Harbor Seat Regular · 15 stories

At the Portside Table

I write about restaurant meals around Busan and Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceNam-gu, BusanRestaurants

Busan date meal in Yongho-dong: basil ricotta pasta, Table d'Hote

Table d'Hote Busan W Square Branch is a pizza and pasta restaurant on the 2nd floor of W Square in Yongho-dong, Nam-gu, Busan. The blogger, a basil lover, went on a date with her husband and ordered the fresh basil ricotta pasta (₩17,000), the gorgonzola milk basil pizza (₩13,000) and a morning roll with homemade jam (₩3,000), with a drink included for each menu item. With free parking, roomy seating and easygoing prices, Table d'Hote is a Yongho-dong date spot she would happily return to.

Written Apr 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, BusanRestaurants

Full-house pork soup lunch date near Pukyong Univ, Busan: Geumsu

Geumsu Dwaeji Gukbap Gyeongseong-Pukyongdae Branch is a pork soup (dwaeji gukbap) restaurant on the Kyungsung–Pukyong University food street in Nam-gu, Busan, open until 5 a.m. On a lunch date with her husband, the writer had sundae gukbap (Korean blood sausage soup) and pork gukbap at 9,500 won each, with unlimited rice and noodle refills and a free welcome glass of Jipyeong makgeolli. With generous portions and great rice, Geumsu Dwaeji Gukbap is a good-value lunch pick near Kyungsung and Pukyong universities.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Japanese curry lunch for two in Jeonpo: sausage and cutlet, Sarugak20

Sarugak20 is a Japanese curry restaurant in a basement in Jeonpo-dong, Busanjin, Busan, about a 4-minute walk from Jeonpo Station Exit 8. The writer and her husband ordered the Special Curry (11,000 won), the Sarugak Curry (12,000 won), a sweet potato cheese croquette and a soda-flavored ramune for lunch, and liked the rich, smooth curry, which tasted nothing like store-bought, and the generous rice. Close to Jeonpo Café Street, Sarugak20 is a solid lunch spot near Jeonpo Station for solo diners and dates alike.

Written Apr 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanCafés

Jeonpo, Busan bakery: weekend lunch date takeout at Upper East Bakery

Upper East Bakery is a second-floor bakery café on Jeonpo Café Street in Busanjin, Busan, known for its croissants and egg tarts. On a weekend lunch date, the writer returned to Upper East Bakery and took home an egg tart (4,900 won), an apple pie (6,200 won), an almond croissant (6,000 won) and a pistachio kouign-amann (6,500 won) to share with her husband. All four pastries were high quality, making Upper East Bakery one of the most satisfying Jeonpo stops on a Seomyeon bakery crawl.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Dalmaji-gil Chinese restaurant, drive date & beef jjamppong: Bueokgan

Bueokgan Chinese Haeundae Branch is a Chinese restaurant on the road up Dalmaji-gil in Haeundae, Busan, with European-style interiors and floor-to-ceiling windows framing the trees. On a drive date, the writer and her husband ordered Bueokgan jjajangmyeon (8,000 won), beef brisket jjamppong (12,000 won) and black vinegar sirloin tangsuyuk (28,000 won), and her spice-shy husband sweated through the jjamppong but still praised it. If you order only one dish at Bueokgan Chinese Haeundae Branch, make it the black vinegar sirloin tangsuyuk.

Written May 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

Burger shop in Busan's Aqua Mall: sweet potato fry set, 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. On a Nampo date with her husband, the writer ordered the Avocado Burger (12,700 won) and the Shrimp Deluxe Burger (11,600 won), made one a set and swapped in sweet potato fries; the burgers were bigger than expected and the sweet potato fries stood out. With a direct link to Nampo Station and department store parking, Downtowner Busan Lotte Gwangbok is a solid meal before or after shopping.

Written May 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceChangwon, GyeongnamRestaurants

Changwon Korean restaurant, weekend lunch with grilled fish: Anyeosane

Anyeosane Jecheol Hansang is a neat, home-style Korean restaurant in the main dining district of Sangnam-dong, Changwon. The writer booked a weekend lunch through Naver Reservation and ordered the Anyeosa Jecheol Hansang seasonal set meal (18,000 won per person, minimum two people). The set comes with gondeure rice (rice cooked with Korean thistle), soft tofu hot pot, Beolgyo cockle salad, spicy stir-fried pork and grilled fish. Anyeosane Jecheol Hansang is an easy, comforting meal, like home cooking, for anyone tired of heavy, strongly seasoned restaurant food.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, BusanRestaurants

Busan Station Chinese restaurant ₩15,000 lunch special: Jangchunhyang

Jangchunhyang (장춘향) is a Chinese restaurant a one-minute walk from Exit 1 of Busan Station, at the entrance to Busan's Chinatown in Dong-gu. The writer ordered Jangchunhyang's Lunch Special Course A at ₩15,000 per person: yusanseul (stir-fried seafood and meat), tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), and gochujapchae (stir-fried peppers and pork) with flower buns. For the meal dish, the writer chose old-style jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) and jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup), and found every dish satisfying. With no break time and private rooms, Jangchunhyang is worth recommending for a good-value Chinese meal right outside Busan Station.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceChangwon, GyeongnamRestaurants

Western grill in Seokdong, Jinhae: weekend date lunch at Shashlik

Shashlik Jinhae Branch is a Western restaurant in the Seokdong food alley of Jinhae-gu, Changwon, serving charcoal-grilled meat steak-style. The blogger visited with her husband for a weekend lunch and ordered the pork belly-neck shashlik (25,000 won) with extra meat and one portion of cheese fried rice. She was pleased with the smoky meat, the generous fried rice, the partitioned seats and the friendly service. Shashlik Jinhae Branch is a good Seokdong date spot for both atmosphere and flavor.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Jeonpo Korean restaurant for big eaters: eggplant bowl, Hyangtaek

Hyangtaek Jeonpo Branch is a newly opened Korean restaurant serving mostly one-bowl meals on Seojeon-ro in Jeonpo, Busanjin, Busan, from a brand that started at Daegu's Gyodong Market in 2022. On an early weekend lunch, the writer and a younger sibling ordered the eggplant doenjang rice bowl (13,000 won) and the Spanish mackerel gondre rice (14,000 won), which arrived in under 10 minutes with so much rice and topping that they still refilled the side dishes. Hyangtaek Jeonpo Branch is a good pick for a filling, mild, home-style Korean meal.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Gyudon restaurant in Gwangalli: kimchi gyudon set for 2-3, Peisen-dong

Peisen-dong Gwangalli is a Japanese rice bowl (donburi) restaurant on the second floor of a building on Millak-ro in Suyeong, Busan, near Gwangalli Beach. On a weekend, the writer walked into Peisen-dong Gwangalli with no wait right after the break ended at 5 p.m. The writer ordered the 31,000-won set for 2-3 people: kimchi gyudon (beef rice bowl), katsudon (pork cutlet rice bowl), cold soba (buckwheat noodles) and a Coke Zero. The deep bowls held far more food than expected. With good taste, generous portions, fair prices and friendly service, Peisen-dong Gwangalli is worth a return visit for a filling meal in Gwangalli.

Written Jul 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukCafés

Gyeongju tomb-view café: peach coffee, sumakse cookies, Bonghwangdang

Cafe Bonghwangdang (카페 봉황당) is a two-floor tomb-view café in Gyeongju, between Hwangnidan-gil and Daereungwon. The writer stopped by in the morning, sipped Bonghwang coffee (8,500 won) and peach coffee (6,500 won) while looking out at the royal tombs through floor-to-ceiling windows, then took home a 26,000-won sumakse (roof-tile cookie) set with 5 random flavors to share with family. Cafe Bonghwangdang is a good one-stop choice for a tomb-view break and an unusual Gyeongju dessert gift.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored