Busan Korean restaurant for suyuk baekban: Yeongdong Milmyeon

Whenever I go to Busan, I somehow feel like I have to have dwaeji gukbap (pork soup with rice) at least once, haha. On this Busan trip, I visited Yeongdong Milmyeon & Dwaeji Gukbap Busan Station Branch (영동밀면&돼지국밥 부산역사), right in front of Busan Station. Plenty of people must be looking for somewhere to eat as soon as they arrive at the station or before catching a train, and this place was easy to find on the second floor of the building across the street from the station. For someone like me traveling around Busan by public transport, being close to the station was a huge plus.

A travel-friendly location right by Busan Station

Location was one of the most important things to me while looking for dwaeji gukbap around Busan Station. Since I only had to cross the street from the station, I did not have to carry my heavy luggage a long way, which was great. It was also a good spot for a meal just after arriving in Busan or when I had a little time before my train. When I visited, I noticed plenty of people who looked like travelers too.

A neat restaurant that was comfortable for eating alone

The first thing I noticed upon entering was how neat the restaurant was. There are quite a few times when you need to eat alone while traveling in Busan, and the atmosphere did not feel awkward for solo diners. I ate alone too and could enjoy my meal comfortably. These days, taste matters to me, of course, but I also pay attention to whether I can eat comfortably on my own without feeling self-conscious. In that respect, I liked it here.

And, as you would expect from a restaurant near Busan Station, one thing that stood out was the separate space for storing luggage! When you are traveling, even having one suitcase can make you quietly wonder where you should put it in a restaurant. Being right in front of Busan Station and having a space for suitcases made it feel like a restaurant that had really considered Busan travelers.

Ordering the ₩13,000 suyuk baekban

The menu I chose that day was the ₩13,000 suyuk baekban (boiled pork set meal). Dwaeji gukbap would have been nice since I was in Busan, but I wanted to have suyuk too, so I chose this set. When the full spread arrived, having both the boiled pork and broth made it a hearty meal.

Tender suyuk with no off smell

I started with the all-important suyuk. Boiled pork can sometimes have that distinctive off smell if it is not done well, so that is something I pay close attention to. But the suyuk at Yeongdong Milmyeon & Dwaeji Gukbap Busan Station Branch had almost no off smell and was tender and delicious. It was not tough, so it was easy to eat, and it suited my taste for clean, simple boiled pork. If you are searching for dwaeji gukbap near Busan Station but feel that soup alone might be a little lacking, I think choosing the suyuk baekban like I did would be a good option.

I also liked the clean-tasting broth

I also liked the broth that came with the suyuk. It was not overly heavy or strongly gamey; it had a clean flavor that went well with the pork. A piece of suyuk followed by a spoonful of warm broth made me feel like I was having a proper meal in Busan, haha. Dwaeji gukbap can be a matter of personal preference depending on the broth, but I like this kind of clean style, so I was satisfied.

If you are looking for a solo meal at Busan Station

More than anything, what I felt during this visit was that this was a restaurant convenient for travelers. It was easy to find across from Busan Station, the restaurant was neat, it was comfortable for eating alone, and there was even space to leave a suitcase. Your first or last meal on a trip is often taken care of near Busan Station because of your travel route, and those little details really matter.

My overall take on Yeongdong Milmyeon Busan Station Branch

The suyuk baekban I had at Yeongdong Milmyeon Busan Station Branch was ₩13,000. The boiled pork was tender and delicious without an off smell, and the broth was clean, making it an easy, pleasant meal overall. Above all, it was right across from Busan Station, easy to access, and neat enough that eating alone did not feel awkward. As a Busan traveler, I also really appreciated the luggage-storage space.

If you are looking for dwaeji gukbap around Busan Station or a hearty meal near the station before or after taking the train, this is a place worth visiting. On my next trip to Busan, I would like to try the milmyeon too, just as the name suggests. :)