Seaside Night Eater · 49 stories

Late Tables by the Sea

I write about restaurant meals and small dining stops in Busan and Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping · Stays

PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Beef BBQ with Mom in Seomyeon, Busan: oxtail beats LA galbi at Sojay

Sojay Busan Seomyeon is a retro-style beef BBQ restaurant in an alley of Seomyeon 1-beon-ga in Busanjin, Busan. Over dinner with Mom, the writer ordered LA flower galbi (marinated beef short ribs, 500g for 50,000 won), a taster-size braised oxtail (30,000 won) and brisket kimchi stew (8,000 won); staff grilled the meat from start to finish, and yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) came free with the side dishes. The verdict: the braised oxtail at Sojay Busan Seomyeon beats the LA galbi, and with the brisket kimchi stew it made a satisfying Seomyeon dinner.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanCafés

Samsan, Ulsan dessert café: chocolate baguette and decaf, Emily Bakery

Emily Bakery is a dessert café specializing in financiers and baked sweets on Wangsaeng-ro in Samsan-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan. Visiting with her mom, the writer ordered a decaf Americano (₩4,500 plus ₩500 for decaf), a matcha latte (₩6,500) and a chocolate baguette with raspberry jam (₩6,800), and especially loved the white-toned interior, friendly service and rich chocolate baguette. For a pretty space and handmade desserts in Samsan-dong, Ulsan, Emily Bakery is well worth recommending.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanCafés

Ulsan rice cake shop, day-two gift for my parents: Baekho Tteokbang

Baekho Tteokbang is a pumpkin injeolmi (rice cake coated in soybean powder) shop on Beonyeong-ro in Nam-gu, Ulsan, which opened on June 1, 2026. On the shop's second day, the writer bought a medium Heukho (black sesame pumpkin injeolmi) for 8,500 won and a pumpkin milk for 4,500 won as a gift, and their parents loved the chewy, nutty flavor. For Ulsan locals curious about Gwangju's Changeok Tteok pumpkin injeolmi but unable to make the trip, Baekho Tteokbang is a good alternative.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Jeonpo Station sushi spot for a salmon-only eater: Kumano Sushi

Kumano Sushi is a sushi restaurant on a side street in Jeonpo-dong, Busanjin-gu, Busan, open only Wednesday to Saturday from 12:00 to 17:00. The writer, who eats no raw fish except salmon, had the salmon sushi with truffle sauce (10 pieces, 18,000 won), while her sushi-loving husband had the Kumano special sushi (12 pieces, 25,000 won), after they booked on Naver for opening time. Kumano Sushi suits anyone who wants easygoing, tasty sushi in Jeonpo-dong instead of a pricey omakase.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Gwangalli salmon bar with sofa seats for couples: Salmon Brothers

Salmon Brothers is a salmon sushi and pasta restaurant and bar on the 2nd floor of 49 Gwangan-ro, near Exit 5 of Gwangan Station in Suyeong, Busan. A husband who loves raw fish and a wife who loves salmon and Western food shared a salmon cheese roll (₩19,000), half raw/half tataki salmon sushi (₩18,000) and fettuccine aglio olio topped with arugula and mushrooms (₩16,000). Salmon Brothers does both salmon sushi and pasta well, making it an easy recommendation for a Gwangalli date or a night out with friends.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanBars

Rainy-night izakaya in Jeonpo, Busan: salmon & yukhoe sashimi, 12.24

12.24 Seomyeon Branch is a Christmas-themed izakaya (Japanese-style pub) on Jeonpo-daero in Busanjin, Busan, near Exit 7 of Jeonpo Station. On a rainy night the writer booked through Naver Reservation and came with her husband for the signature salmon + hanwoo yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) sashimi at ₩39,000 with soju. The chewy yukhoe, thick-cut salmon and house-made sashimi soy sauce stood out. 12.24 Seomyeon Branch is a good Jeonpo bar for a quiet date or solo drinking with tasty bar food.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanBars

Seomyeon izakaya after pizza: ₩28,000 okonomiyaki set, Teppan King

Teppan King (데판킹) is a teppanyaki izakaya on Jungang-daero near Seomyeon Station in Busanjin, Busan. After sharing two pizzas at a first stop, two friends came to Teppan King for a second round, sat at the counter and ordered the special okonomiyaki and special yakisoba set (₩28,000) with soju (₩5,000). Even on full stomachs, the teppan show and smoky, fire-kissed dishes kept the drinks going down easily, making Teppan King a reliable Seomyeon Station bar for a second round.

Written Jun 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonRestaurants

Gangneung tofu noodle spot after break time: couple's set, Gossi's

Gossi's Donghae Makguksu & Sundubu Kalguksu Main Branch is a makguksu (buckwheat noodle) and sundubu kalguksu (soft tofu noodle soup) restaurant that fills an entire three-floor building facing the beach on Changhae-ro in Gangneung. Right after break time ended, a couple ordered the ₩36,000 set for two with Chodang pine nut sundubu makguksu, spicy sundubu kalguksu and suyuk (boiled pork); the window seats were already full, and the pine nut makguksu and suyuk took quite a while to arrive. Gossi's is a satisfying meal for Gangneung travelers who want Chodang soft tofu dishes with an ocean view.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, BusanRestaurants

Daeyeon-dong pork soup, onion-sauce pork wraps & a mixed bowl: Geumsu

Geumsu Dwaeji Gukbap Gyeongseong-Pukyongdae Branch is a pork soup (dwaeji gukbap) restaurant in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, near Exit 1 of Gyeongseongdaebugyeongdae Station. The writer and her husband ordered a suyuk baekban (boiled pork set meal, ₩13,000) and a mixed gukbap with extra fillings (₩11,000). The mild broth, tender pork with a good fat ratio, and unlimited rice and noodle refills stood out. Even her gukbap-loving husband approved, making Geumsu Dwaeji Gukbap a solid late-night pork soup spot near Kyungsung University.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Family Korean BBQ in Seomyeon: white kimchi refills, 189 Cheolsune

189 Cheolsune Matgimchi Samgyeopsal (189철수네맛김치삼겹살) is a new black pork belly Korean BBQ restaurant near Jeonpo Station in Seomyeon, Busan, where staff can grill the meat for you. Four adults (the writer, her husband and her parents) ordered the 660g matgimchi (kimchi) pork belly set for ₩38,900, extra black pork belly and two kinds of bibim noodles, and especially liked the not-too-salty artisan kimchi and the white kimchi from the self-serve bar. With ₩1,990 soju and beer and free corkage, 189 Cheolsune Matgimchi Samgyeopsal is an easy, relaxed pick for a family dinner in Seomyeon.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangneung, GangwonCafés

Gangneung gift shop: grandma-style sesame & corn sand—Gangneung Sand

Gangneung Sand Main Branch is a three-floor dessert café and souvenir sand cookie shop on Seonggokgoyang-gil in Gangneung, Gangwon. Visiting with her husband, the writer ordered black sesame and Chodang corn Gangneung Sand boxes to go at the 2nd-floor kiosk for 17,000 won each, then looked around the 3rd-floor experience zone. For a Gangneung travel gift, black sesame suits parents and Chodang corn pleases almost anyone, so neither choice can go wrong.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, BusanRestaurants

Beomil-dong, Busan BBQ rooms for up to 80, brisket doenjang: Hanuso

Hanuso Dwitgogi Beomil Branch (하누소뒷고기 범일점) is a hanwoo (Korean beef) BBQ restaurant in Beomil-dong, Dong-gu, Busan, near Exit 4 of Beomil Station, with group rooms that take reservations for up to 80 people. The writer and her husband booked through Naver and ordered 3 servings of hanwoo dwitgogi (special beef cuts, 14,900 won per serving), seafood doenjang stew for 2 and rice, and were most impressed by the free yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) for reservations and a seaweed soup packed with beef. Hanuso Dwitgogi Beomil Branch is a highly satisfying choice for a hanwoo team dinner or group gathering in Beomil-dong, as long as you book ahead.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored