Munhyeon-dong perilla gukbap with Mom: Yeosueseo Onnajin Gukbap

What is Yeosueseo Onnajin Gukbap BIFC branch?

Yeosueseo Onnajin Gukbap BIFC branch (여수에서온나진국밥 부산국제금융센터점) is a newly opened Yeosu-style gukbap restaurant in the BIFC mall in Munhyeon-dong, Busan. I went on a weekday lunch with my mom.

I've always loved the TV show Heo Young-man's Food Travel (백반기행), and I heard a famous Yeosu gukbap place from the show had just opened in the BIFC mall in Busan, so I went in with big expectations.

After one spoonful, my mom said the broth was really refreshing and didn't hold back on the praise, which made me so proud. It has a very different charm from Busan-style pork gukbap: it's packed with perilla powder and plump bean sprouts, and the broth is very clear and clean-tasting.

Location, opening hours and parking at BIFC

• Location: 40 Munhyeongeumyung-ro, Nam-gu, Busan, BIFC Sangga-dong 3rd floor, Unit 302 (1 minute on foot from the International Finance Center, Exit 3 of Busaneunhaeng Station)
• Hours: Mon–Fri 10:00–21:10 (last order 20:10), Sun 10:00–15:00 (last order 14:00)
• Closed: every Saturday
• Parking: BIFC mall underground parking (2 hours free when you register after your meal)
• Reservations: Naver Reservation and phone

It's on the 3rd floor of the BIFC building, directly connected to the subway station, so access is great. There's also plenty of underground parking, which makes it easy to come by car.

What's the atmosphere like, and how do you order?

The restaurant mixes wood and white tones and felt tidy and pleasant. When we walked in at lunchtime, the tables were spaced widely and the flow wasn't cramped, so it was easy to eat comfortably with a parent.

It's an office district full of workers, so turnover is fast, and the staff greeted us warmly. Each seat has a tablet where you can browse the menu and pay up front, which was convenient.

On one side there's a neatly kept self-serve bar where you can help yourself to extra side dishes. It had plenty of fresh cheongyang chilies (spicy green chilies), sweet raw onion and savory ssamjang (dipping paste). The dishes and plates were spotless, so I trusted the hygiene right away.

Yeosueseo Onnajin Gukbap menu and prices

Gukbap sets

• Gukbap set ₩15,000
• White gukbap set ₩15,000
• Bean sprout gukbap set ₩12,900
• Soft tofu gukbap set ₩15,000

Gukbap

• Gukbap ₩10,000
• Special gukbap ₩12,000
• White gukbap ₩10,000
• White special gukbap ₩12,000
• Bean sprout gukbap ₩7,900
• Soft tofu gukbap ₩10,000

Suyuk (boiled pork) and jeon (Korean pancakes)

• Taster suyuk (150g) ₩13,000
• Suyuk, small (350g) ₩28,000
• Suyuk, large (530g) ₩38,000
• Premium suyuk, small (350g) ₩33,000
• Premium suyuk, large (530g) ₩43,000
• Drinking table set ₩53,000

We wanted to try the suyuk too, so we ordered the white gukbap set. The sets come with a generous bowl of gukbap plus suyuk.

What comes with the white gukbap set?

The white gukbap set was laid out quickly after we ordered, with a tidy spread of sides. Chilies, onion, ssamjang and fresh chives came neatly arranged on a stainless steel sharing plate, along with crisp, well-fermented kimchi and a small dish of special chojang (sweet-spicy red pepper sauce) mixed with perilla seeds for dipping the suyuk.

The white gukbap came steaming in a big ttukbaegi (earthenware pot), and just looking at it felt soothing. Crunchy bean sprouts and sliced green onion were piled on a clear, milky broth, with a generous topping of coarsely ground whole perilla in the middle.

Unlike the thick, rich, bone-broth-style pork gukbap you often see in Busan, it had a light, clean aroma closer to a clear soup. The local Yeosu style came through in the pot, which I found really interesting.

Is the suyuk in the white gukbap set tender?

The suyuk in the set was glossy, served with lightly blanched chives dressed in fragrant sesame oil and sesame seeds. I studied the plate of suyuk closely before even touching the gukbap.

I picked up a big slice with my chopsticks, and the lean-to-fat ratio was a true golden ratio. The white, translucent fat and pale pink meat held together along the grain.

The fat was chewy and the lean meat wasn't dry at all. The moment it hit my teeth it was so soft that it practically melted away.

There was zero gamey or porky smell, and a subtle, nutty juiciness filled my mouth. I dipped it in the special sauce (chojang mixed with whole perilla seeds) and rolled it up with the blanched chives.

The tangy, spicy chojang, the popping perilla aroma and the fragrant, sweet chives together with the tender pork made me exclaim out loud. My mom said it had been a really long time since she'd had suyuk this soft, and she loved it.

How does the perilla and bean sprout white gukbap broth taste?

When I stirred the white gukbap with a big spoon, there was far more meat and bean sprouts underneath than I'd seen from above. Every scoop came up with plump bean sprouts and tender meat.

I carefully tried the broth first: a clean, refreshing first sip, followed by a rich, nutty perilla finish that lingered and really soothed my stomach. Probably because of the bean sprouts, it isn't heavy and feels as fresh as kongnamul haejangguk (bean sprout hangover soup), which made it perfect for a lunch when you want to avoid anything harsh.

The meat inside the gukbap was cut thick and added generously, and being a suyuk specialist, even the meat in the soup wasn't dry but chewy and moist. The crunchy sprouts, a piece of tender meat and the sharp bite of sliced green onion made such a good combination that I couldn't stop spooning.

I put a bowl of rice into the soup, topped it with a piece of tangy kimchi and slurped it down, and it was so filling that sweat beaded on my forehead, warming me deep inside. Even without spicy red seasoning, a deep savoriness soaked the whole broth, so I drank it down to the last drop.

Can you take leftover suyuk home?

The white gukbap set is so generous that one bowl of gukbap alone fills you up. Quite a lot of the suyuk was left over, and it felt like a real shame to leave it behind.

Just in case, I carefully asked a staff member whether they could pack the leftover suyuk, and with no sign of annoyance and a bright smile, they happily boxed it up neatly. I was deeply touched by how warm and kind they were. That small gesture made the walk out after the meal feel even happier and heartwarming.

Verdict and tips for visiting with your parents

Yeosueseo Onnajin Gukbap was Yeosu-style gukbap with a completely different character from the rich Busan pork gukbap I usually eat. The nutty perilla and the refreshing bean sprouts meet the pork broth, making it perfect as a hangover soup and a wonderful meal in its own right.

The suyuk in the set especially was among the most tender and juicy I've had lately, to the point that I wanted to add it as a single order. I'd definitely recommend it if you're taking your parents or you like a clean, clear broth.

• On weekday lunch, nearby office workers rush in and there may be a short wait, so it's much more relaxed before 11:30 or after 12:30.
• When leaving, tell the counter your license plate number to register for 2 hours of free parking.

Today again I filled my time with a hearty, delicious meal and came home happy.