Haeundae restaurant showdown: carbonara vs kungpao pilaf at Bueokgan

What kind of restaurant is Bueokgan Haeundae Branch?

Bueokgan Haeundae Branch is a 100-pyeong European restaurant on Dalmaji-gil in Haeundae. I visited a while back and had such a good time — nothing heals you quite like pretty, delicious food, right? This place won me over from the entrance, so I really want to introduce it to you.

Bueokgan, a Western restaurant in Haeundae, aims for a healthy wine culture — corkage is free for up to 3 bottles, and ₩15,000 per bottle from the 4th on.

Bueokgan Haeundae Branch location, parking and transit

The 100-pyeong European restaurant Bueokgan Haeundae Branch is on the 2nd floor of a standalone building — the former site of Sansu Bathhouse — up the hill past Dongbaek Elementary School.

By car, search 'Bueokgan Haeundae Branch.' It's about 1.3km (5 min) from Elcity Haeundae & Signiel Busan, 2.9km (8 min) from Haeundae Beach, and 4.8km (8 min) from Songjeong Beach.

• 982m from Exit 9, Jangsan Station, Busan Subway Line 2
• By bus — get off at Dongbaek Elementary School or Hillstate Weave Apartment
• Haeundae-gu 2 — every 20–25 minutes (shorter interval, recommended)
• Haeundae-gu 10 — every 60 minutes
• Cheongsapo ↔ Haeundae 06:30–22:30
• Stops — Cheongsapo, Jangsan Station, Mipo, Moontan Road entrance, Haeundae-gu Office

You can park along the roadside in front of the store or across from it. There's also parking beside Cafe De Bueok and in the lot behind the building.

Two-tone interior inspired by a British classic hotel

Bueokgan is designed around the concept of a vintage British classic hotel. The moment you step off the elevator on the 2nd floor and open the door, you get that old-world European hotel feeling.

The signature 'half-round table' in particular offers a full view of the scenery outside, giving a wonderfully open, airy feel.

The two sides of the restaurant are split by contrasting color schemes — the left side has big windows letting in natural light with soft lighting, centered around warm, bright yellow and butter tones for a cheerful atmosphere,

while the right side leans into calm, weighty deep green as its accent color, where antique wood furniture and darker-toned decor blend for a much cozier, classic European feel.

All the lighting, decor pieces, and furniture filling the interior are apparently direct imports from the UK, France, and Italy. From Czech TON chairs to Vitra chairs, it really feels like walking through a hotel showroom — a genuinely upscale space.

From the entrance and throughout the space, fresh seasonal flower displays and potted plants add that distinctive fresh flower brightness and natural scent, making it feel like a high-end gallery or flower shop. Bueokgan Haeundae Branch is a kid-friendly space, so high chairs and children's tableware are ready to go. In fact, a lot of the customers are families in their 30s–40s, so it seems like a comfortable spot to dine with kids.

What comes in the 51,000-won Bueokgan couple's dish set

The steady-seller menu items that guests always praise at Bueokgan are the napa cabbage Caesar salad, truffle gnocchi, kungpao pilaf, jambon pizza, and Bueokgan steak. Set menus include the Bueokgan Couple Dish Set (₩51,000) and the Bueokgan Steak Set (₩89,000).

I went with the great-value Bueokgan Couple Dish Set — soup + salad + pasta or rice (choice of one) + pizza + 2 drinks, with selectable options.

For the set I chose pastry soup, garden salad, shrimp rosé pasta, pepperoni pizza, and two grapefruit ades, and we also ordered carbonara and kungpao chicken pilaf on top.

Garden salad and grapefruit ade

The first things to arrive were the garden salad and grapefruit ade.

A fresh garden salad before the meal and a sweet-and-tangy, fully fizzy grapefruit ade — both gorgeous to look at and delicious.

Carbonara at Bueokgan Haeundae Branch

One of the dishes I really recommend — carbonara loaded with bacon, mushrooms, and cream — came out second, rich and full of flavor.

Bueokgan's carbonara is truly incomparable to anywhere else — genuinely delicious. I briefly considered ordering another one, but held back since there was still so much more food coming.

Pepperoni pizza

A few days ago I had the jambon pizza and loved it, and this pepperoni pizza is just as charming — piled high with pepperoni for a salty, savory kick. It looked so pretty it felt almost a shame to eat it!!

I dug in happily with some pickles on the side.

Just a tip — if you have leftover pizza, you can take it to go.

Pastry soup

And finally, my favorite — the pastry soup arrived. 🎶

This is Bueokgan's signature soup — warm pumpkin soup topped with a puff pastry you scoop up together as you eat. It gets more addictive the more you eat it. I really recommend you try it. No, I'll recommend it a hundred times.

Shrimp rosé pasta

I've enjoyed the shrimp anchovy pasta here before, and this shrimp rosé pasta was just as good. Bueokgan really is a pasta specialist — everything here is delicious.

Plump shrimp with a nice bite and mushrooms make this creamy rosé pasta irresistible — twirl the pasta around those chubby shrimp and it's pure honey. So good my eyes practically popped out. Ttiyong~~~~

Kungpao chicken pilaf

The visual~~~~ honestly I was really taken aback. A bit unsettling, even. They said the chicken was sous-vide then oven-roasted, but I didn't dive right in.

Couldn't leave it be, so I started breaking the chicken apart. What is this business?? The chicken was salty, savory, tender, and SO~~~ delicious!!

My top pick flipped again. Bueokgan has this thing where every new dish makes you fall for it all over again. Hahaha.

The kungpao chicken pilaf, salty-savory and perfectly matched with the kungpao sauce ❤️ — I scraped up every last grain of the fried rice too. Between the carbonara and the kungpao chicken pilaf, today it was neck and neck. We were eating so intensely we basically had zero conversation in such a lovely atmosphere — pure mukbang mode.

Why Bueokgan Haeundae Branch is worth a visit

Why I'd recommend Bueokgan Haeundae Branch

• A perfect date or gathering spot
• Classic European bistro feel
• A relaxed, comfortable space
• Well-executed brunch & Western menu
• Attentive, thoughtful service

Special on special occasions, and just as good for a casual meal 💕 — a place you can enjoy a good meal with anyone. When you're wondering 'what should I eat in Haeundae?', today's answer is Bueokgan! A place I'll want to come back to whenever I'm craving something delicious.