it looked like a comfortable, tidy place to eat, so I walked over without hesitation, hoping for a real taste of home after so long.

Yeongdong Milmyeon & Dwaeji Gukbap Busan Station: location, parking and hours

Where it is and how to find it from Busan Station

Yeongdong Milmyeon & Dwaeji Gukbap's Busan Station branch is at 7-8 Jungang-daero 214beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan, South Korea, on the 2nd floor of the Asti Hotel retail annex (Units 210, 211). It's right inside the Asti Hotel building next to Busan Station's KTX plaza, so access is excellent. It's just a 1–2 minute walk from either the Line 1 subway or KTX Busan Station exits, making it very convenient to drop by with a suitcase before or after your train.

Parking at the Asti Hotel building

You can use the hotel building's basement parking, which is more convenient than the narrow-alley restaurants near Busan Station. (Parking isn't subsidized — it's ₩6,000 per hour.)

Opening hours

Open roughly 10:00–20:30, and given the Busan Station location, lunch and dinner peak times get busy. (Since it's a hotel retail unit, it may close early if ingredients run out, so it's worth checking before an evening visit.)

Inside and outside the restaurant

Exterior — Unlike your typical old-school gukbap joint, it sits on the 2nd floor of a sleek hotel retail corridor, giving off a clean, modern impression from the outside.

Interior — The dining hall is spacious and well organized. Tables are spaced generously, so it's no problem eating with bulky luggage or a suitcase in tow, and the bright, hygienic interior makes it comfortable whether you're dining solo or with family, kids included.

Why travellers pick Yeongdong Milmyeon over older gukbap houses

Being right inside the Asti Hotel building next to KTX Busan Station, most reviews agree the flow before and after your train ride is excellent. Without the smell or clutter typical of old-school spots, the restaurant is clean and well air-conditioned, which travelers with luggage and families with kids seem to appreciate.

Compared to the traditional hardcore-style pork soup, the broth here is clear with less heaviness, so many say it's easy to finish the whole bowl even for out-of-towners or first-timers sensitive to pork's gamey smell. The meat portion is generous too, making it a filling meal.

Even when a group's tastes differ, being able to enjoy both milmyeon and dwaeji gukbap — two of Busan's signature dishes — at the same table is often mentioned as a big plus. Pairing gukbap with the cool, savory mul milmyeon (noodles in cold broth) or the spicy-sweet bibim milmyeon (mixed noodles) is a popular combo.

With fast table turnover and comfortable seating, solo diners looking to eat quickly before catching a train seem to favor this place in particular.

What we ordered: suyuk baekban 13,000 won and hand dumplings 7,000 won

After a moment of thought at the table, I ordered the suyuk baekban, which lets you enjoy the meat and broth each on their own merits, plus steamed dumplings as an essential side.

Suyuk baekban, boiled pork set (13,000 won)

A pale, milky broth arrives in a ttukbaegi (earthenware bowl), alongside a neatly plated dish of tender boiled pork. The meat had no off smell and a moist sheen — I dipped a piece first into the spicy onion-soy sauce, and it melted softly in my mouth.

I wrapped a piece of pork with onion, garlic, and ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) in crisp lettuce for a big bite, then stirred a little rice into the hot, rich broth,

and once I piled on a generous helping of chives and scooped up a spoonful,

it really hit me: I was home.

Hand-made dumplings (7,000 won)

Freshly steamed and still steaming, the dumplings had thin, chewy skins packed tight with mild meat-and-vegetable filling. The first bite released a juicy, savory burst, and since they weren't heavily seasoned, they made the perfect side to alternate with either the hearty gukbap broth or the soft suyuk.

Verdict: a solid meal when your train leaves soon

Yeongdong Milmyeon & Dwaeji Gukbap's Busan Station branch, sitting right inside a hotel building in front of Busan Station, is easy to find and lets you enjoy Busan's soul food in a tidy, comfortable setting instead of the usual old-school bustle. With no off smell, tender pork, a cleanly brewed broth, and dumplings packed full of filling, the overall food fundamentals were solid, making for a filling and satisfying lunch.

When your time before or after a train is tight, it's hard to find a better alternative for a clean, no-fuss meal where you can comfortably keep your suitcase beside you. Next time, I plan to come back for the cool mul milmyeon paired with suyuk.

Who will like Yeongdong Milmyeon & Dwaeji Gukbap

• Busan Station travelers — anyone lugging heavy bags before or after a KTX ride who wants a quick, comfortable meal
• Gukbap beginners and clean-broth fans — anyone sensitive to gamey pork smell who prefers a clear, mild-tasting broth
• Solo diners and families — anyone who wants to eat solo without feeling rushed, or find a clean, hygienic spot to dine with kids