Dalmaji-gil Chinese restaurant, pepper japchae date with Mom: Bueokgan

I recently went on a date with my mom over in Haeundae! It had been a while since we'd had time just for the two of us, and I wanted somewhere with a nice atmosphere and really good food, so I searched hard and found this place, haha. It's Bueokgan Chinese Haeundae Branch (부엌간 차이니즈 해운대점)! It's totally different from the ordinary Chinese restaurants you see everywhere these days. I completely fell for its elegant, cozy feel~ 😍 I'll cover everything from the food to the atmosphere to parking, so if you're hunting for a good place in Haeundae, keep reading!

What are the exterior and parking like at Bueokgan Chinese Haeundae Branch?

The whole building is decorated in a European style, and there's a parking lot on the restaurant's side of the building, so it's easy to visit by car. The exterior alone was really pretty the moment I arrived! It felt more like a refined restaurant than a Chinese place.

And parking is always the biggest worry when you go around eating in Haeundae, right? 🚙 At Bueokgan there was nothing to worry about! If you're driving, you don't need to stress at all, so it's perfect for a family meal or as a stop on a drive 👍

It turns out restaurants under the Bueokgan (부엌간) brand are gathered together in one spot! I loved being able to enjoy several brands' vibes in one place, and I decided I have to pick a day to come back and try the others 💖

Atmosphere and interior

The hall is a little dim, with soft, gentle lighting, which made it great for eating while chatting quietly with my mom. The mood the moment we walked in was just insane...✨ Personally, I like a slightly dark, atmospheric space much more than a bright, chaotic restaurant!

Thanks to that classy atmosphere, I felt treated like a guest the whole meal, and it was perfect for having a real heart-to-heart with my mom 🥰 As soon as she walked in, Mom said, "Wow, this place has such a nice vibe~" and she really liked it! For bringing your parents, or as an anniversary date with your partner, I don't think there's a place with a better mood 🍷

How to order and what's on the dish menu

At Bueokgan Chinese Haeundae Branch you order on a screen (kiosk) set up at each table, with photos of the menu, which is so convenient! Looking through it, the Chinese dishes were really well stocked: ganpung monkfish, pork belly mapo tofu, pork belly gochujapchae, ganpung shrimp, whole-garlic yuringi, black vinegar sirloin tangsuyuk, shiitake shrimp and more 😋

We wanted to focus on dishes rather than noodle or rice meals, so Mom and I carefully picked out a bunch of dishes to order!

Basic side dishes: zha cai and pickled radish

Once you finish ordering, zha cai (pickled mustard stem) and yellow pickled radish come out on a small black plate as the basic spread. The crunchy zha cai was clean-tasting, not too salty or oily, just seasoned right, and I kept reaching for it with my chopsticks before the dishes arrived, nom nom 😋

How was the shiitake shrimp (pyogosha)?

The shiitake shrimp (pyogosha) at Bueokgan is a shiitake mushroom packed tightly with minced shrimp and fried, crispy outside and moist inside. It comes neatly arranged on an elegant blue floral-patterned plate, and it passed the looks test right away...💯

The moment I took a bite, the deep flavor of shiitake and the juice of the bouncy, popping shrimp filled my mouth, and I couldn't help but marvel. Crispy outside, moist inside, just perfect! 🤤 Dipped in the sweet-salty special sauce that comes with it, the richness is cut right away. The combination is the best!

How many flower buns come with the pork belly gochujapchae?

Bueokgan's pork belly gochujapchae (pepper and pork stir-fry) comes with a whopping 4 warm, fluffy flower buns next to the glossy stir-fry. Tear a soft bun apart along the grain, pile on plenty of freshly stir-fried gochujapchae and meat, wrap it up... and it's honestly heaven.

The chunky pork belly and the texture of the vegetables work so well together that Mom and I kept saying it was the best while wolfing it down! We ordered a variety of Chinese dishes, and no lie, everything we ordered was exactly to my taste. I was moved 😭❤️

Is it worth recommending for an upscale Chinese meal with parents in Haeundae?

If you're thinking of a classy meal out, I really recommend Bueokgan Chinese Haeundae Branch! Enjoying neat, delicious Chinese dishes in that soft, upscale atmosphere made it a very satisfying meal.

The parking is convenient and the staff were friendly, so I don't think there's a better spot for taking your parents or for a special occasion! Next time I'm planning to pick a day and go again with Dad and the rest of the family 💕 If you're looking for an upscale Chinese restaurant in Haeundae with a great mood and delicious dishes, definitely go~! Recommended 👍