Korean BBQ restaurant in Haeundae, Busan: 5-cut date course at Usiya

It had been a while since my partner and I had a proper date, so I wanted somewhere a bit more special and atmospheric than usual for some good beef ❤️❤️ That's how I found Usiya's Haeundae branch! It's right by Haeri-dan-gil, which makes it a great date spot, and best of all, you can properly enjoy everything from beef tartare to multiple cuts of hanwoo (Korean beef) to hot stone rice. If you're looking for a beef restaurant in Haeundae, this is one worth trying at least once.

Where is Usiya in Haeundae, and where do you park?

Usiya's Haeundae branch is at 2 Udong 1-ro 38beon-gil, 1st floor, Haeundae-gu, Busan, right on the currently-trendy Haeri-dan-gil street. You can book through Naver or Catch Table.

Even before going in, the exterior looked upscale, so I thought, oh, this place is going to have a nice atmosphere 🤎🤎 The small signboard tucked in also had a certain charm, and I was already a little excited before even stepping through the door 🫢🫢

Since Haeri-dan-gil itself is such a hotspot, there's no dedicated parking lot for the restaurant. We parked at a nearby public lot and walked over — I'd recommend that for anyone driving. Walking over while checking out Haeri-dan-gil was nice too ☺️☺️

Inside Usiya: atmosphere and seating

Inside, the space was neatly laid out with 4-person tables and a bar-style counter. We were seated at a table, and each seat had its own grill set up. Having a grill per table made it feel like proper, dedicated service 🧡🧡

The interior overall had dim lighting and an upscale wood-tone finish, giving it a quiet, calm atmosphere. Rather than a loud, typical barbecue joint, it felt suited to a couple's date or an anniversary dinner :) If you're looking for a good-atmosphere beef restaurant in Haeundae, this would make a great date course.

Usiya menu and course prices

Usiya can be ordered as a course.

• ❤️ A course ₩79,000 — beef tartare / ox tongue / 5 cuts of beef / sukiyaki / oxtail / hot stone rice + aged kimchi stew / dessert
• ❤️❤️ B course ₩59,000 — ox tongue / 3 cuts of beef / oxtail / rice + aged kimchi stew / dessert

There were also a la carte options available.

There was a wide range of drinks too (everything from sake to wine 🍷🍾). We wanted to properly taste a variety of beef cuts, so we ordered the A course for two ❤️❤️

The opening table setting, including a perilla leaf pesto

First, let's talk about the basic table setting. There was mountain garlic, wasabi, and a perilla leaf pesto — I'd never had that pesto before this place. Dabbed lightly on the beef, the fragrant perilla flavor paired surprisingly well with the meat's richness — way tastier than I expected 👍👍

How the chef grills each piece of hanwoo for you

Then the beef appeared ❤️❤️ Beautifully plated with the marbling clearly visible, my mouth was watering just looking at it 🫢🫢 What I loved most was that the chef grilled each piece for us directly on the grill! We didn't have to worry about timing or doneness at all, so we could just sit back and chat with each other. That kind of thing actually matters a lot on a date 🙏🏻

Beef tartare (yuksashimi)

First up was beef tartare! Two pieces per person, and unlike the usual soft tartare, this one had a chewy bite to it, getting more savory the more you chewed. A strong start for the palate 🫢🫢

Ox tongue

I'll admit I hesitated a bit at first with the ox tongue. The idea of eating an actual cow's tongue felt a little unfamiliar, but once I tried it, its distinctly chewy, springy texture was really appealing! The more you chewed, the more savory it got — a dish I kept reaching for more than I expected.

The 5 cuts: tenderloin, striploin, flat iron, brisket and chuck flap

* Tenderloin → striploin → flat iron → brisket → chuck flap They were grilled in order from leaner cuts to progressively richer ones. The tenderloin had a clean, tender bite; the striploin brought that classic savory beef flavor front and center 🫢🫢 The flat iron was chewy with the juices still intact, and the brisket got more savory the more you chewed!

And the final cut, chuck flap, was of course the winner ❤️❤️ With all that marbling, it melted softly in the mouth with an intense beefy aroma and richness. Being grilled one piece at a time right at the table meant we could eat it hot off the grill, which made it even better. I eat beef fairly often, but tasting so many different cuts bit by bit in one course, comparing flavors and textures, was genuinely fun.

Grilled oxtail

Next was grilled oxtail! Charred over coals with a gentle smoky aroma, and the seasoning had soaked in nicely — a real treat. After eating so many different beef cuts, it felt like a refreshing change of pace.

Sukiyaki

A hot-pot style dish with beef and vegetables — dipped in beaten egg, it was soft and savory 💛💛 The sweet, salty broth with beef and vegetables together had its own distinct charm.

Freshly cooked hot pot rice with aged kimchi stew

The meal wrapped up with hot stone rice and aged kimchi stew! The freshly cooked rice was warm and fluffy, pairing perfectly with the beef. And personally, the final highlight was the aged kimchi stew ❤️ After eating so much beef, things can start to feel a bit heavy, but the tangy, spicy kimchi stew cut right through that.

Dessert

Dessert was the classic Excellent ice cream, which I hadn't seen in a while 🤍🤍 Ending such an upscale course with a familiar, sweet ice cream felt oddly comforting haha. Overall, the course felt substantial and every dish seemed carefully prepared. And despite it being called a beef omakase, the price wasn't intimidating at all — for ₩79,000, the A course let us taste everything from beef tartare to ox tongue, five cuts of beef, oxtail, sukiyaki, and hot stone rice. Really satisfying, and it tasted amazing too! ❤️❤️

Who should book a table at Usiya?

This is a place worth visiting for a special occasion, a date after a long time apart, or when you want a nice atmospheric dinner. If you're looking for yakiniku or grilled beef on Haeri-dan-gil but want something a bit more upscale and special, Usiya is a solid choice. I especially liked that the staff grilled the meat for us, so we could just relax and chat through the meal 👍

Taste, price, and atmosphere all came together for this Haeundae beef date ❤️ If you want to properly enjoy a variety of hanwoo cuts, Usiya is highly recommended! 👍👍

It had been a while since my partner and I had a proper date, and getting to eat such good beef made it an even better evening ☺️ Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a special beef meal in Haeundae ❤️❤️