Haeundae Korean BBQ set for two with basil wraps and corn: Gwang-anmok

I went to Haeundae not long ago and found a seriously hot BBQ spot right in the middle of Gunam-ro! It's already famous by word of mouth and a must-wait kind of place, so I went having heard the buzz, and it was even better than I expected. For anyone planning a Haeundae trip or outing, here's my visit to the Haeundae BBQ restaurant Gwang-anmok (광안목), which I really enjoyed!

Where is Gwang-anmok Haeundae Branch?

Gwang-anmok Haeundae Branch is at 16 Gunam-ro, 2nd floor, right in the middle of the main Gunam-ro street near Haeundae Station. Access is really good, so it's easy to find while you're traveling around Haeundae.

First, here's the shop info for reference when you visit!

• Name: Gwang-anmok
• Location: 16 Gunam-ro, 2nd floor, Haeundae (access is really good)

Should you book Gwang-anmok Haeundae Branch?

Gwang-anmok is known as a place where you have to wait at the evening peak, so I strongly recommend booking ahead. It's close to Haeundae Station and right on the main Gunam-ro street, so it's really easy to find, but there's so much foot traffic and it's so well known that the crowds are no surprise.

We booked ahead too, and thanks to that we got a lovely window seat with a wide-open view. Eating while looking down at Gunam-ro street had a great atmosphere and really felt like being on a trip.

What are the interior and service like at Gwang-anmok Haeundae Branch?

Gwang-anmok Haeundae Branch is a BBQ restaurant with wide, tidy table spacing, so you can eat comfortably. My first impression walking in was "It's so clean and spacious!" Popular BBQ places are often packed with tables, which makes them loud or stuffy, but here the tables are spaced very widely, so the meal was really comfortable.

On top of that, the staff greeted us very kindly and kept checking attentively whether we needed anything throughout the meal, so the service was pleasant from the moment we walked in until we left.

How is the pre-grilled pork belly and neck in Gwang-anmok's set for two?

At Gwang-anmok Haeundae Branch we ordered the set for two, which lets you taste both pork belly and pork neck at once. I wondered what to order after sitting down and picked the one that seemed the best value; the set was generous, and I loved being able to try two cuts in one go.

Another big plus of Gwang-anmok is that the meat comes pre-grilled (chobeol-gui)! Waiting for meat to cook when you're hungry feels like forever, right? Here the meat is carefully pre-grilled by a pro, so once it's on the grill you can eat it in a very short time.

The outside was crisp and the inside full of juice, so I let out an involuntary "wow" at the first bite. The rich juiciness and tender texture were excellent.

What do Gwang-anmok's signature basil wraps taste like?

The signature of Gwang-anmok Haeundae Branch is the basil wrap, where you wrap the meat in fresh basil, and I ate mine with chimichurri (herb sauce). It's a must-try when you come here!

When you think of a BBQ restaurant you usually picture lettuce or perilla leaves, so wrapping meat in fresh basil was really different and appealing. Put basil on a nicely browned piece of meat and take a bite: the fragrant basil fills your mouth and blends with the savory, clean meat, with no gamey smell at all and a crisp finish. It's addictive, you keep reaching for more, and I totally recommend it!

Finishing with doenjang stew and grilled corn at Gwang-anmok

After the meat at Gwang-anmok Haeundae Branch, we finished with doenjang stew and rice. After enjoying the meat, a proper meal course is a Korean must, right? Mixing hot rice into the deeply savory doenjang stew made for a clean finish, and I was very satisfied.

And the grilled corn that came with the set or as a side was a real treat! The golden-brown corn was sweet and nutty, perfect between bites or as a kind of dessert to finish. I keep thinking about that sweet corn flavor.

Is Gwang-anmok Haeundae Branch worth recommending?

If you're looking for a spot on Gunam-ro in Haeundae with a good location, comfortable atmosphere and great meat, I wholeheartedly recommend the BBQ restaurant Gwang-anmok. Just don't forget to book before you go, to grab a window seat and eat in comfort!