Busanjin Third Tab Nightowl · 7 stories
Writes about restaurants and bars across Busan, Gyeongnam, and Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars
Ppallaepan Haemul Bossam Suyeong Main Branch is a seafood-focused Korean pub (pocha) near Suyeong Station in Suyeong, Busan. On a day of pouring rain, the writer, a regular, went with her older sister for altang (spicy fish roe stew, 28,000 won) with slushy soju, and the stew held so much roe and milt that they could hardly finish it. Ppallaepan is the first pub to think of in Suyeong when you want a spicy stew with a drink.
Geumrang Hoetjip Gwangalli Main Branch is a sashimi restaurant on the 6th floor of Marine Rich in Gwangalli, Suyeong, Busan, serving wild-caught assorted sashimi and seafood spreads with a view of Gwangan Bridge. On a date with her boyfriend, the writer ordered the Subyeon Hansang (waterside set) for two at 60,000 won per person and ate seafood, a platter of red sea bream, flounder, sea bass and mullet, and a clear jiri-tang (clear fish soup), too full to use the sashimi refill. Geumrang Hoetjip Gwangalli Main Branch suits couples who want a Gwangan Bridge view and a generous spread together.
Yetnal Tongdak & Tang Seomyeon Branch (옛날통닭앤탕 서면점) is a whole fried chicken and dakdoritang (spicy braised chicken stew) restaurant in the Seomyeon bar district of Busan. After a first round elsewhere, the writer stopped at Yetnal Tongdak & Tang for a second round and ordered the 30,000-won fruit set, which comes with half a melon and one whole boneless fried chicken, along with draft beer and soju. The verdict: sweet, ripe melon and crispy, juicy boneless chicken make Yetnal Tongdak & Tang a satisfying spot for a light second round in Seomyeon.
Taeyeong Saengmakchang Bujeon-jeom is a makchang (grilled pork large intestine) restaurant with an outdoor street-stall feel, located between Bujeon-dong and Seomyeon in Busan. We ordered 3 servings of raw pork makchang (10,000 won per 120g serving), which arrives more than 80% pre-grilled, plus 1++ hanwoo beef tartare (15,000 won), and ate them with a scallion and hot green chili sauce, the complimentary fish cake soup and somaek (soju mixed with beer). If you want savory makchang with no gamey smell, served quickly and without the hassle of grilling, Taeyeong Saengmakchang Bujeon-jeom is a good fit.
Sanseong Sikyukjeom Jeonpo Direct Store (산성식육점 전포직영점) is a hanok-style Korean BBQ restaurant near Jeonpo Station in Busan, where staff grill nuruk-aged pork for you. As a couple, we ordered Set A for two (₩54,000) with Suntory Premium draft beer (₩8,000) and mulmilmyeon (cold wheat noodles in broth, ₩6,000), and also enjoyed the complimentary radish soup, chili egg roll and a wide range of sauces. For an easy, no-fuss Korean BBQ date near Jeonpo Station, Sanseong Sikyukjeom Jeonpo Direct Store is a great fit.
Extra Mile (엑스트라마일) is a pizza and pasta restaurant in a converted house in Gwangalli, Suyeong, Busan. The writer and her older sister shared the Classic Combo, a half hot honey pepperoni and half birria taco pizza with bisque cream pasta, at a window table for two. Extra Mile's bisque cream pasta, made with red shrimp, was the best pasta the writer ate all year.
Don J Busan Seomyeon (돈제이 부산서면점) is an old-school pork BBQ restaurant near Seomyeon Station in Busanjin, Busan. The pork neck and belly set (600g) costs 38,000 won, and staff grill it from start to finish on an oiled iron pot lid, served with rustic doenjang stew (soybean paste stew), cheese-topped steamed egg, and ice cream for dessert. Even the thick pork neck came out juicy, making Don J an easy pick for a group dinner in Seomyeon.
