Seomyeon private-room pufferfish course dinner: Busan Bokjip

What kind of restaurant is Busan Bokjip?

Busan Bokjip is a pufferfish restaurant in Seomyeon, Busan, and this time I tried the pufferfish tasting course, the Special A course. I'm Chochohyung, and I love good food and travel haha. This time I wanted a slightly special meal in Seomyeon, so I visited the pufferfish specialty restaurant Busan Bokjip.

Usually I only think of pufferfish soup, but here they have a course that lets you enjoy a variety of pufferfish dishes all at once, not just soup. The restaurant is also spacious with rooms available, so it seemed like a good spot for gatherings, family meals, or taking your parents out.

When you want a meal that's a bit different from usual, a pufferfish course really got me excited haha. Let me get right into the review, let's go~

Busan Bokjip's location in Seomyeon, the exterior and the fish tank at the entrance

Busan Bokjip is located on Seomyeonmunhwa-ro in Busanjin-gu. It's not too far from Seomyeon Station, so it was convenient to get to by public transport.

If you're driving, it's worth checking parking beforehand. There was a tank with live pufferfish in front of the shop, and seeing it in person really made me feel like I'd arrived at a proper pufferfish specialty restaurant haha. Seeing the pufferfish right from the entrance gave me the feeling that today was going to be a real meal. If you're looking for a gathering spot in Seomyeon, this location is worth keeping in mind.

Private rooms and second-floor seating for club dinners and family gatherings

Inside Busan Bokjip there's not just the first-floor hall but also a second-floor space, plus a room-style space. Once inside, it was quite a bit larger than I expected.

With both the first-floor hall and the second-floor space, it looked like there was plenty of room even for a larger group.

There was also a room-style space, which seemed great for a quiet meal or for visiting with your parents. It works well for a cozy family meal, and it also suits a bigger gathering like a group meetup. If you're looking for a spot for a group meal in Seomyeon, Busan, having a space like this is definitely convenient.

Above all, I liked that the atmosphere felt comfortable rather than too crowded haha.

Ordering the Special A course: what arrives on the table

The menu I chose at Busan Bokjip was the pufferfish tasting course, the Special A course. This time I ordered the pufferfish course to really enjoy it properly.

It felt completely different from having just a bowl of pufferfish soup, since I could taste a variety of dishes one after another, which got me excited haha. Dishes came out one by one from the start, and the table filled up quickly since the spread was quite generous. There was a wider variety of pufferfish dishes than I expected, so it was fun tasting each one.

If you usually enjoy pufferfish, trying it as a course seems worth it.

How the Special A course tasted, dish by dish

Alright, let's get into the tasting notes.

Porridge, salad, sushi and seasoned pufferfish skin

Busan Bokjip's Special A course started with lighter dishes like porridge, salad, sushi, and seasoned pufferfish skin. Simple dishes to enjoy before the main course came out first.

From the smooth porridge to salad, sushi, and seasoned pufferfish skin, there was a good variety. The porridge wasn't overpowering and was smooth, making for a comfortable start.

The seasoned pufferfish skin had an appealing chewy texture, with a tangy seasoning that woke up the appetite.

Adding sushi on top made for fun eating even before the main dishes arrived haha. True to a proper course, sashimi came out too. The thickly sliced raw fish had a nice texture, and overall it was clean and enjoyable.

Instead of eating pufferfish dishes non-stop, other dishes came in between, so I could enjoy a variety without getting tired of it all the way through.

Steamed pufferfish (bok suyuk)

The steamed pufferfish that came next also stuck with me. The pufferfish meat was far more tender than I expected.

It was mild even plain, but dipping it lightly in vinegar-chili sauce added savory depth that made it even tastier haha. It came with water dropwort and bean sprouts, which added good texture and made it feel cleaner to eat together.

Fried pufferfish and sweet-and-sour pufferfish

Fried dishes also came out midway through the course. The fried pufferfish was crispy on the outside while the flesh inside stayed tender, making for a nice crispy-outside-soft-inside bite. The sweet and sour pufferfish had its own appeal with the tangy-sweet sauce.

Grilled Chilean sea bass

The grilled Chilean sea bass was nicely browned on the outside with a moist, tender texture inside. The flesh itself was mild yet subtly savory, so once I had one bite I kept reaching for more haha. The way the sea bass practically melted was especially appealing, standing out as another treat among the pufferfish dishes.

Pufferfish sashimi

The pufferfish sashimi was sliced thin and neat, looking great even just visually. Picking up a piece, the chewy yet springy texture stood out. It's mild in flavor, so it pairs well with a light dip in soy sauce or vinegar-chili sauce. I got to fully taste pufferfish's clean, distinctive flavor, and it was personally one of the dishes I enjoyed most haha.

Skate (hongeo)

Skate has a distinctive smell that can be a love-it-or-hate-it thing, but for those who like it, this dish would be a welcome one. The chewy texture and the subtle, distinctive aroma in the mouth were quietly appealing, and eating it piece by piece slowly, the flavor oddly kept lingering in my mind haha. It seemed like it would pair especially well as a drinking snack, and having it appear mid-course felt like a unique treat.

Being able to taste a bit of many different dishes really is the charm of a course meal haha.

Finishing with pufferfish hot pot and a bowl of rice

And at the very end came a refreshing pufferfish hot pot. I was already quite full after all the dishes, but when the hot pot arrived, my chopsticks naturally reached for it again. It was packed with bean sprouts, water dropwort, and pufferfish, and the broth was clear and clean, making it a perfect finishing dish.

Taking a spoonful of the broth felt soothing to the stomach. The pufferfish meat was tender, and with the crisp texture of the vegetables added in, I enjoyed it deliciously right to the end haha. Eating it together with rice made for a satisfying finish to the meal. From start to finish, I really felt the appeal of the Special A course, being able to enjoy pufferfish in so many different ways.

Verdict: is Busan Bokjip a good place to take your parents?

To wrap up with an overall review: if you're looking for a slightly special place to eat in Seomyeon, Busan, Busan Bokjip is worth a visit. Rather than just having one bowl of pufferfish soup, I liked being able to enjoy a variety of pufferfish dishes at once, from steamed pufferfish to sashimi, fried dishes, and hot pot.

Above all, with the spacious dining area and rooms available, it seemed like a good option for gatherings, family meals, or taking your parents out. If you want something a bit different from your usual go-to for a group meal, a pufferfish course seems like a great choice. Next time I'd like to visit with my family and enjoy the course at a more relaxed pace haha.

If you're looking for a pufferfish tasting course restaurant in Seomyeon, Busan, a good place to take your parents, or a spot for a group gathering, give Busan Bokjip a try~^&^ It's the kind of pufferfish restaurant in Seomyeon, Busan, that comes to mind when you want a relaxed meal with family on a special day haha.