Korean restaurant in Yeonje, Busan: cold kalguksu at Sinseon Myeonga

While traveling in Busan with a friend, I stopped by Sinseon Myeonga (신선면가) for lunch before dropping our luggage at our accommodation near Yeonsan Station. It was a hot day, so the cold kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) caught my eye; we also ordered octopus bibimbap and a small bossam (boiled pork) plate because we wanted rice too.

How close is it to Yeonsan Station, and when is it open?

Sinseon Myeonga is within a 500 m walk from Exit 14 of Yeonsan Station. Its address is 26 Jungang-daero 1150beon-gil, 1F Unit 103, Yeonje-gu, Busan. According to the original post, it is open daily from 09:30 to 22:30, with a break time from 15:00 to 16:00.

How were the cold kalguksu, octopus bibimbap, and bossam?

The food arrived as a neat full table setting with side dishes. The stir-fried octopus for the bibimbap came separately, so I could add and mix in as much as I wanted, and the bossam was served with tofu.

The sauces were ssamjang and garlic sauce, while the side dishes included dried shredded radish, chili peppers, garlic, lettuce, corn mayo, and kimchi. I could take more side dishes from the self-service bar. The lettuce and banchan felt fresh, so I ate the bossam wrapped in lettuce from the first bite.

What did the cold kalguksu taste like, and which dish was best?

The cold kalguksu had firm, chewy noodles. Its broth had a lightly spicy flavor that reminded me of janchi-guksu (banquet noodles). I thought it suited a hot day, but my friend, who prefers warm kalguksu, said the anchovy kalguksu would probably have suited her palate better than the cold version.

The octopus bibimbap was my favorite. By adding the stir-fried octopus and sauce a little at a time, I could keep it from becoming too salty. The octopus was firm yet tender, and my friend and I talked about how good the bibimbap and bossam were as we ate.

What was the restaurant interior like?

The interior had the welcoming feel of a neighborhood restaurant. Kalguksu, bibimbap, and bossam were its main dishes; even though I visited after the lunch rush, one group was still eating. Customers continued to come in while we ate.

Was there dessert after the meal?

There were chilled sikhye (sweet rice drink) and yakgwa (honey cookies) in an icebox to take and eat on the way out. Being able to have dessert after the meal stood out to me.