Songjeong Korean restaurant: squid stir-fry in pot rice, Songjeongok

On our way home from a hotel staycation in Busan with my husband! It felt like a waste to just head straight back, so I looked up good restaurants near Songjeong Beach and found Songjeongok, a place known for abalone pot rice and Korean set meals. This visit was made with a sponsored discount, but I genuinely loved the food so much that if I come back to Busan with family, I'd want to pay full price and revisit.

Songjeongok Songjeong Main Branch: hours, parking and address

• Address: 54-1 Songjeonggwanghogol-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan, 1st & 2nd floors
• Hours: Daily 11:00–22:00
• Break time: Weekdays 15:00–17:00 / no break time on weekends
• Parking: Available in front of the restaurant
• Reservations accepted, groups welcome, baby chairs available
• Operates across 1st and 2nd floors

※ Please double-check hours and menu with the restaurant before visiting.

A 2-minute walk from Songjeong Beach

Songjeongok is about a 2-minute walk from Songjeong Beach, so it's a great spot for a meal after enjoying the ocean view. The restaurant stands as its own detached building, making it easy to find, and there's parking right in front, which was convenient for driving there too. Since reservations are possible, it seemed like a good idea to book ahead if visiting with parents or as a family. In fact, there were a lot of family groups when we visited.

Inside Songjeongok: a spacious, spotless hanok

The restaurant spans two floors, so it was much bigger than expected. It keeps the traditional hanok (Korean-style house) atmosphere while feeling modern and clean overall — personally, I really loved the interior. It seemed like a great fit for anyone looking for a nice-atmosphere Korean restaurant in Songjeong or a spot for a family meal out during a Busan trip.

What the abalone pot rice set for two costs: 19,000 won per person

Songjeongok's menu is simply organized into two options, and we ordered the abalone pot rice set for two. The price is ₩19,000 per person! Maybe I've just gotten used to Seoul-area prices... but considering how much food fills the table, ₩19,000 felt like a reasonable price. Haha.

They served cool barley tea for water, which was nice. Chili sauce and sesame sauce were already set on the table — seemed like sauces meant for the hinoki steam (cedar box steamed dish) menu.

The full spread arrived about 5 minutes after ordering

About 5 minutes after ordering, the food came out fast. For a couple like us who hates waiting, that was a huge plus haha. The spread was surprisingly generous visually, and the overall portion was truly a lot. My husband eats quite a bit, and even he was surprised at the amount!

Pork jowl at Songjeongok: tender with no gamey smell

The pork jowl that came as the main dish had absolutely no gamey smell, and it was tender and savory — really delicious. Put a piece of meat on with the seafood and radish salad and wrap it up... need I say more... it made me so happy it was that good, ㅠㅠ.

Generous seafood side dishes: squid and scallop salad

To go with the pork jowl, radish salad, squid salad, and scallop salad also came out generously. Instead of a little seafood mixed into mostly vegetables, there was plenty of squid and scallop in there — that surprised me. It made the value for money feel even better. All the seafood was super fresh and tasty! Almost too good to just eat with the meat...

Soybean paste stew that wasn't too salty

The soybean paste stew was packed with vegetables and tofu. I really dislike overly salty soybean paste stew, but Songjeongok's version had a moderate seasoning that wasn't too strong, so it was easy to eat without feeling burdened. It was a good, warm dish to have alongside the pork jowl and abalone pot rice.

Spicy squid stir-fry: the perfect match for pot rice

The spicy squid stir-fry was truly a magic item! Eaten on its own it's a bit spicy, but mixed into the abalone pot rice and stirred thoroughly, it was full of smoky flavor and absolutely delicious. This was my favorite dish of the whole set. It went so well with the rice that I kept mixing it back in over and over. If you like spicy food, definitely try it together with the pot rice.

Abalone pot rice packed with abalone liver

The abalone pot rice was packed generously with abalone and its liver, which surprised us again. The pot rice came out a bit later than the rest of the spread — there was so much food already in front of us that my husband had actually forgotten the pot rice was coming separately, haha. One bite in, it was savory with great umami, and even I, who doesn't eat much rice, kept going back for more. Mixed with the spicy squid stir-fry, it was even better and I finished it off completely.

Don't skip the nurungji (scorched rice tea) at the end

With Songjeongok's abalone pot rice, once you scoop out the rice, they pour broth in to make nurungji (scorched rice tea). I planned to eat it lightly at first, but the broth-soaked scorched rice had such deep umami that it was way better than expected. I ended up adding more water and kept scooping up the broth, haha. If you order the abalone pot rice, don't stop at the rice — make sure to finish with the scorched rice tea at the end!

Is Songjeongok worth it? Final verdict

This visit was made with a sponsored discount, but after eating it myself, the portion, composition, and flavor were all satisfying. Most of all, being able to eat this much meat and seafood at this price was the most impressive part. It's a place I really enjoyed in Busan, and if I come back with family next time, I'd love to revisit this Songjeong Korean restaurant paying full price 💗

Who should eat at Songjeongok

• Anyone looking for a place to eat near Songjeong Beach
• Anyone seeking a Songjeong restaurant in Busan with easy parking
• Anyone wanting a clean Korean set meal to share with parents
• Anyone looking for a reservable spot for family dinners or group gatherings
• Anyone who loves a set with plenty of pork jowl and seafood
• Anyone who wants to enjoy savory abalone pot rice together with scorched rice