Korean restaurant in Yeonje, Busan: perilla oil kalguksu at Sinseon Myeonga

Craving noodles, I went to Sinseon Myeonga (신선면가) in Yeonsan-dong with my husband and father-in-law. We had house-made kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), bibimbap, and pajeon, and the perilla oil kalguksu was the dish I remembered most.

How do you get there from Yeonsan Station, and where can you park?

The restaurant is at Unit 103 on the first floor, 26 Jungang-daero 1150beon-gil, Yeonje-gu, Busan. It is about a seven-minute walk from Exit 16 of Yeonsan Station. There is a parking lot behind the restaurant; if the barrier is down, you call the restaurant and ask them to open it.

The hours I noted during my visit were 09:30–22:30 daily, with last orders at 21:30 and a break time from 15:00 to 16:00. However, the opening and closing times differed from those listed on Naver, so it is worth confirming before you go.

What were the Saturday lunch wait and family dining seats like?

The restaurant was among a row of several businesses. When I visited, I noticed family groups dining with older relatives.

There were waiting chairs and a simple menu guide outside. We arrived around noon on Saturday, when every table was full, so I left my contact details and waited briefly before receiving a message to come in.

There were many diners inside, so I could not take many table photos. I counted seven four-person tables and three two-person tables. The staff said groups can reserve by calling ahead.

What was on the menu, and how much did the three of us order?

The menu focused on Korean dishes including anchovy kalguksu, soybean kalguksu, spicy mixed kalguksu, perilla oil kalguksu, bossam (boiled pork wraps), and bibimbap. There were set menus as well.

Side dishes and alcoholic drinks were listed separately.

We each chose a meal, then added seafood pajeon and cola. These prices are from our order at the time of the visit, and the total was ₩46,500.

• One extra-large anchovy kalguksu: ₩8,000
• One extra-large bulgogi bibimbap: ₩11,000
• One perilla oil kalguksu: ₩8,500
• One 30 cm seafood pajeon: ₩15,000
• Two colas: ₩4,000 total

What were the pre-meal sundae and the dishes we ordered like?

Sundae (Korean blood sausage) arrived first even though we had not ordered it, which confused me for a moment, but it was served before the meal. I saw it being brought to the next table too, so we ate it comfortably. It had the familiar, chewy taste of sundae from snack shops, and we quickly finished it before the main dishes arrived.

What came with the extra-large bulgogi bibimbap?

The extra-large bulgogi bibimbap my husband ordered arrived first. It was topped with bean sprouts, carrot, lettuce, bulgogi, shredded seaweed, two fried eggs, and sesame seeds, and it had a nutty sesame oil aroma.

The bulgogi was thickly sliced rather than minced, so it still had a satisfying bite once mixed. The lettuce and carrot were fresh, and the soft egg yolks went well with the bibimbap. My husband added a little gochujang and finished the bowl.

How were the anchovy kalguksu broth and house-made noodles?

My father-in-law's extra-large anchovy kalguksu was ₩8,000. It came with a seasoning sauce to add to taste. The warm broth had a nutty sesame oil aroma, while the house-made noodles were springy and chewy.

Why did the perilla oil kalguksu stay with me most?

The perilla oil kalguksu I ordered was ₩8,500. After one bite, I wished I had ordered the extra-large portion. Its flavor reminded me of Japanese-style soba my husband and I had eaten before, and after a bite, he remembered the same meal.

The nuttiness of the perilla oil paired well with the savory saltiness of the shredded seaweed. It could taste a little salty as I ate, so I had bites with egg or with the seafood pajeon. It is a dish I would order again if I returned.

Was the seafood pajeon we ordered crisp?

The 30 cm seafood pajeon was ₩15,000. When I touched it with chopsticks to cut it, it made a crisp cracking sound. The squid and shrimp were also springy and thick, with a pleasant chew.

Were there a self-service bar, dessert, and family-friendly amenities?

Danmuji (pickled radish) and kimchi were available from the self-service bar, and each table also had a container of danmuji. The kimchi tasted fresh and crisp, as if it had just been made, and went well with the anchovy kalguksu.

High chairs and disposable aprons were available. There was a free Wi-Fi QR guide on the table, and a review event was running during my visit.

Sikhye (sweet rice drink) and yakgwa (honey cookie) were available for dessert. Staff kindly told diners leaving after their meals to take one each. We took ours with us and ended the meal with cool sikhye on a hot day.

There was plenty of food, and we could have everything from the pre-meal sundae to dessert. Parking was convenient, and the staff were kind. There was a wait at Saturday lunch, but it was a good place for a family to choose the Korean dishes each person wanted, and I would like to return for the perilla oil kalguksu.