Mushroom noodle octopus-abalone jjambbong in Busan: Gupo Jjambbong

Today I want to introduce Gupo Jjambbong Gupo Main Branch, a place I'd recommend to anyone hunting for good jjambbong (spicy seafood noodle soup) in Busan. It's already famous around the Gupo area, so I'd been curious about it for a while — and what made me even more curious was that, unlike a typical Chinese restaurant, they serve a health-boosting jjambbong made with Phellinus mushroom and Korean herbal medicine ingredients.

Where is Gupo Jjambbong Gupo Main Branch, and its hours and parking

Gupo Jjambbong Gupo Main Branch is located on the 1st floor of 48 Sirang-ro, Buk-gu, Busan. It's open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 to 22:00, with last order at 21:30, and parking is available.

The front of the restaurant already gave off a clean impression, and the whole place was tidy and well-kept. It looked like a good spot for a lunch or dinner out, but also for a family meal or a visit with parents. They have baby chairs and a private room, so it seemed fine to bring kids along too.

Is there a wait at lunchtime at Gupo Jjambbong?

Gupo Jjambbong has apparently been featured on all three major broadcast networks. Maybe that's why it was quite busy when we visited. True to its reputation as a Gupo landmark restaurant, the dining room was packed with customers. Even with a reservation, there could be a wait at lunchtime depending on how busy it is, so keep that in mind if you're planning a visit.

The Phellinus mushroom herbal broth and mushroom noodles

The most special thing about Gupo Jjambbong is that it's a health-boosting jjambbong. They use a medicinal broth made with five kinds of domestic herbal ingredients alongside Phellinus mushroom — eomnamu (Castor Aralia), mulberry, eleuthero, milkvetch root, and angelica root. It wasn't just spicy for the sake of it; the fact that it was made with health in mind really stood out.

The noodles were a bit different from regular noodles too — they use Phellinus mushroom noodles made with mushroom powder and bean powder. Eating them, the noodles were soft yet chewy, and they paired really well with the broth.

One thing I really liked during the meal was that they served Phellinus mushroom tea for free.

What we ordered: octopus abalone jjambbong, small tangsuyuk, fried rice, jjambbong rice

We ordered octopus abalone jjambbong, small tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), fried rice, and jjambbong rice.

Small tangsuyuk with the sauce poured over

We were told tangsuyuk tastes best poured-sauce style (bumeok), so they poured the sauce right over it. I usually like dipping-style too, but this time I tried it poured.

Even with the sauce poured on, the coating stayed crisp rather than turning soggy right away, which was great. The batter wasn't thick — it was thin and crunchy, so tangsuyuk ended up being everyone's favorite dish. The ratio of meat to batter was good, and the sauce wasn't overly sweet, so it went well alongside the jjambbong.

Is the octopus abalone jjambbong broth too spicy?

Today's main dish was one of Gupo Jjambbong's signature menu items — octopus abalone jjambbong.

Just from the name, it sounded like it would be loaded with seafood, and once the dish actually arrived, the visual was overwhelming. Thick pieces of octopus and abalone were mixed in with various other seafood, making it filling enough on its own. But what I liked most was the broth.

When people think of jjambbong, they usually picture a fiery, punchy broth, but Gupo Jjambbong's broth was cleaner and less intense than expected, which I really appreciated. Personally, the jjambbong was the dish I remember most from that day. I think I'd definitely order it again on my next visit.

Fried rice and the egg soup that comes with it

We also ordered the fried rice, and like a typical Chinese restaurant fried rice, it was packed with ingredients, which I liked. Most of all, it wasn't too salty — the seasoning was just right, not greasy, and it exceeded expectations. It paired even better with the egg soup that came alongside it.

The 10-bowl daily limited dish, course menus and lunch specials

If you want to try Gupo Jjambbong's premium galbi abalone jjambbong, which is limited to 10 bowls a day, I'd recommend arriving early. It's a limited quantity, so it can sell out fast.

They also have course meals and lunch special sets, which looked convenient for choosing dishes when visiting with a group. If you take part in the review event, you get a side dish worth ₩6,000, so be sure to take advantage of that.

Overall, this visit to Gupo Jjambbong Gupo Main Branch was a satisfying meal. If you're looking for a good jjambbong spot in Busan, this one is worth checking out.