Sunset Seeker · 29 stories

An Open Menu

I write about restaurants I visit and meals I try in Busan and Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Restorative beef rib soup for Mom in Seomyeon: Gang Galbitang

Gang Galbitang Seomyeon (강갈비탕) is a beef rib soup (galbitang) restaurant making its soup by hand on Saessak-ro near Bujeon Market in Seomyeon, Busan. The writer returned to Gang Galbitang to help Mom recover her energy, ordering the signature galbitang (14,000 won) with the newly added Jeju-shipped medium noodles, and found generous ribs, a rich broth and friendly service. Gang Galbitang is a solid pick for a restorative meal when energy is low or for a solo meal in Seomyeon.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Pork bone BBQ by Suyeong Station, Busan: hotpot set at Paldo Ppyeogui

Paldo Ppyeogui Suyeong Main Branch (팔도뼈구이 수영본점) is a grilled pork bone restaurant on Gampo-ro in Suyeong, Busan. On a weekend evening the writer ordered the small Hangover Hotpot Set (2 servings, 40,000 won), which came with griddle-grilled pork bones, a spicy hangover hotpot, a giant 'bomb' steamed egg and Bushman bread; the small size had about five large bones with thick meat, and just two bones were filling. For a meat-and-drinks meal that is different from gamjatang (pork bone soup) or a Suyeong date-night dinner, the Hangover Hotpot Set at Paldo Ppyeogui Suyeong Main Branch is a hearty choice.

Written Oct 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Jeonpo sushi restaurant for kaisendon and set lunch: Kumano Sushi

Kumano Sushi is a small sushi restaurant with about five tables in Jeonpo-dong, Busanjin-gu, near Seomyeon in Busan. A lunch of the Kumano Sushi set (20,000 won) and a kaisendon (seafood rice bowl, 25,000 won) came to 45,000 won in total, and the neat sushi lineup and the aged-sashimi kaisendon made the price feel fair. Kumano Sushi is worth recommending for anyone who loves aged sashimi or wants a quiet Japanese lunch or date.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanCafés

Jeonpo, Busan bakery: matcha tart & pain au chocolat—Upper East Bakery

Upper East Bakery (어퍼이스트베이커리) is a croissant and pastry bakery on the second floor of a building on Jeonpo Café Street in Busan. The order was a classic croissant (₩5,000), a pain au chocolat (₩5,400), an egg tart (₩4,900) and a matcha tart (₩5,900). The flaky classic croissant and the matcha tart, packed with rich, bittersweet matcha cream, stood out most. On a Jeonpo bakery crawl, Upper East Bakery's matcha tart and pain au chocolat are well worth trying.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, BusanRestaurants

Munhyeon-dong perilla gukbap with Mom: Yeosueseo Onnajin Gukbap

Yeosueseo Onnajin Gukbap BIFC branch is a Yeosu-style gukbap (pork and rice soup) restaurant on the 3rd floor of BIFC Sangga-dong in Munhyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan. On a weekday lunch the writer and Mom had the white gukbap set (15,000 won), which came with a clear, refreshing broth made with perilla powder and bean sprouts and silky suyuk (boiled pork) with no gamey smell, and staff happily packed the leftover suyuk to go. If you want a clear broth instead of Busan's rich pork gukbap, Yeosueseo Onnajin Gukbap is a good gukbap restaurant to visit with your parents.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuncheon, GwangjuRestaurants

Suncheon cockle restaurant menu prices and vine terrace: Dowongyeong

Dowongyeong is a Korean restaurant specializing in cockle set meals on Suncheonman-gil in Suncheon, South Jeolla, a 3-minute drive from Suncheon Bay Wetland. On an autumn trip to Suncheon, the writer ordered the Dowongyeong cockle set meal for 2 (60,000 won) and tried cockle jeon (savory pancake), fried cockle jeonbyeong (crepe rolls), cockle sweet-and-sour pork, spicy raw cockle salad, cockle hamburg steak and cockle doenjang (soybean paste) stew at a window overlooking golden rice fields. For a family meal or date before or after Suncheon Bay National Garden and the wetland, the Dowongyeong cockle set meal is a hearty choice.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Tonkatsu in Jeonpo, Busan: loin sando with cabbage salad at Hets

Hets Jeonpo Branch (헷츠 전포점) is a tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant in Jeonpo-dong, Busanjin, Busan, near Jeonpo Station. On a weekday visit just after 5 p.m., the YBD mixed katsu (17,000 won) and the loin sando (12,000 won) were ordered, and the moist, tender fillet katsu and the loin sando eaten with cabbage salad stood out. For a first visit to Hets Jeonpo Branch, the YBD mixed katsu and loin sando pairing is the order to get.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Seomyeon, Busan: Friday dinner with Mom at Sojay

Sojay Busan Seomyeon is a retro-style galbi (beef rib) restaurant in Seomyeon, Busan, where staff grill the beef for you from start to finish. On a Friday evening with Mom, the wait was 10–20 minutes, and dinner was 500g of LA flower galbi and a tasting-size braised oxtail with chives, finished with soft tofu doenjang stew simmered with the grilled rib bones and fried egg rice. Sojay Busan Seomyeon is an easy beef BBQ pick for families who aren't confident grilling meat.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeosu, GwangjuRestaurants

Yeosu City Hall shabu-shabu buffet with BBQ ribs: Tongkeun Shabu

Tongkeun Shabu is an all-you-can-eat beef shabu-shabu and salad bar restaurant in Hakdong, near Yeosu City Hall. On a Yeosu outing, the writer came for dinner with her husband, who was craving hot broth; they refilled beef brisket and chuck in the plain mild broth several times and also enjoyed BBQ ribs, gorgonzola pizza, sushi, kalguksu noodles and soft serve, with weekday dinner and weekends at 26,900 won per adult. Tongkeun Shabu is a good-value pick for Yeosu travelers who want shabu-shabu plus family-restaurant-style hot food.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Jeonpo Korean restaurant for a weekday date: mushroom jeon, Hyangtaek

Hyangtaek Jeonpo Branch (향택 전포점) is a Korean restaurant on Seojeon-ro in Jeonpo-dong, Busanjin-gu, Busan. On a weekday dinner date, after a 5–10 minute wait, the writer ordered Spanish mackerel gondre rice (rice with thistle greens), herring roe bibim noodles and mushroom jeon (Hanpan mushroom). The mackerel gondre rice, wrapped in seaweed with a salted seafood dipping sauce, and the popping herring roe noodles were both clean and mild. Hyangtaek is an easy Jeonpo-dong pick for a tidy, unfussy meal with a partner or friends.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

Nampo, Busan Japanese course with cod stew and roe rice: Ppong Sashimi

Ppong Sashimi is a Japanese course restaurant with mostly private rooms in Jung-gu, Busan, between Jungangdong Station and Nampo. The writer and her husband had the assorted sashimi course at ₩60,000 per person. The course ran from abalone porridge, seafood, thick-cut sashimi and tuna sashimi to grilled cheese scallops, a sukiyaki-style beef hot pot, fried shrimp with curry salt, a standout cod stew and albap (fish roe rice). Her husband has eaten at many Japanese course restaurants and said he had never seen a spread like Ppong Sashimi's at this price, which makes it a great-value course.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

Nampo, Busan burger shop: 3 burgers at Busan's first Downtowner

Downtowner Busan Lotte Gwangbok is a handmade burger shop on B1 of the Aqua Mall at Lotte Department Store Gwangbok in Jung-gu, Busan, and the first Downtowner to open in Busan. At an early weekend lunch, the writer ordered the Avocado burger (12,700 won), the Chimichurri Avocado (12,900 won) and the Downtowner burger (9,900 won), and the juicy patties, fresh vegetables and avocado worked well together. Downtowner Busan Lotte Gwangbok is a solid pick for a filling burger meal while sightseeing or shopping in Nampo.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored