Dusk Coaster · 57 stories

A Coaster at Dusk

I write about bar visits in Busan and Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Bars · Cafés · Restaurants · Food & snacks

PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Songjeong Chinese spot, whole-squid jjamppong & rice: Songjeong Dol

Songjeong Dol Jjamppong (송정돌짬뽕) is a Chinese restaurant near Songjeong Beach in Haeundae, Busan, specializing in stone jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) and stone jjajang (black bean noodles) cooked and served bubbling on a hot stone plate. After stumbling into Songjeong Dol Jjamppong on a trip to Songjeong, the writer ordered the whole-squid stone jjamppong, topped with an entire squid. The deep, sharply spicy broth, chewy squid, crispy nurungji (scorched rice) scraped from the stone and rice stirred into the leftover soup were all satisfying, with prices in the 20,000 won range for two. Verdict: Songjeong Dol Jjamppong is worth a return visit for anyone after a hangover-cure jjamppong or an eye-catching twist on the classic.

Written Apr 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanCafés

Haeundae coffee shop: Sidamo iced drip & cookies, Low & Sweet

Low & Sweet Roastery is a roastery café in an alley on Haeridan-gil in Haeundae, Busan. The writer ordered an Ethiopia Sidamo iced drip coffee (around ₩7,000), a lemonade, and chocolate and macadamia cookies. The drip coffee stood out for its floral aroma, strawberry and citrus notes and clean finish, and the cookies weren't overly sweet. If you want a properly made cup of coffee in Haeundae, Low & Sweet Roastery is the place to go.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanCafés

Songjeong Beach tea café: leaf-topped iced Jeju Breeze, Suwolgyeonghwa

Suwolgyeonghwa (수월경화) is a Korean tea and herbal tea café on the 4th floor of a building near Songjeong Beach in Haeundae, Busan. The writer took photos at Suwolgyeonghwa's stylish entrance, then tried the Dalbodeure Box dessert, an iced Jeju Breeze tea and a Miguksikgabae (Americano); teas cost ₩8,500. Suwolgyeonghwa placed tea leaves on top of the iced tea so the aroma still came through, a thoughtful touch that makes this café well worth a return visit.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongnae, BusanRestaurants

Curry spot on Busan's Oncheoncheon café street: add shichimi at Omuka

Omuka is an omelet curry restaurant on the Oncheoncheon café street in Dongnae, Busan. At Omuka, the writer ordered cheese cutlet (₩15,000), sirloin cutlet (₩12,000) and hamburg steak (₩12,000) omelet curry, compared the three toppings and sprinkled shichimi (Japanese seven-spice) on top to change the flavor. Portions are generous from the start and rice and curry can be refilled once, making Omuka a filling meal before or after a walk along Oncheoncheon Stream.

Written Nov 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

Burger salad set date in Nampo, Busan: Downtowner Lotte Gwangbok

Downtowner Busan Lotte Gwangbok is a handmade burger restaurant on the Aqua Mall B1 floor at Lotte Department Store Gwangbok in Nampo, Busan. The writer ordered the Downtowner Burger salad set and garlic fries, and got a free corn salad through a Naver review event; a single burger costs about ₩10,000, plus about ₩5,000 for a set. Downtowner Busan Lotte Gwangbok's calm American-diner mood and juicy patty made it a satisfying date meal in Nampo.

Written May 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongnae, BusanBars

Dongnae Chinese pub, Sichuan fried eggplant & yuringi: Lounge Mokhwa

Lounge Mokhwa Dongnae Branch is a Hong Kong-style Chinese pub near Dongnae Station in Busan. After work, the writer ordered sweet-and-sour crispy yuringi (fried chicken), Sichuan fried eggplant and Tsingtao draft beer, with bar dishes priced in the ₩10,000s. The Sichuan fried eggplant turned out to be the surprise favourite, and the quiet red-lantern setting makes Lounge Mokhwa Dongnae Branch a good pick for a Dongnae date or a second round.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonje, BusanBars

Busan jeon bar in Yeonsan-dong: pork belly tofu kimchi, Chunhyangjeon

Chunhyangjeon is a jeon (Korean savory pancake) pub in Yeonsan-dong, Yeonje-gu, Busan, known for an assorted platter of 11 kinds of jeon, pork belly tofu kimchi and a wide range of makgeolli (rice wine). The writer ordered the jeon platter and the pork belly tofu kimchi, also received seasoned acorn jelly and a complimentary fish cake soup, and loved how the crispy jeon carried no greasy smell and paired well with the handmade tofu. Verdict: Chunhyangjeon is a Yeonsan-dong jeon pub worth returning to whenever a rainy day calls for jeon and makgeolli.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonje, BusanRestaurants

Busan City Hall Italian restaurant: truffle risotto at Molto Italiano

Molto Italiano is an Italian restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building near Busan City Hall in Yeonsan-dong, Yeonje-gu, Busan. The writer ordered the Molto Garden Pizza, truffle cream risotto and seafood tomato pasta, and found the complimentary pre-meal nachos, in-building parking and well-spaced tables made Molto Italiano easy for a family meal. With dishes in the 10,000-won range, plus good food, atmosphere and parking, Molto Italiano is a Yeonsan-dong Italian spot worth a return visit.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanCafés

Quiet blind-date café in Gwangalli with mango French toast: Deokmi

Deokmi Atelier Gwangan Branch (덕미 아틀리에 광안점) is a French-house-style dessert café tucked into an alley in Gwangalli, Suyeong, Busan. On a date, the writer ordered the seasonal mango French toast, Oreo cake, mango latte and iced Americano; the mango French toast came loaded with mango, and the dense Oreo cake also beat expectations. Deokmi Atelier Gwangan Branch is a quiet Gwangalli café worth recommending for a date or blind date, though parking is not available.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanCafés

Jeonpo bakery: tiramisu croissant & kouign-amann at Upper East Bakery

Upper East Bakery (어퍼이스트베이커리) is a croissant-focused bakery café on the second floor of a Jeonpo alley in Seomyeon, Busan. The writer tried the tiramisu croissant, kouign-amann, almond croissant and egg tart with lattes and an iced Americano, and found the flaky layers, buttery flavor and drink pairings satisfying. Most pastries cost ₩5,000–6,000 and an Americano is ₩4,800. For good atmosphere and great bread in Seomyeon and Jeonpo, Upper East Bakery is a safe bet.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Ginseng galbitang and Jeju galbi noodles in Seomyeon: Gang Galbitang

Gang Galbitang Seomyeon (강갈비탕) is a Korean restaurant on Saessak-ro in Seomyeon, Busan, specializing in galbitang (beef short rib soup) served in earthenware pots. At Gang Galbitang, the basic galbitang, the spicy galbitang and the galbi noodles all came with generous portions of rib, the basic galbitang had ginseng in the broth, and the Jeju medium-thick noodles stayed firm to the last bite. For a hot, restorative bowl in Seomyeon, all three Gang Galbitang dishes are a safe bet.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Gwangalli Japanese diner: butter egg rice & menbosha, Daidokoro

Daidokoro Gwangalli Main Branch is a Japanese home-style restaurant on the second floor of a building near Geumnyeonsan Station in Suyeong, Busan. The writer ordered the summer plum set for two (a karaage set, a katsu curry set and a plum ade) and added menbosha (fried shrimp toast), a butter egg rice bowl and a mango ade, and was most impressed by the crispy karaage and the rich egg rice bowl. Daidokoro has no parking, but the set costs only about ₩10,000-something per person for a full table of food, making it a Gwangalli meal spot worth saving.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored