Southern Table Local · 37 stories

Restaurants Down South

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

PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Tonkatsu lunch with kids in Songjeong, Busan: 140g loin cutlet, Hana

Hana Donkatsu Songjeong Beach Branch is a tonkatsu restaurant at the start of the Gwangeogol food alley in Songjeong, Haeundae, Busan, and it has its own parking lot. After a trip to Songjeong Beach, our family had lunch there with our child: a 140g loin cutlet (12,000 won), a 3-piece tenderloin cutlet (13,000 won) and katsu nabe (12,000 won). The self-service zone's kids' tableware and baby chairs meant we didn't need to bring anything. Hana Donkatsu Songjeong Beach Branch is a family meal spot in Songjeong where the kids eat well and the adults leave happy.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

No-break-time Korean BBQ in Gwangalli: pork kimchi stew at Donbegi

Donbegi Gwangan Branch (돈베기 광안점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Gwangalli (Millak-dong, Suyeong-gu), Busan, in a standalone building that uses both the first and second floors. The writer had staff-grilled five-layer pork belly (ogyeopsal) in a 6-person private room on the second floor, then finished with a 7,000 won kimchi stew packed with pork and a bowl of rice. The five-layer pork belly was satisfying, but the real highlight at Donbegi was the kimchi stew.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Jungdong Western restaurant for 3 generations: jambon pizza, Bueokgan

Bueokgan Haeundae Branch is a European-style Western restaurant on the second floor of a standalone building on the uphill road by Dongbaek Elementary School in Jungdong, Haeundae, Busan. On a weekend, three generations (grandparents, parents and a child) shared the jambon pizza (24,000 won) and the seafood tomato ttukbaegi pasta (pasta in an earthenware pot). The wide spacing between tables, elevator, high chairs and parking lot made the meal comfortable for everyone. Bueokgan Haeundae Branch is a Haeundae family-dinner pick that pleased everyone from the grandparents to the child.

Written Jun 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Pet-friendly Gwangalli restaurant: crab rosé pasta, risotto, Marento

Marento is a wood-toned Western restaurant in Gwangalli, Suyeong, Busan, right in front of the Waterside Park public parking lot, with terrace seats and solo-dining seats, and pets are welcome. The writer ate the spicy crab rosé pasta with a choice of spice level (₩18,000), the truffle mushroom cream risotto (₩19,000) and the margherita pizza (₩24,000), and was happy with all three. Marento is a good fit if you want a meal and bingsu (Korean shaved ice) in one place in Gwangalli.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, BusanRestaurants

Nam-gu, Busan pork soup with baby chairs & stroller room: Geumsu

Geumsu Dwaeji Gukbap Gyeongseong-Pukyongdae Branch is a pork soup (dwaeji gukbap) restaurant with about 50 seats on the food street near Kyungsung and Pukyong universities in Nam-gu, Busan. The writer's family, including a young child, had suyuk baekban (boiled pork set meal) and sundae gukbap (Korean blood sausage soup) and liked the baby chairs, wide aisles, mild broth, free extra rice and noodles, and welcome makgeolli. Geumsu Dwaeji Gukbap is a solid pick for a family meal with kids near Kyungsung University.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Gwangalli Japanese home cooking: 3-person set & guest perks, Daidokoro

Daidokoro Gwangalli Main Branch is a Japanese home-cooking restaurant on the second floor of a side-street building in Namcheon-dong, Suyeong-gu, Busan. The writer ordered the Dado Special 3-person set (52,900 won), which bundles karaage, nanban and curry sets with menbosha (shrimp toast) and drinks. The chicken nanban was the standout, and perks for office workers, students, baby guests and soldiers also caught the writer's eye. For hearty Japanese home cooking with thoughtful service in Gwangalli or Namcheon-dong, Daidokoro is a good choice.

Written Jun 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Korean pot rice lunch with parents in Gwangalli: cubed steak, Solsot

Solsot Gwangalli (솔솥 광안리점) is a Korean pot rice (sotbap) restaurant in Suyeong, Busan, about a 5-minute walk from Gwangalli Beach and right in front of Ancien. The writer ordered the steak pot rice (₩17,900), the sea bream scallop pot rice and a side of yurinki (fried chicken in tangy soy sauce, ₩8,500), then finished with nurungji (scorched rice); the big cubes of steak and the clean, mild sea bream scallop stood out most. With no break time, Solsot Gwangalli is a good Korean restaurant in Gwangalli for a neat, tidy lunch with your parents.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Millak Waterside Park fish restaurant for 3 generations: Hwadeogeuro

Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo Gwangalli Waterside Park Branch is a Korean set-meal restaurant right in front of Millak Waterside Park in Suyeong, Busan, that grills fish in a 500°C oven. Our family of three generations ordered the mackerel set and the oven-grilled spicy pork set (₩16,000 each) and the braised mackerel with bracken set (₩18,000), and even a child who rarely eats fish ate plenty of the oven-grilled mackerel. With Gwangan Bridge ocean views, partitioned seating and parking, Hwadeogeuro Gan Godeungeo is an easy recommendation for a family meal with parents and kids.

Written Jun 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanCafés

Off-leash brunch café in Haeundae: pet milk ice cream & pasta, Oira

Oira is a dog-friendly brunch café in Jwa-dong, Haeundae, Busan, with a grass yard where dogs can run off-leash. With a dog and a child, the writer ordered Oira's Café Plate for two (Hanwoo open burger, sausage pasta and salad), a lemonade and an Americano, and the dog got a complimentary pet milk ice cream. Oira is a strong pick for Haeundae dog owners who want good food and a café that genuinely looks after dogs.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, BusanRestaurants

Sundae gukbap with unlimited rice near Kyungsung Univ, Busan: Geumsu

Geumsu Dwaeji Gukbap Gyeongseong-Pukyongdae Branch is a pork soup (dwaeji gukbap) restaurant in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, near Kyungsung University and Pukyong National University. At Geumsu Dwaeji Gukbap, the writer ordered sundae gukbap (Korean blood sausage soup with rice) instead of pork soup, alternated it with kimchi and kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), and filled up on unlimited rice refills and extra noodles. The verdict: a clean Kyungsung University gukbap spot with no stale smell, good for when you want a filling meal without worrying about running out of rice.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGijang, BusanRestaurants

Snow crab restaurant in Gijang Market, Busan: 2 crabs ₩150,000 for 3

Gijang Myeongpum Daegae (기장명품대게) is a snow crab restaurant inside Gijang Market in Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan. Two adults and one child ordered 2 snow crabs for 150,000 won in total and got 2 red crabs on the house; the weighing was shown openly, so ordering felt trustworthy, and they added the salad bar, fried rice and doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew) set. For a family meal of Gijang Market snow crab without worrying about rigged scales, Gijang Myeongpum Daegae is a satisfying choice.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Marine City Chinese after break time: five-layer pork jajang, Bueokgan

Bueokgan Chinese Marine City Branch (부엌간 차이니즈) is an ocean-view Chinese restaurant on the 2nd floor of a seafront building in Marine City, Haeundae, Busan. Arriving at 5 p.m., right as break time ended, the writer ordered black vinegar tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), beef brisket jjamppong rice and five-layer pork belly jajangmyeon. All three were above par and arrived in ceramic dishes that felt like a proper welcome. With sea views and private rooms, Bueokgan is a solid pick for family meals or hosting guests.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored