Dongnae Busan brunch restaurant with a huge set: Sasaenghwal

It had been ages since I had a relaxed weekend with absolutely no plans. Normally I would have slept in as much as I could, but I made an advance reservation at Sasaenghwal (사생활), a Western brunch café in Dongnae that I had been curious about, and headed over.

I am such a Korean-food person that I do not usually eat Western food all that often, so whenever I do go out for it, I get extra excited for some reason.

Sasaenghwal basics and parking

• 2F, Building A, 78 Yeogo-ro 113beon-gil, Dongnae-gu, Busan
• Hours 11:00–21:00; break time 15:00–16:30
• First 60 minutes free at Dongyeong Private Parking Lot (market parking not supported)
• Free corkage; takeout and delivery available
• Pets are not allowed

A calm space inside Geumjeong Market

Since it is inside Geumjeong Shopping Market (Geumjeong Market), I wondered what kind of atmosphere it would have at first. But once I walked in, it was a completely different world from outside. Sasaenghwal’s own sensibility came through right from the entrance.

The photo spot set up to one side of the entrance also caught my eye. With a mirror and plants arranged together, it was great for taking pictures.

Plants placed throughout the calm dining room added a warm touch. Long tables ran along the windows, while the interior had bar-style seats and tables for two to four, so there was more seating variety than I expected.

For a restaurant inside a market, Sasaenghwal was remarkably polished and distinctive.

Sasaenghwal menu and the 3–4 person set

• Village Oil Pasta ₩16,900 / Scotch Egg Brunch ₩16,900 / Arrabbiata Tomato Pasta ₩16,900
• Hawaiian Chili Shrimp Salad Bowl ₩16,900 / Seaside Village Pasta ₩17,900 / Couscous Basil Chicken Salad Bowl ₩16,900
• Rigatoni Pasta with Ragù Sauce ₩17,900 / Garlic Onion Pepperoni Pizza ₩24,900 / Gamdong Katsu Four-Katsu Platter ₩19,900
• Pollock Roe Katsu Cream Pasta ₩16,900 / Little Forest Risotto ₩16,900 / Sasaenghwal’s Chop Steak ₩18,900
• Sous-vide Sirloin Cream Risotto ₩16,900 / Bacon Cream Pasta ₩15,900 / Sous-vide Chicken Breast Salad Bowl ₩15,900 / Sous-vide Sirloin Tomato Risotto ₩16,900

Ordering was easy through either the QR code or the NFC tag on the table.

Everything we had wanted to eat happened to be included in the set, and it was cheaper than ordering each dish separately, so we ordered the 3–4 person set without hesitation.

3–4 person set ₩85,800: Village Oil Pasta, Garlic Onion Pepperoni Pizza, Pollock Roe Katsu Cream Pasta, Sous-vide Sirloin Barley Tomato Risotto, and two Zero Sugar Saenghwal Tea Ades

We also added a glass of Red Rock draft beer.

They had thoughtfully prepared not only phone chargers but also stands, blankets, aprons, hair ties, and even a hair straightener. These little considerate touches really won me over >▽<

If you need extra cutlery or pickles, you can pick them up yourself.

The two Zero Sugar Saenghwal Tea Ades were sold out that day, so they were replaced with orange ade and strawberry ade. And for me, Red Rock draft beer before the meal!!

The generous set menu

The dishes came out quickly one after another, so we started eating them as they arrived… but I had no idea there would be this much food hahaha. We ordered a set for 3–4, but it honestly felt like more than five servings 🤣

First, cheers~

Pollock roe katsu cream pasta and sirloin tomato risotto

The Pollock Roe Katsu Cream Pasta was a smooth cream pasta with savory pollock roe katsu, onion, oyster mushrooms, and tomato.

The crispy pollock roe katsu—made by wrapping low-sodium pollock roe in meat and frying it—was delicious dipped in the cream sauce. The rich, smooth sauce paired so well with it that it did not need any pork-cutlet sauce.

The Sous-vide Sirloin Tomato Risotto contained barley in tomato sauce, giving it a texture quite different from ordinary rice risotto. The sirloin on top was cooked tenderly too, making it lovely with the risotto.

Village Oil Pasta with a perilla-leaf aroma

I was curious from the name alone, and with pork belly and perilla leaves on top, it definitely felt different from a typical oil pasta. It had garlic, garlic scapes, mushrooms, and tomatoes too, so there was a wonderful variety of ingredients, while the subtle perilla-leaf aroma awakened the appetite.

You can adjust the spice level, so we ordered it mildly spicy. That gentle heat kept it from feeling rich and really sharpened the flavor, which I loved.

Pepperoni pizza with delicious garlic chips

The Garlic Onion Pepperoni Pizza had plenty of pepperoni, plus garlic chips and onion flakes, for a nutty flavor and crisp texture.

I can barely eat pizza without hot sauce, so they brought Tabasco hot sauce and grated Parmesan along with it.

The garlic chips and onion chips were seriously so good that I diligently sprinkled back on even the bits that had fallen onto the plate hahaha.

Please, please try the Red Rock draft beer, with its full body and smooth finish!!!! When we paid, I said I wished I could take the draft-beer machine home,,,❣️ It went unbelievably well with Sasaenghwal’s delicious food.

My final thoughts on Sasaenghwal

The restroom was very clean, and because it is inside a traditional market, Onnuri gift certificates can be used too.

Sasaenghwal’s dishes are rooted in Western cuisine but reinterpret a range of Eastern and Western ingredients in its own style. I personally cannot handle overly rich food very well, yet I could enjoy everything deliciously without feeling weighed down!!

From the atmosphere to the food, this is the kind of excellent brunch place women in particular might love, so I think it would be great to visit with friends. I spent a happy holiday with delicious food~~😄