Busanjin izakaya at opening time: 11 kushikatsu and hanwoo yukhoe

Basic info on 12.24 Seomyeon Branch

• Address: 부산 부산진구 전포대로 225 1층 (225 Jeonpo-daero, Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea)
• Hours: Daily 17:00 – 02:00 (next day)
• Transit: 293m from Jeonpo Station Exit 7
• Reservations: Available via Naver Reservation
• Group-friendly / takeout available
• Separate men's & women's restrooms / Wi-Fi available

When I'm drinking, I'd rather try a bunch of different snacks than just one, haha. This time at 12.24 Seomyeon Branch I got to pick from sashimi, kushikatsu (Japanese-style deep-fried skewers), and yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) — a wide range — and the vibe of the place stuck with me too.

We wanted to eat at a relaxed pace, so we showed up right at opening, and the place was way bigger than I expected. Since it had just opened, it was still quiet, so I got to snap photos of the whole space evenly — and with that soft lighting, I bet it looks even prettier once the sun goes down.

What's the atmosphere like?

A little while after we sat down, a stream of customers started coming in one after another — good thing we came early. Christmas garlands and twinkling lights ran along the ceiling and walls, with little trees and cute decor scattered around, so true to the name 12.24, it really felt like Christmas. It was still hot outside, so the vibe felt extra refreshing, haha.

Overall it had a cozy feel with bright wood tones and warm lighting, with the Christmas decor added like a highlight. That concept carried over to the tables too — even the individual plates had a clear snowflake shape that felt wintry. I appreciated that they matched the theme down to the small details.

How to order and the set menu lineup

Every table had a tablet, so you could browse the menu and order right from your seat. Besides à la carte items, there's a 7-item Popular Set for 2–3 people and an 8-item Signature Assorted Set for 3–5 people, so ordering a set based on your group size seemed like a great way to try a bit of everything.

There was also a Naver review event notice on the table — at the time of my visit, leaving a review got you a free chicken karaage, so if you're into that, it might be worth checking when you visit.

We ordered solo sashimi + assorted kushikatsu (11 types) + yukhoe.

While waiting, I tried each of the banchan (side dishes) one by one, and in the open kitchen I caught a glimpse of them prepping the aged sashimi by hand, haha.

The solo sashimi set and how it tasted

The solo sashimi came out beautifully arranged with several kinds — seared red seabream (yubiki-style), salmon, tuna, abalone, and more. Even as a solo portion, each type came with two pieces, which made it easy to share. That let us order a bunch of other dishes too and try a variety, and overall the portion-to-price ratio was really satisfying.

From the seared red seabream to the soft salmon and tuna, and the chewy abalone, each had a different texture, which made tasting them one by one fun.

Placing a piece of sashimi on the clear snowflake plate let the color of the fish show through beautifully, and I also tried the taco wasabi alongside the yukhoe — it went surprisingly well.

Assorted kushikatsu, 11 types — crispy even after cooling

Next came the assorted kushikatsu, 11 types, with a wide variety: shrimp, chicken thigh, garlic scapes, eggplant, sweet potato, cheese, zucchini, quail egg, fish cake, and more. It was fun not knowing which one I'd pick up next, but what really stood out was the crispy batter. Not just fresh out of the fryer — even after we'd been chatting for a while and it had cooled down some, the crispiness held up remarkably well.

I'd gone back and forth between okonomiyaki and the 11-type kushikatsu when ordering, and I'm glad I went with the kushikatsu, haha.

Of course I had to stretch the cheese as far as it would go before eating it, haha. The cheese kushikatsu had that stretchy cheese paired with the crispy batter, and it was savory and soft without being salty — good enough that I wanted another one.

Hanwoo yukhoe, finely chopped style

As soon as the hanwoo yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) arrived, the vivid red color caught my eye first. Unlike the typical long, julienned-cut yukhoe, this one had the meat finely chopped, which gave it a different texture and look from the start — it fell apart softly on the tongue while still keeping a good bite, which felt unique.

Popping the egg yolk on top and mixing it in evenly added a savory richness to the already soft yukhoe.

My takeaway after trying all three dishes together

Eating through everything, the sashimi let me enjoy different textures depending on the type, the kushikatsu delivered on crispiness, and the yukhoe was distinctly soft and savory — each dish stayed clearly itself, so nothing felt repetitive even eating them all together.

Beyond the food, the atmosphere had a clear identity all its own as 12.24. With its spacious, comfortable layout plus that Christmas touch, it works well for a date drink in Seomyeon or Jeonpo, and with plenty of seating it also seemed like a solid spot for a gathering or drinks with friends. It's a good place to visit on a day when you want to slowly enjoy a drink with a variety of snacks while soaking up the atmosphere.