Chuseok pork soup in Choryang-dong, suyuk baekban for two: Yeongdong

Finally made it to Busan for this Chuseok holiday! 🚆 Wow... train tickets during the holiday were absolute hell this time. Barely managed to grab a morning train, rushed to catch it, chugged coffee on an empty stomach, and got on 🫩

Got off at Busan Station right around lunchtime, so to fill my hungry stomach I headed straight for a place I'd scouted beforehand. Busan means dwaeji gukbap (pork soup), of course!! haha

Where Yeongdong Milmyeon & Dwaeji Gukbap is, and its opening hours

• Address: 12 Jungang-daero209beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 10:00–20:30 / last order 20:10
• No parking (use Chinatown public parking lot)

Busan Station branch closed for Chuseok: sent to the Choryang-dong main store

I'd originally planned to visit the new, clean 'Busan Station branch' right in front of the station. But when I got there, it was closed for the Chuseok holiday, unfortunately... dun dun 😢

I panicked for a second, wondering if I should turn back, but a staff member standing outside was really kind and told me, 'The station branch is closed for Chuseok, but the main branch is open as usual, so head there.' 🙏 Thanks to that, I didn't have to wander around and went straight to the main branch of Yeongdong Milmyeon & Dwaeji Gukbap in Choryang-dong! It's just a short walk into the alley across from Busan Station 😊😊

How long is the wait? About 10 minutes

When I got to the main branch, sure enough, being a popular spot, there was a long waiting line ⏱️⏱️ I hesitated for a moment wondering whether to wait or not, but since gukbap places tend to turn tables fast, the line moved along pretty quickly. In fact, it only felt like about 10 minutes before I was seated, which was very satisfying haha

Inside Yeongdong: high chairs and the table setting

After the wait, the inside of the restaurant was much bigger and more pleasant than I expected. You'd think it would be chaotic with so many customers, but the tables had generous spacing and the whole place was kept very clean and well-managed. There were plenty of seats too, so it looked like a great spot for groups or families 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

There were especially plenty of baby chairs set up off to one side of the restaurant, so families with kids should be able to visit comfortably too 👶

On the table, paper cups and condiments (dadegi chili paste, salted shrimp), pepper, and tissues were neatly set out, and opening the table drawer on the side revealed tidy spoons/chopsticks and wet wipes ready to grab.

And they're currently running a Naver receipt review event, so if you participate you can get a free drink — don't forget to check it out! 🥤

Suyuk baekban, 13,000 won: ordering two servings on the tablet

The menu board. Before coming, I'd originally thought 'I'll keep it simple!' and planned to get milmyeon (wheat noodles), but after coming to Busan on an empty stomach since the morning, I was so worn out that I immediately switched to gukbap 🤣🤣

You order via the tablet at each table ⭐ I ordered suyuk baekban (₩13,000), which lets you enjoy gukbap and boiled pork together, for two servings! haha

What side dishes come with it

As soon as I ordered, the side dishes that pair perfectly with gukbap were set out! Lettuce and other wrap greens, crunchy kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) and baechu kimchi (napa cabbage kimchi), onion, chili, garlic, and even chives great for adding into the soup — everything came out generous and neatly arranged. 🥬🧄

How was the suyuk (boiled pork)?

A big spread came together shortly after — ordering suyuk baekban gets you the milky-broth dwaeji gukbap plus tender boiled pork served separately on its own plate. 😋

I tried the suyuk first, and it had absolutely no gamey smell and was soft enough to melt in my mouth. It's tasty on its own, but of course the true way to eat suyuk is wrapped in fresh greens with garlic and ssamjang (dipping paste)! Since the meat was so tender, wrapping it made the flavor even better. Ah, this is truly the taste of Busan! haha

The dwaeji gukbap broth: clean, light and free of gamey smell

The dwaeji gukbap broth that came with it had almost none of the characteristic pork gaminess and was really milky and clean. Rather than a heavy flavor, the broth was clear and light, giving it a feel almost like a richly simmered seolleongtang (ox bone soup). Even people who usually find it hard to try dwaeji gukbap because of the typical funky smell or heavy taste should be able to enjoy this restaurant's version without any worries 👍

Verdict: a good first meal after arriving at Busan Station?

If you're near Busan Station and want reliable, no-fail local food in a clean atmosphere, Yeongdong Milmyeon & Dwaeji Gukbap seems like a great choice!! This time I mostly stuck to gukbap and suyuk, but next time I definitely want to try the cold Busan-style milmyeon that's proudly right there in the name 🍜 If you're looking for a good dwaeji gukbap spot near Busan Station, I'd recommend stopping by even if there's a bit of a wait — the turnover is fast, so it won't take long!