Busan pork galbi in Gwangalli, a local's 10th visit: Haean Sutbul

My close younger friend came down from Seoul for an event and turned it into a sudden Busan trip! We agreed to meet in Gwangalli, agonized over what to eat, and ended up here, so that's today's post. If you're wondering what to have for dinner in Gwangalli, feel free to use this as a reference :)

Haean Sutbul Galbi Gwangalli Main Branch: hours, reservations and parking

Haean Sutbul Galbi (해안숯불갈비) is at 35 Namcheonbada-ro, Suyeong-gu, Busan, on the 1st floor, and it's open from 5 PM to 1 AM. You can reserve through Naver or CatchTable, or just walk in, but there's a wait at peak times, so I recommend booking. There's no dedicated parking, so you'll need a paid parking lot.

Is Haean Sutbul Galbi in Gwangalli just a tourist spot?

I think Haean Sutbul Galbi is a top-tier domestic pork galbi place in Gwangalli. It's 10 minutes from my home, so as a local I've already been about 10 times ^_^ Given the Gwangalli location you might wonder, "Isn't this a tourist trap?" but it really isn't.

This time my friend came from Seoul, and then I got the terrible news (?) that she'd eaten raw fish the day before (we were originally going to go to a raw fish place, haha). So I said, let's have delicious pork galbi instead, and off we went to Haean Sutbul Galbi.

The grilled pork tail here is a total specialty, so definitely get the review bonus. (I never forget to claim it myself.)

Is the pork galbi at Haean Sutbul Galbi domestic?

Haean Sutbul Galbi grills over a charcoal brazier, and all the raw galbi is domestic Korean pork. Lots of places use imported pork for galbi, so I'm happy that I can always taste fresh, top-grade pork here.

Side dishes and dipping sauces at Haean Sutbul Galbi

The basic side dishes are neatly done: japchae (glass noodle stir-fry), pa-muchim (seasoned scallion salad) and cabbage salad. The scallion salad is a must with meat, and the cabbage salad goes great with pork galbi, so you can eat plenty without getting sick of it!

Thoughtfully, everything comes separately: a spicy sauce for the pork tail, yukjang (a savory meat sauce) for the galbi, and a handmade salt made from ground barley shrimp. With tidy side dishes and a modern feel, it's good for two, but also for family gatherings and group dinners ✨✨

What to order at Haean Sutbul Galbi for two

If you can, I recommend trying both raw galbi and marinated galbi.. (both are delicious)

If you go as a pair, I recommend ordering something like 2 servings of raw galbi and 2 of marinated galbi! I usually have the raw galbi first as an appetizer before the marinated. It's so fresh I can't not eat it. Is it similar to pork belly? Maybe, but this raw pork galbi is nuttier and more savory.

How to grill and eat fresh pork galbi

The grill isn't hard to handle here. Once they put the meat on at the start, you can just grill and eat it yourself.

I remember my friend taking one bite and making a bit of a scene, haha, saying how nutty and delicious it was.. There's no gamey smell at all and it's so fresh that a light dip in the barley shrimp salt is great, though with the scallion salad it's an eternal truth.

Handmade marinated pork galbi

After the raw galbi, they swap the grill plate and it's time for the marinated pork galbi! Flip it often. The marinade is handmade, so the sweetness isn't overdone and the savory flavor just explodes. A must-order :)

Why Haean Sutbul Galbi in Gwangalli over an old-school galbi alley

We ordered the seafood doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) to eat heartily with the galbi, plus a light beer, and honestly that's enough to feel Busan :) Busan has old-school pork galbi alleys, but you don't have to go all the way there; this place is clean and plenty delicious, so if you're eating in Gwangalli I confidently recommend Haean Sutbul Galbi. I've visited a lot over almost 2 years, and the service and food quality are still holding up, which is why I still go for meat here.

After the meat we got some Gwangalli sea breeze, had a cocktail each in Marine City, and wrapped up for tomorrow's plans! A record of a healthy evening with a tasty meal!! We ate well and played well :)