Haeundae restaurant with a British vintage hotel hall: Bueokgan

With the sunny weather continuing lately, I wanted to enjoy a leisurely meal for once, so I headed to Bueokgan Haeundae Branch near Dalmaji-gil in Haeundae. I usually care about good food, but I also like a place with an atmosphere comfortable enough to chat with the person I'm with. This visit turned out to be memorable for both the food and the space.

How to find Bueokgan Haeundae Branch near Dalmaji-gil

Bueokgan Haeundae Branch is on the 2nd floor of a building at 200 Dalmaji-gil117beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan. When you look for a brunch or lunch spot in Haeundae, you often run into places with a similar vibe, but this one felt different from the moment I stepped in.

Since it's on the 2nd floor, you have to climb a hill staircase to get there, but the classic atmosphere naturally carries through even before entering the store.

Inside Bueokgan: a British vintage classic hotel hall

The most impressive part of Bueokgan Haeundae Branch was definitely the atmosphere. The space was designed around the concept of a British vintage classic hotel, blending classic and casual themes together for a look different from other Bueokgan branches.

The entrance in particular is a double door, so just passing through it into the store already gives off a vintage feel. It wasn't just a few pretty props placed here and there — every piece of furniture, lighting, and decor matched the concept.

Inside, there was vintage furniture imported directly from the UK, France and Italy, along with various props you'd expect to see in a hotel.

According to Bueokgan, all the furniture and lighting used in the store are original pieces, and even the chairs are Czech Thonet and Vitra pieces.

Personally, I love eating in a space like this because there's fun in looking around, not just in the food. Another thing that caught my eye was Bueokgan's signature semicircle table.

The natural scenery coming in through the window behind the table connected with the interior, making the space feel bigger and giving it an open, uncramped feel.

What's on the menu at Bueokgan Haeundae

Pumpkin soup, carbonara pasta and kungpao chicken pilaf

After sitting down, I ordered pumpkin soup, carbonara pasta, and kungpao chicken pilaf from among the many menu items.

Pickles came out as the basic side dish.

I also ordered an americano to go with the meal.

The pumpkin soup arrived first, and it had a smooth texture and a gentle sweetness. It wasn't a punchy flavor — the nutty, sweet taste of the pumpkin itself was the star, which made it a nice light start to the meal.

The carbonara pasta I tried next had a thick sauce that soaked well into the noodles.

You could really taste the creamy softness of the sauce, and the noodles and sauce paired well together.

It was a menu item that was good to enjoy slowly while chatting.

And the dish that personally suited my taste the most this time was the kungpao chicken pilaf.

It had a spicy, savory flavor, so eating it alongside the cream-sauced carbonara let me alternate between two very different tastes.

With chicken and pilaf together, it was filling enough as a full meal, and the slight spiciness kept me going back for more.

Ordering all three together — the soft, sweet pumpkin soup, the nutty and creamy pasta, and the spicy kungpao chicken pilaf — made for a fun mix of very different flavors.

Is Bueokgan Haeundae good for a date or a Busan trip lunch?

Bueokgan Haeundae Branch felt less like a place you just eat and leave, and more like a place to enjoy a slow meal while taking in the space. If you like vintage furniture and props, there's fun in just looking around, and since the atmosphere is fairly calm, it seems well suited for a date with a partner, a lunch appointment with friends, or a family meal.

Being near Dalmaji-gil was also a plus. It's a good area to stroll around or take a light walk after the meal, so it would work well as part of a day plan in Haeundae.

Hours are daily from 11am to 9pm, with a break time from 3pm to 4:30pm, so keep that in mind when visiting.

If you're looking for a good-atmosphere brunch or pasta spot in Haeundae, Bueokgan Haeundae Branch is worth a visit for a relaxed meal in a classic space. I'd especially recommend trying the pumpkin soup, carbonara pasta, and kungpao chicken pilaf together along with the store's unique interior.