Evening Spa Diner · 17 stories

Oncheon Evening Table

I write about restaurants I visit around Busan and Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés

PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Beef restaurant in Seomyeon, Busan: Tabling wait, oxtail taster, Sojay

Sojay Busan Seomyeon is a beef restaurant specialising in LA galbi and braised oxtail, in an alley on Seomyeon 1-beon-ga in Busanjin, Busan. On a weekday around 7 pm, the writer waited about 10 minutes through the Tabling app, then ordered two 200g portions of LA flower galbi (20,000 won each) and a taster oxtail stew (30,000 won); staff grilled the galbi at the table and the oxtail came off the bone at the touch of a chopstick. For two people, the LA flower galbi and taster oxtail stew combo at Sojay is well worth recommending.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Seomyeon jokbal pub: cold & garlic set with draft beer, Naseong Jokbal

Naseong Jokbal (나성족발) is a jokbal (braised pork trotter) restaurant on Seomyeon 1st Street near Lotte Department Store in Busan. Over dinner and drinks with a friend, the writer ordered Naseong Jokbal's small half-and-half set of cold jokbal and garlic jokbal, which came with tray makguksu (spicy mixed buckwheat noodles), squid stir-fry and soft tofu, alongside Suntory draft beer. Naseong Jokbal is a good Seomyeon pub when one kind of jokbal isn't enough and you want to try several dishes at once.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanBars

Seomyeon, Busan bar for sweet potato cheese fritters: 5 Budu Twigimjip

5 Budu Twigimjip (5부두튀긴집) is a retro bar serving Korean street snacks and fritters, within walking distance of Lotte Department Store in Seomyeon, Busan. On a second round with a friend, the writer paired Obun flat fish cake soup, Himssen chili fritters, Jagalchi squid fritters and Haenam gourmet fritters (sweet potato with cheese) with draft beer, and the meat-packed chili fritters and the cheesy Haenam sweet potato fritters stood out. For a light second-round drink in Seomyeon, 5 Budu Twigimjip is a good fit.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Anniversary Italian meal in Dunsan-dong: clam vongole at Bologna

Bologna Daejeon Dunsan Branch is an Italian pasta restaurant in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. Looking for an anniversary meal, the writer ordered bolognese ragu pasta (19,000 won), clam vongole pasta (16,000 won) and a chicken tenderloin salad (8,000 won), and found that the red-brick exterior, soft lighting and widely spaced tables at Bologna Daejeon Dunsan Branch made it easy to talk and eat slowly. Verdict: Bologna Daejeon Dunsan Branch is a strong pick for a special-occasion meal in Dunsan-dong when both atmosphere and flavor matter.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonBars

Izakaya in Dunsan-dong, Daejeon: ₩59,000 weekday lunch kaiseki – Sori

Sori (소리) is an omakase izakaya with a black-toned interior in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, serving a 9-part kaiseki omakase course for 59,000 won per person. On a reserved weekday lunch at Sori's open-kitchen counter, the course ran from sakizuke to dry-aged sashimi, golden tilefish rice cooked in an iron pot and dessert, with the chef explaining each dish. Sori in Dunsan-dong is a strong pick for anniversaries or a meal with parents, where atmosphere matters.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon Seo-gu octopus stir-fry milder than Shin Ramyun: Chongil Nakji

Chongil Nakji (촌길낙지) Tanbang branch is a Korean restaurant in Tanbang-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, near Lotte Department Store and Hanbat Arboretum, specializing in nakji bokkeum (spicy stir-fried long-arm octopus) and yeonpo-tang (long-arm octopus soup). The writer ordered the Special Nakji Stir-fry for 2 (35,000 won), with octopus, long-arm octopus, scallops and beef, at medium heat, which was milder than Shin Ramyun with a subtle smoky flavor and rich savoriness, and enjoyed it with soy bulgogi, somen noodles and leaf wraps. Chongil Nakji is a satisfying choice for anyone looking for a generous seafood spread.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon cold pork BBQ: flower neck and honeycomb pork skin at Kkodeul

Kkodeul Daepae Daejeon Wolpyeong Branch is a shaved pork belly and cold pork (naengsam) BBQ restaurant on a main road in Wolpyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. The writer tried kkodeul daepae (₩5,900), samgyeop daepae (₩4,900) and flower neck daepae (₩7,900), grilled scallion kimchi from the self-serve bar alongside, and finished with honeycomb pork skin and doenjang stew. Verdict: Kkodeul Daepae is a good-value Wolpyeong-dong BBQ spot with a wide range of shaved cuts and a self-serve bar that stretches to sundae, dumplings and marshmallows.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGijang, BusanRestaurants

Rainy-day Gijang outlet restaurant, pistachio jambon pizza: Bueokgan

Bueokgan Restaurant is a Western-style restaurant in the older building of Shinsegae Simon Busan Premium Outlets in Gijang, Busan, right next to the UGG store, serving pasta, pizza, risotto and steak ordered by tablet. On a rainy weekend around 1 PM, the writer walked straight in with a child and had shrimp rosé pasta (20,000 won), pistachio jambon pizza (24,000 won) and pastry-topped kabocha squash soup (10,000 won), helped by the roughly 70-pyeong dining room and high chairs brought out right away. Bueokgan Restaurant is a comfortable choice for a family meal before or after shopping at the outlet.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanBars

Gwangalli octopus bar: leg, body and head textures, Dari Yeodeolgae

Dari Yeodeolgae (다리여덟개) is an octopus specialist bar in Suyeong, Busan, about a 5-minute walk from Suyeong Station and close to Gwangalli. The writer, a Busan local of more than 20 years, had the whole boiled octopus (42,000 won) and grilled low-salt pollack roe (17,000 won) with soju, and was most impressed by the owner's explanation of how the leg, body and head differ in texture, along with the complimentary clam soup starter. For a Busan night out that isn't raw fish or barbecue, the whole boiled octopus at Dari Yeodeolgae is worth coming back for.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Seomyeon 2nd-round bar, soy gizzards and ₩2,000 steamed egg: Yetnal

Yetnal Tongdak & Tang Seomyeon Branch (옛날통닭앤탕 서면점) is a fried chicken and dakdoritang (spicy braised chicken) pub on Seomyeon 2-beonga in Busan, the directly run Seomyeon branch of a shop that was famous in Yeonsan-dong. On a second-round stop, soy-sauce fried gizzards (₩14,000) and a ₩2,000 steamed egg with draft beer and soju beat expectations: the gizzards were crisp outside and chewy inside, and the steamed egg was generous. Open until 5:30am Wednesday to Sunday, Yetnal Tongdak & Tang Seomyeon is a solid pick for a late second round or a group get-together.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Seomyeon galbijjim finished with kalguksu noodles: Sinchon Yangpuni

Sinchon Yangpuni Seomyeon Main Branch is a galbijjim (braised short ribs) restaurant that has served this one dish for 20 years in a Jeonpo-dong alley in Seomyeon, Busan. On a rainy evening the order was level 2 yangpuni galbijjim (28,000 won) with a half octopus added (23,000 won), a seafood potato pancake and steamed egg, finished with a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) add-on. Level 2 is said to be about as hot as Shin Ramyun, manageable even for weak spice eaters, and the octopus was meaty enough to make the pot look and taste far richer.

Written Aug 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

13-party Friday wait at a Seomyeon Korean BBQ: Anmin Busan

Anmin Busan is a Korean BBQ restaurant on Dongcheon-ro near Seomyeon Station Exit 8 in Busanjin, Busan, where the staff grill every cut for you. On a Friday visit at 7pm for two, 13 parties were waiting ahead, but bar seating opened up in about 10 minutes, and the meal was the half-pig set at 41,000 won plus an earthenware pot of sundubu-jjigae (soft tofu stew) at 6,000 won. Staff grilled the pork belly, pork neck and herb-marinated pork rind in order and kept the plate warm over a candle, which made the wait worth it.

Written Aug 18, 2026Sponsored