Sashimi sushi with kids at a Gyeongseongdae sashimi restaurant, Busan

While traveling in Busan, happy lucky mom stopped by near Gyeongseongdae. It's a hip spot full of young energy, and today I'm introducing a great-vibe restaurant near Bugyeongdae and Gyeongseongdae: Sintongyeong Gyeongseongdae Branch.

Where is Sintongyeong Gyeongseongdae Branch, and what are its hours?

• Address) 21 Suyeong-ro 334beon-gil, Nam-gu, Busan, South Korea (1F, Haeun Building)
• Getting there) 185m from Exit 1, Gyeongseongdae·Bugyeongdae Station
• Hours) 14:00-01:00, closed every Wednesday
• Other) Group seating available, accepts regional currency
• Parking) Need to use a nearby paid lot

It's just 185m from Exit 1 of Gyeongseongdae·Bugyeongdae Station on Line 2, so access is great. Being so close to the station makes it perfect for a drink or two!

Where to park: a paid lot 5 minutes on foot

Sintongyeong Gyeongseongdae Branch doesn't have its own parking lot, so I parked at a paid lot within a 5-minute walk. It's ₩1,500 for 30 minutes, then ₩500 per 10 minutes after that (Ilhwa Parking). Good to know if you're visiting by car while traveling. There are paid lots scattered around the area — the one I used was actually full when I first tried.

The storefront and the live fish tanks

The vibe already felt great... is this really a sashimi restaurant?

The well-maintained fish tanks caught my eye too. The fish looked fresh.

Since it's autumn, you can also try gizzard shad.

Inside the restaurant

I only took photos of the empty tables inside — everywhere else was full.

There was a wide variety of menu items — live fish sashimi, sets, seafood, drinking snacks, and meal dishes.

What we ordered: sashimi and seafood set for two, plus sashimi sushi

At Sintongyeong Gyeongseongdae Branch, we ordered the assorted sashimi seafood set for two (₩60,000) and sashimi sushi (₩15,000). Since I came with my kid, I also tried the sashimi sushi menu item.

A generous spread of sukidashi starters

So many side dishes came out — japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), seasoned cockles, shine muscat grapes, candied sweet potato which I hadn't had in a while.

Corn cheese and fried fish cutlet also came out, great for enjoying before the sashimi arrived.

Asking for gizzard shad in the assorted sashimi

I love gizzard shad, but it's hard to eat with my kid around, so it had been a while since I'd had any. I asked them to mix some into the assorted sashimi and this is what came out. My partner isn't a huge fan of gizzard shad, so it worked out well for everyone to eat to their taste. If you order the assorted sashimi platter, you can request gizzard shad mixed in too! Can't resist autumn gizzard shad ✨

The gizzard shad was nutty and savory.

Gizzard shad is delicious whether you dip it in chojang (vinegar chili sauce) or makjang (seasoned soybean paste)! I personally prefer it raw over grilled.

The white fish was also chewy and tender. It's great with wasabi soy sauce, but also pairs wonderfully with makjang and aged kimchi. I think it was flounder and rockfish! (just my guess)

The assorted seafood plate

The assorted seafood was a generous mix of abalone, sea squirt, and more.

One bite of sea squirt and the ocean flavor really came through! I'm a lightweight so I skipped drinks, but this seafood seemed like it would pair great with alcohol.

Fried dishes came out too. I was already getting full, but they kept coming! The mini fried blue crab was savory and crispy. The fried perilla leaves were a nice special touch too.

Sashimi sushi à la carte: the easiest dish for kids

The [sashimi sushi] I ordered for my kid to eat is a ₩15,000 a la carte item. The sashimi was thick, and the sushi pieces were sizable too. Since they noticed we had a child at the table, they served the wasabi separately — such a thoughtful touch! My kindergartner can't eat sushi with wasabi in it, so thanks to that, she got to enjoy it happily too.

To finish: spicy fish stew with banga (Korean mint) leaves

I was already full, but there's even a spicy fish stew course...? Unusually, this stew is topped with banga leaves (a fragrant herb). I heard people in Gyeongnam eat banga leaves often, but as a couple born in Seoul and Gyeonggi, it was our first time!

With fish, tofu, enoki mushrooms and other vegetables, plus hand-torn dough dumplings, it worked great as a full meal too! We were so full that we skipped the rice or ramen noodle add-on. The ₩30,000-per-person assorted sashimi seafood set includes the fish stew too, so you can eat quite heartily. The chewy dumpling pieces were fun to fish out and eat.

Final verdict on Sintongyeong Gyeongseongdae Branch

A fresh sashimi restaurant in Daeyeon-dong, located near the hip Bugyeongdae and Gyeongseongdae area. You can enjoy live fish sashimi prepared right after ordering, along with a variety of seasonal seafood. Between the assorted seafood course, the side dishes, and the fish stew, I was completely full. This place was packed even on a weekday evening — highly recommend it for a date or gathering spot in Daeyeon-dong, Busan.