Late-night hagfish grill in Choryang, Busan: Gyeongbuksan at 10pm

I went looking for a proper hagfish spot in Busan and ended up at Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo. It's about a 5-minute walk from Choryang Station, so it's easy to get to, and it's also close to Busan Station — a good match if you're looking for a Choryang drinking spot or a dinner place near Busan Station.

Full at 10pm: inside the old-school Choryang grill house

Even though I visited late, around 10pm, Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo was packed with customers, the inside completely full. Seeing that many people on a weekday night that late made it clear this place is already quite well known locally.

At the entrance there was a Blue Ribbon Survey sticker for both 2025 and 2026, and inside the walls were covered with photos and autographs from various celebrities who'd visited. Add all that to the old-school, worn-in atmosphere, and it really felt like a proper Busan hagfish restaurant.

One more thing that stood out was being able to watch the hagfish get its first grilling right in front of you. Watching it cook straight on the griddle made the waiting time fun.

What side dishes come with the hagfish?

The basic side dishes at Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo were quail eggs, silkworm pupae, whelk, pickled onion, chili, garlic, ssamjang, and perilla leaves. They're all good pairings for hagfish, and everything went well together overall.

Ordering half salt-grilled, half sauce-grilled hagfish

We ordered half salt-grilled and half sauce-grilled. One side came out mild and plain, the other spicy — being able to try both flavors at once was great.

The clean, mild salt-grilled hagfish

The salt-grilled hagfish let you enjoy its natural flavor in the plainest way. Onion, garlic, and green onion were grilled alongside it, so the vegetables' natural sweetness and aroma came through naturally as it cooked, and the outside browned slightly while staying chewy inside.

Since the seasoning wasn't strong, it was easy to really taste hagfish's distinct savory flavor, and it was even better wrapped in a perilla leaf with garlic or onion, or dipped lightly in sauce. If you like a plain, unfussy drinking snack, the salt-grilled version will suit you.

The sweet and spicy sauce-grilled hagfish

The sauce-grilled version was much richer and spicier-sweeter than the salt-grilled one. The red sauce coated the hagfish and onion evenly, so the umami hit right away with the first bite — slightly spicy but also sweet, and I kept reaching for more. Wrapping the hagfish and onion together in a perilla leaf softened the sauce's punch a bit, and adding garlic brought out even more flavor.

The sauce-grilled version especially paired well with beer, and if you like rich, bold drinking food, this one will really satisfy. Best drinking snack ever,,, 💗

Finishing with hagfish fried rice

Of course, we finished with fried rice. With a bit of hagfish left on the griddle, they stir-fried rice, seaweed flakes, and vegetables together, and the sauce soaked into the rice grains just right, giving it a savory, salty flavor.

The umami from the hagfish sauce added even more, so even with a fairly full stomach I kept eating. The slightly crispy bits stuck to the bottom of the pan had an extra savory edge and were a real treat — after finishing both the salt-grilled and sauce-grilled hagfish and then the fried rice, the meal felt properly complete.

Why Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo works for a late night out in Choryang

Having been there myself, it's close to both Choryang Station and Busan Station, and being able to enjoy salt-grilled and sauce-grilled hagfish together made for a satisfying visit. The old-school atmosphere, the crowds even late at night, and getting to watch the first grilling — it's a place worth remembering if you're looking for a Busan hagfish restaurant.

I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a Choryang drinking spot to go with a drink, or a solid dinner place near Busan Station !!! 🐥🤍