Table Hour Keeper · 76 stories

A Table Hour in Jangsan

Writes about small restaurants and eateries around Busan and South Gyeongsang. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceYangsan, GyeongnamRestaurants

Yangsan Korean BBQ rooms, special-cut Set B and naengmyeon: Damso

Damso Main Branch (담소 본점) is a Hanwoo (Korean beef) restaurant on the 8th floor of a building on Geumo-ro in Seoksan, Dongmyeon, Yangsan, where every seat is in a private room. At Damso Main Branch, the writer grilled Set A (₩50,000) and Set B (₩55,000) over binchotan charcoal and also ordered Hanwoo doenjang stew and naengmyeon (cold noodles), finding special cuts such as anchangsal (outside skirt), salchisal (chuck flap) and tosisal (hanger steak) more impressive than the sirloin. With 3 hours of free parking in the building's underground garage, Damso Main Branch is a good Yangsan Hanwoo spot to drive to for an unhurried private-room meal.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimhae, GyeongnamRestaurants

Gimhae gamjatang restaurant: weekend fern pot for 2, gondeure pot rice

Ppyeodae Itneun Haejangguk Juchon Branch (뼈대있는해장국 주촌점) is a Korean restaurant specializing in gamjatang (pork bone stew) and haejangguk (hangover soup) near Costco in Juchon-myeon, Gimhae. On a weekend evening, the fern gamjatang for 2 (35,000 won) came with added glass noodles and a switch to gondeure (thistle greens) pot rice, and the fern and meat were piled so high that the free ramen noodles went untouched. For a hearty gamjatang meal in Juchon, Gimhae, Ppyeodae Itneun Haejangguk is a satisfying choice.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangsan, GyeongnamCafés

Bakery café in Hopo, Yangsan on a day trip: Dubai chewy cookie, Choi

Choi Main Branch (초이 본점) is a large bakery café across from Hopo Station in Dongmyeon, Yangsan, Gyeongnam, spread over a basement level and three floors up to a rooftop. On a weekday afternoon during a Yangsan day trip, the writer had a croissant, salt bread, kkwabaegi (twisted doughnut), a Dubai chewy cookie, an iced americano and an iced matcha latte on a 2nd-floor sofa seat overlooking the Nakdong River. Verdict: the best-selling croissant at Choi Main Branch was the top pick, and the moist, chewy Dubai chewy cookie is a must-try.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimhae, GyeongnamRestaurants

Gimhae pasta for a weeknight date: red shrimp bisque, Anin Jeongmiso

Anin Jeongmiso is a Western restaurant in a former rice mill on Bongridan-gil in Bonghwang-dong, Gimhae, and it shares the space with Gaenari Jutaek to serve pasta, pizza and chicken soup curry. On a weekday evening date, the writer and her husband ordered white ragu truffle pasta and red shrimp bisque pasta (17,900 won each) plus fried tomato eggplant (13,000 won), and the red shrimp bisque pasta was the clear favorite. Anin Jeongmiso is a good Bongridan-gil date spot for a retro setting and rich, creamy pasta.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanCafés

Gwangalli garden café for fresh mango French toast: Deokmi Atelier

Deokmi Atelier Gwang-an Branch (덕미 아틀리에 광안점) is a European-style dessert and brunch café in an alley near Gwangalli Beach in Suyeong-gu, Busan. The writer ordered the fresh mango French toast (18,000 won), a mango latte, an iced Americano and an iced decaf Americano, took photos at the garden tables, and especially liked the fresh, not frozen, mango and the soft, tender toast. Deokmi Atelier Gwang-an Branch is a good pick for a Gwangalli date if you want French toast that isn't too sweet in a quiet setting.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimhae, GyeongnamRestaurants

Pork BBQ in Yulha, Gimhae after the Juchon branch: Anmin Yulha

Anmin Yulha is a Korean BBQ restaurant specialising in fresh domestic pork on Yulha Café Street in Jangyu, Gimhae, where staff grill the meat for you from start to finish. After falling for the Anmin branch in Juchon, Gimhae, the writer visited Anmin Yulha around 5:30 pm on a weekday, got the last empty table and shared 2 servings of fresh pork belly and 2 servings of fresh pork neck (24,000 won per 2 servings each) for a filling meal for two. For thick fresh pork enjoyed with shiitake wasabi and cheese fondue sauce, without doing the grilling yourself, Anmin Yulha is a good choice.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimhae, GyeongnamRestaurants

Gamjatang spot in Gimhae Yulha: large pot and extra bones for 5 adults

Ppyeodae Itneun Haejangguk Gamjatang Yulha Branch is a gamjatang (pork bone stew) and haejangguk (hangover soup) restaurant in a standalone building in Yulha District 2, Gimhae. A family of 5 adults ordered a large gamjatang with extra bones on a weekend evening and refilled the glass noodles from the free 5-item sari (add-in) self-bar twice. With a roomy hall, 4- and 6-person tables, and extra bones and broth served separately, Ppyeodae Itneun Haejangguk Gamjatang made a five-person family dinner comfortably generous.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, BusanRestaurants

Myeongji, Busan hanwoo BBQ: steak-thick sirloin & mustard, Yong Hanu

Yong Hanu Myeongji Branch (용한우 명지점) is a hanwoo (Korean beef) BBQ restaurant in Myeongji International New City, Gangseo, Busan, formerly called Hanuso Dwitgogi. The writer grilled the Han SET (₩98,000: 200g of 1++ top-grade sirloin and 200g of 1++ galbisal, or rib finger meat) over a corn-fuelled grill, and the steak-thick sirloin topped with wholegrain mustard tasted like a hotel steak. Thanks to its meat quality and friendly service, Yong Hanu Myeongji Branch is a hanwoo restaurant worth recommending in Myeongji for work dinners, gatherings and family meals.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Dog-friendly restaurant in Millak, Busan: gnocchi date at Marento

Marento is a dog-friendly casual dining restaurant in Suyeong, Busan, right in front of the Millak Waterside Park public parking lot near Gwangalli Beach. On a date with her husband, the writer ordered pistachio cream gnocchi, basil cream pasta and Marento's signature Mare Brunch, eating in a wood-and-white dining room with the windows wide open to the Gwangalli view. Marento is a good pick for a date or a Busan trip meal paired with a beach walk.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Dog-friendly BBQ restaurant in Gwangalli: yuzu scallions at Bisyoku

Bisyoku Gwangan Branch is a Japanese-style charcoal-grill yakiniku restaurant in Millak-dong, Suyeong-gu, near Gwangalli in Busan, where dogs are welcome and the second floor has private rooms. The writer had the Yasashi Set (₩79,000: 200g premium sirloin and 300g Handon Korean pork belly) at a first-floor bar table and loved the staff-grilled sirloin dipped in tsuyu sauce and egg yolk, plus the yuzu-sauce scallion and radish salad side dishes. Bisyoku Gwangan Branch is a solid pick for an anniversary date or an evening dinner with your dog.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Seomyeon pasta spot: sour butter pistachio paccheri, Odd Bird Oliver

Odd Bird Oliver is a European-style Western and brunch restaurant on Dongseong-ro 15beon-gil in Jeonpo-dong, Seomyeon, Busan. At Odd Bird Oliver, the writer ordered the new pistachio jambon pasta and a jamón (Spanish cured ham) mushroom risotto made with glutinous barley, at 19,000 won each, and the pistachio sauce made with sour butter paired with paccheri (large tube pasta) stood out. Odd Bird Oliver is a solid Jeonpo date pick for anyone who wants both atmosphere and good pasta.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanCafés

Café near Gwangalli Beach with parking and kittens: Café Buajang

Café Buajang is a dessert café in its own detached building in Millak-dong, Suyeong, Busan, tucked in an alley toward Millak Park near Gwangalli Beach, with parking for 4–5 cars out front. The visit included the kittens in the entrance garden, a seat in the wood-toned back room, a maple cream latte (₩6,000), an iced pink lemon tea (₩6,000) and a chestnut tiramisu (₩7,500) with whole chestnuts inside. Café Buajang is a good pick for anyone driving to Gwangalli for dessert and a break.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored