Late Tab, Busan/Gyeongnam Restaurants and Bars — Tab Collector

Dongnae dinner-date brunch café: apricot grapefruit ade, Sasaenghwal

Sasaenghwal (사생활) is a Western-style brunch café on the 2nd floor of a building on Yeogo-ro in Dongnae, Busan, with a wood-and-black interior. On a dinner date at Sasaenghwal, the writer ordered the Harmonious Saenghwal Tea Ade 1 (apricot, grapefruit and lemon), a vanilla bean cream latte, sous vide sirloin barley risotto, country oil pasta and a tenderloin katsu side, and was happy with everything from the drinks to the side. Verdict: Sasaenghwal is worth returning to whenever you want Western food with a nice atmosphere in Dongnae.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored

PlaceYeonje, BusanBars

Rainy-day makgeolli bar in Yeonsan-dong, Busan: Chunhyangjeon

Chunhyangjeon (춘향전) is a jeon (Korean savory pancake) and makgeolli pub on Bansong-ro in Yeonsan-dong, Yeonje-gu, Busan. On a rainy day the writer and her husband ordered the Chunhyang SET (11 kinds of jeon plus 1 soup), chose kimchi budae-jjigae (kimchi army stew) as the soup, and paired it with Bambambar makgeolli and soju; the jeon stayed crisp even after cooling, and the soup was just as good. Chunhyangjeon is a great Yeonsan-dong pub for makgeolli on a rainy day, and the writer will definitely go back.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored

PlaceBusanjin, BusanBars

Jeonpo Chinese bar with pig ear salad and Peking duck: Mirim Yangjang

Mirim Yangjang Busan Main Branch is a Chinese-style bar near Jeonpo Station on Seojeon-ro 68beon-gil in Busanjin, Busan. On a return visit with a friend, the writer ordered half a Peking duck, pig ear salad (dwaejigwi muchim), and a 640ml Tsingtao, and the shredded scallions, cucumber and sauce could be refilled. At Mirim Yangjang the Peking duck had a great skin-to-meat ratio and the pig ear salad was crunchy with no gamy smell, a dish worth ordering again.

Written Aug 6, 2026Sponsored