Gwangalli open-kitchen café, mortadella panuozzo: Working Holiday

Travel means Busan, right? The weather today is absolutely perfect!!

This weekend I fell for the wide-open sea view and the exotic food at this spot

I wanted a break from the busy everyday grind, some cool sea breeze and a little healing, so I took a perfect healing trip to Gwangalli, Busan, with someone dear to me. Working Holiday Millak (워킹홀리데이앤나잇), a Gwangalli brunch café, is just the place to eat while soaking up the ocean-view atmosphere! My jaw dropped right at the entrance!

What is the Gwangan Bridge view like at Working Holiday Millak?

Working Holiday Millak is on the 7th floor of the Badamaru building on Millaksubyeon-ro, so the moment you open the door, Gwangan Bridge spreads out beyond the windows. The wood-tone interior blends with the sea scenery into an exotic mood, and you start taking photos before you even order.

Walking along the sand and watching the sparkling waves, we got hungry fast, so we headed to this Gwangalli brunch café, a spot I had checked carefully beforehand through Instagram and local reviews. Going up to the upper floor and opening the door, I couldn't help gasping: Gwangan Bridge laid out like a painting beyond the windows, with the warm wood-tone interior. The exotic mood was so overwhelming that before we even ordered, I lost track of time taking photos of the one-of-a-kind blue sea in the background.

What is a panuozzo sandwich?

The class of house-baked dough: the panuozzo sandwich at this Gwangalli brunch café

The panuozzo sandwich at Working Holiday Millak uses chewy pizza dough, kneaded and baked in the shop, instead of sandwich bread or ciabatta. Layers of mortadella ham go between the dough, topped with plenty of arugula.

Before visiting, so many people had been raving about one dish that it was the one I was most excited for: the panuozzo sandwich with its unusual name. Unlike ordinary brunch spots that use plain sandwich bread or ciabatta, its very distinctive feature is the chewy pizza dough kneaded and baked in the shop as the base. Take a big bite of the sandwich fresh from the oven, still piping hot, and the plain flavor of the bread and its dense, chewy texture wrap pleasantly around your mouth.

Between the dough, crisp outside and chewy inside, layers of salty yet tender premium mortadella are sandwiched, and fragrant, slightly bitter arugula fills every gap, so the balance of ingredients was light and excellent. There was nothing greasy or heavy, just a fresh, filling feeling, and I happily polished it off without getting tired of it until the very last piece.

Is the brunch at Working Holiday Millak easy on the stomach?

A wellness brunch menu that wakes up a palate tired of heavy eating out

To the writer, the brunch at Working Holiday Millak centers on fresh vegetables, herb sauces and plain handmade bread rather than greasy meat toppings, so the stomach felt comfortable and clean after the meal. The verdict is that it's a decent choice for people watching their diet or wanting an easy meal.

As the weather warms up, so many people around me are paying extra attention to their diet to keep healthy. In that sense, I thought the menu here is a very welcome wellness option that lowers the calorie burden while pushing the quality of flavor to the max. Because dishes are built around fresh vegetables, herb sauces and plain handmade bread instead of fried or grilled greasy meat toppings, it's a great alternative for dieters or anyone who wants an easy-on-the-stomach meal. It isn't the predictable taste of an Italian restaurant drowning in sodium and artificial umami; it brings out the natural freshness of the ingredients for a natural yet deep flavor, and I was really happy that my stomach felt comfortable and clean all the way until I left the shop.

Sourdough jambon Benedict

Jambon Benedict! It's got jambon (Korean-style ham) on my beloved sourdough, you see~

Were service and hygiene still good at weekend peak time?

From cleanliness to friendly service, a space that felt comfortable the whole time

Even with the café packed at weekend peak time, the staff carefully looked after every table. The open kitchen lets you see the cooking, and tables and tableware were kept clean.

However great the food and however beautiful the view outside, if the shop is dirty or the service unfriendly, you won't want to come back. Even though it was packed and very busy at weekend peak time, the staff never lost their smiles and looked after every single table closely, which impressed me a lot. There wasn't a speck of grease or a stain on the tables or tableware; everything was kept hygienic and comfortable, and because you can catch glimpses of the cooking in the open kitchen, I felt real trust in how clean the cooking process was. The ventilation was also very good, so the air inside wasn't stuffy, making it an ideal setting for a cozy get-together with people you care about or for a couple's date.

How is the walk to Gwangalli Beach after the meal?

A foolproof top hotspot in Gwangalli that even covers your seaside stroll route

Working Holiday Millak is close to the main beachfront road, so it's easy to head straight onto the sand for a walk after eating. Filling my eyes with the dazzling Gwangan Bridge ocean view while tasting a premium handmade-dough sandwich and pizza, this weekend's food journey left me with such happy memories that I'd give it full marks out of a hundred. Since the shop sits right by the main beachfront road, the route is perfect too: finish a good meal, step outside, and stroll along the sand listening to the cool sound of the waves. If you want to fully enjoy the romance of the glittering sea and take your time over an unusual, classy Western-style brunch that carries the care of a skilled chef, do go.

I think it would be great for a date course or an anniversary too. A great place to come with friends~~ This Gwangalli brunch café, Working Holiday Millak, has such a nice atmosphere that I want to come back again. Everyone, do come by at least once. ❤️