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I write about meals at restaurants I visit in Busan and Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Restaurants · Food & snacks · Cafés · Bars

PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Gwangalli family Korean BBQ dinner: pork belly & ribs, Myeongseung

Myeongseung Jeju Saenggogi (명승제주생고기) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Gwangan Station Exit 1 in Suyeong, Busan, that uses only Jeju pork. After playing at Gwangalli Beach, a family dropped in on a whim and ordered 3 portions of fresh pork belly (ogyeopsal), 2 portions of marinated ribs, and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) with rice, served with the owner's homemade sour kimchi, garden-grown greens and myeoljeot (fermented anchovy sauce), and the whole family was satisfied. Myeongseung Jeju Saenggogi is a recommended spot for a family dinner after a day at Gwangalli Beach.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Date-night octopus pub in Jeonpo, Busan with Kkeguri: Yongdusan

Yongdusan Sutbul Jjukkumi (용두산숯불쭈꾸미) is a Korean pub specialising in charcoal-grilled jjukkumi (baby octopus), on a main road in Jeonpo-dong, Busanjin-gu, Busan. Curious about the constant queue, the writer went on a date with his wife and ordered the Yongdusan set (charcoal jjukkumi, bosam and double-cheese steamed egg) plus Kkeguri, and the staff grilled the jjukkumi from start to finish until it was moist and chewy. With the bosam and steamed egg just as good, Yongdusan Sutbul Jjukkumi is worth recommending for a Seomyeon–Jeonpo date.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, BusanRestaurants

Family lamb skewer dinner after a KBS Hall show in Busan: Janghoga

Janghoga Yang Kkochi Gyeongseong–Pukyong University Direct Branch is a charcoal-grilled lamb skewer restaurant on the food street between Kyungsung University and Pukyong National University in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan. After a show at KBS Hall, the blogger stopped in on a whim with his wife and son and ordered 2 portions of fresh lamb skewers, 1 portion of premium lamb rib skewers and guobaorou (Chinese-style sweet-and-sour pork), grilling the skewers on an auto-rotating charcoal grill. With lamb that had no gamey smell and late opening hours, Janghoga was a satisfying choice for a family dinner after a performance.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDalseo, DaeguRestaurants

Daegu Korean restaurant: Hanwoo bulgogi rice pot lunch, Geumdeungeo

Geumdeungeo Dalseo Branch (금등어 달서구 직영점) is a Korean restaurant serving rice pot set meals on the 3rd floor of Jincheon Mat Town in Dalseo, Daegu. On an unplanned stop during a Daegu trip, the writer had a lunch of two Hanwoo bulgogi rice pot set meals (₩20,000 per person) and neopttigi yukjeon (wide pan-fried beef slices), plus homemade banchan from the self-serve bar, dessert coffee brewed with a choice of Starbucks or Hands Coffee beans, and flower rice cakes. Geumdeungeo Dalseo Branch is a solid pick for a family meal with parents or a filling lunch while traveling.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongsan, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gyeongsan Korean restaurant: perilla siraegi bibimbap set, Cafe Dongi

Cafe Dongi Yeungnam University Art Center Branch is a Korean set-meal chain restaurant on the 2nd floor of the main hall at Yeungnam University's Cheonma Art Center in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk. After finishing errands at Yeungnam University, the writer dropped in on a whim for the perilla siraegi bibimbap set, the grandma's webfoot octopus stir-fry set and a small tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), and the mild siraegi (dried radish greens), smoky octopus and easy-to-digest koji-aged tangsuyuk were all satisfying. With free parking and an unlimited self-serve bar, Cafe Dongi is a good-value place to eat in Gyeongsan.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Seomyeon Korean pub night, mayo-garlic rib wraps: Sinchon Yangpuni

Sinchon Yangpuni Seomyeon Main Branch is a Korean pub in Busanjin, Busan, near Seomyeon Station Exit 2, serving yangpuni galbi-jjim (braised ribs in a big metal bowl) with a 20-year history. Out for drinks with a friend, the writer ordered 2 portions of braised ribs at spice level 2 topped with half a jumbo octopus, Jeolla-style aged kimchi and pour-over cheese. They wrapped the ribs in perilla leaves with pickled onion and mayo-garlic sauce, then finished with rice balls. Sinchon Yangpuni Seomyeon Main Branch suits a Seomyeon night out when you want drinking food and a proper meal in one go.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, BusanRestaurants

Korean BBQ and shabu ring for two in Daeyeon, Busan: Migsikga's

Migsikga's Grill & Shabu Daeyeon branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant on the 2nd floor right in front of Daeyeon Station Exit 6 in Nam-gu, Busan, where you can have grilled meat and shabu-shabu at the same table. On a weekend visit, the writer and his wife ordered the Pork Couple Set, added a shabu ring and flying fish roe sushi, and found the thick, juicy aged pork neck and the kimchi jjim (braised kimchi) side dish especially memorable. With both shabu-shabu and grilled pork for under 50,000 won, Migsikga's Grill & Shabu is a great-value pick for couples and families.

Written Jun 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonje, BusanRestaurants

Yeonsan-dong hanwoo BBQ date night after work in Busan: Sonja Hanwoo

Sonja Hanwoo Rosgui Yeonsan-dong Flagship (손자한우로스구이 연산동본점) is a hanwoo (Korean beef) grill restaurant in a converted house near Yeonsan Station Exit 10 in Busan. A regular came after work with his wife for the Sonja Han Pan set (58,900 won) and spicy Yeongdo Halmae perilla buckwheat noodles, wrapped the beef with myeongi (pickled wild garlic leaves), bean sprouts and squid jeotgal (salted fermented squid), and bought sesame and perilla oil on the way out. Because staff grill the meat at Sonja Hanwoo Rosgui, couples can focus on talking, which makes it a good Yeonsan-dong date-night spot.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, BusanRestaurants

Hagfish grill near Busan Station for daytime drinks: Gyeongbuksan

Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo (경북산꼼장어) is a coal-briquette hagfish restaurant near Busan Station in Dong-gu, Busan, run by three generations since 1963. After celebrating a friend's new pharmacy, the writer ordered a medium half-and-half hagfish (salt-grilled and spicy sauce) plus fried rice with somaek (soju mixed with beer) for daytime drinks: the salt-grilled hagfish had no gamey smell, the sauce version carried a smoky fire flavor, and the fried rice was scraped up from the pan like crispy scorched rice. For hagfish on a Busan Station, Choryang or Chinatown route, Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo is worth a stop.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonje, BusanRestaurants

Yeonsan Station noodle house: perilla oil kalguksu, Sinseon Myeonga

Sinseon Myeonga (신선면가) is a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and bossam (boiled pork wraps) restaurant with handmade noodles near Exit 4 of Yeonsan Station in Yeonje, Busan. The writer went to Sinseon Myeonga for dinner with his wife, who works nearby, and ordered a small bossam, bulgogi bibimbap made with a blend of Suhyangmi and Icheon Imgeumnim rice, and perilla oil kalguksu with noodles made in-house. Sinseon Myeonga puts real care into both its rice and its noodles, making it a good place for dinner near Yeonsan Station.

Written Jul 11, 2026Sponsored
ProductHandongFood & snacks

Deer antler pills as a gift for an overworked wife: Handong Jinokhwan

Handong Jinokhwan is a deer antler pill made by the Handong Deer Antler Institute from New Zealand SA-grade deer antler, raw rehmannia juice, poria, ginseng and honey. The writer gave Handong Jinokhwan to a wife worn out by frequent overtime, and the couple now take one pill each morning on an empty stomach. It is too early to report dramatic changes, but the black-and-gold packaging and individual wrapping make Handong Jinokhwan a satisfying deer antler pill to give as a gift.

Written Jul 23, 2026Product provided
PlaceNam-gu, BusanRestaurants

Daeyeon-dong, Busan BBQ with mortar-ground sesame salt: Donnamu Jip

Donnamu Jip (돈나무집) is a Jirisan pork belly restaurant in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, near Exit 1 of Gyeongseongdaebugyeongdae Station. At Donnamu Jip, a full plate of Jirisan pork belly (360g, 37,000 won) came with banga doenjang stew, a bowl of rice and yeolmu (young radish) noodles. The standouts were grinding sesame seeds and salt in a mortar for dipping and soaking rice in the doenjang stew. For chewy Jirisan pork belly with freshly ground sesame salt, Donnamu Jip in Daeyeon-dong is an easy recommendation.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored