Third Round Wanderer · 16 stories

Between Seoul Plates

I write about restaurants I visit around Seoul. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars

PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Korean BBQ date in Gwangalli: 2mm pork neck, kimchi stew at Haean

Haean Sutbul Galbi Gwangalli Main Branch (해안숯불갈비) is a charcoal-grilled pork galbi restaurant on Namcheonbada-ro in Gwangalli, Suyeong, Busan. On a date, the writer and her boyfriend ordered 1 portion of premium raw pork galbi, 2 portions of 2mm marinated pork neck and pork kimchi stew; the raw galbi tasted nutty dipped in barley shrimp salt, and the thin 2mm pork neck cooked in moments and came out tender. With a spacious, clean dining room, friendly service and reasonable prices, Haean Sutbul Galbi is a solid pick for Korean BBQ in Gwangalli.

Written Apr 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanBars

Date-night Nampo-dong bar in Busan: brisket chicken feet & udon, Budan

Budan Nampo Branch is a black-themed Korean pub on Gwangbok-ro in Nampo-dong, Busan. The writer and her boyfriend sat by an open window over beef brisket chicken feet soup, added DIY rice balls (jumeokbap) and udon noodles, and finished with green tea choco bingsu (shaved ice). With a spicy broth, generous portions and an attentive owner, Budan Nampo Branch is a Nampo-dong bar worth recommending for both dates and group nights.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Non-fishy roe pasta at a Jeonpo Western restaurant: Odd Bird Oliver

Odd Bird Oliver is a European-style brunch and pasta restaurant in an alley near Jeonpo Station in Busanjin, Busan. On a weekday around 1 p.m., the writer took a window table for two and ordered the roe aglio e olio and the Bismarck sandwich: the roe pasta, which the writer had worried might taste fishy, was rich and savory, and Odd Bird Oliver's house-baked focaccia was delicious even on its own. Odd Bird Oliver is a good Jeonpo pick for dates, group meals, and brunch with dogs or kids.

Written May 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanCafés

Jeonpo, Busan café: weekday terrace tea time at Upper East Bakery

Upper East Bakery is a pastry bakery café in Jeonpo-dong, Seomyeon, Busan, best known for its tarts and croissants. On a weekday visit at opening time, the writer, a regular, sat on the Upper East Bakery terrace with a matcha latte, an Earl Grey orange ade and a pistachio kouign-amann. To sit back and choose desserts at leisure, visit Upper East Bakery at weekday opening time.

Written May 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Jjukkumi pub near Bujeon Station, Busan with staff grilling: Yongdusan

Yongdusan Sutbul Jjukkumi (용두산 숯불쭈꾸미) is a charcoal-grilled jjukkumi (baby octopus) pub in Busanjin, Busan, between Bujeon, Seomyeon and Jeonpo. Visiting with a younger sister and a boyfriend, the writer ordered 3 servings of charcoal jjukkumi, double cheese steamed egg and stone-plate flying fish roe fried rice, and staff grilled the tender, plump jjukkumi right at the table. Verdict: Yongdusan Sutbul Jjukkumi ranks among the writer's top 3 jjukkumi ever.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanCafés

Not-too-sweet milk tea café in Jeonpo, Busan: Mont Blanc pie, Hippy

Hippy is a dessert café specialising in cream pies and crepe roll cakes, set in a red-brick building tucked inside the Jeonpo café street in Busanjin, Busan. The writer ordered Hippy's house-made milk tea latte, an apple ade and the Mont Blanc chestnut cream pie: the milk tea was mild in sweetness and kept them sipping, while the Mont Blanc pie's light chestnut cream paired well with the pastry. With an annex, a terrace-style space and a standalone table among its many seating options, Hippy is a café worth recommending for dates and get-togethers.

Written May 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanCafés

Busan date café on Haeridan-gil: pecan caramel financier, Low & Sweet

Low & Sweet Roastery is a roastery café at the start of Haeridan-gil (해리단길), right in front of Haeundae Station in Busan. The writer and her boyfriend had a vanilla bean latte, a cortado, a pecan caramel financier and a pistachio madeleine, and loved Low & Sweet Roastery's wood-and-white European-style interior, hand-drip bar and terrace. Low & Sweet Roastery is a good pick for a Haeridan-gil date or a stop with kids or pets.

Written May 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

Nampo curtain-booth sashimi course with butter abalone: Ppong Sashimi

Ppong Sashimi (뽕사시미) is a Japanese sashimi restaurant on Chungjang-daero 5beon-gil in Jung-gu, Busan, near Jungangdong Station and Nampo. On a return visit with a partner, the writer ordered the 60,000 won mixed sashimi course for two, which ran from starters and assorted seafood to thick-cut mixed sashimi, tuna sashimi, a grilled platter, cod soup and fish roe rice. The Ppong Sashimi course is generous in portion and variety for the price, and its room-style seating suits dates and family gatherings.

Written May 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, BusanRestaurants

Korean beef BBQ in Dong-gu, Busan: BMS No.9 galbi dwitgogi, Hanuso

Hanuso Dwitgogi Beomil Branch (하누소뒷고기 범일점) is a hanwoo (Korean beef) dwitgogi BBQ restaurant in Dong-gu, Busan, a 3-minute walk from Beomil Station. On a weekday evening the writer and her boyfriend had 2 servings of hanwoo dwitgogi, 1 serving of galbi dwitgogi and kimchi-mari naengguksu (cold kimchi noodle soup). The 3 servings of meat cost about 50,000 won, and booking on Naver earned a free plate of hanwoo yukhoe (beef tartare). With good prices, flavour and service all round, Hanuso Dwitgogi Beomil Branch is a hanwoo spot in Beomil-dong worth recommending for family gatherings and group dinners.

Written May 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

Japanese restaurant date in Nampo: karaage set & ajifry, Daidokoro

Daidokoro Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch is a Japanese set-meal restaurant on the 10th floor of Lotte Department Store Gwangbok in Nampo, Busan. On a date, the blogger and her boyfriend ordered a mentaiko (pollock roe) udon set, a karaage set upgraded to soy sauce egg rice (+₩2,000) and big karaage (+₩5,000), and a side of ajifry (fried horse mackerel). The food came out quickly, with side dishes and milk pudding neatly arranged on one plate. All three dishes were satisfying, but the karaage set at Daidokoro Gwangbok was good enough to reorder and is the top pick.

Written May 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Tripe BBQ in Dal-dong, Ulsan: bull gopchang platter, Gopchang Wangguk

Gopchang Wangguk Ulsan Dal-dong branch is a gopchang and daechang (beef small and large intestine) restaurant on Sinjeong-ro 54beon-gil in Dal-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan, where bull gopchang is trimmed by hand every day and pre-grilled before it reaches the table. After booking ahead, the writer had the mixed grill for 3 and the signature gopchang doenjang (soybean paste stew with intestine): the gopchang was full of rich filling, nutty and free of gamey smell, and the gopchang doenjang was loaded with gopchang and pleasantly spicy. Gopchang Wangguk is worth recommending for a family meal or company dinner whenever you crave gopchang or daechang in Dal-dong.

Written May 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

Burger date in Nampo, Busan: truffle & crispy chicken at Downtowner

Downtowner Busan Lotte Gwangbok is a handmade burger restaurant on basement level 1 (B1) of Aqua Mall at Lotte Department Store Gwangbok in Nampo, Busan. On a date, the writer ordered the Double Cheese Truffle set, a Crispy Chicken burger on its own and a jumbo mozza stick, and rated the Crispy Chicken the best chicken-patty burger they had ever eaten. Downtowner Busan Lotte Gwangbok is an easy handmade-burger date meal before or after shopping in Nampo.

Written Jun 7, 2026Sponsored