Haeundae Banchan Tray · 40 stories

The Side Dish Plate

I write about meals and restaurant visits in Busan and Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Books & stationery

PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Korean pot rice a minute from Gwangalli Beach: ₩8,500 yurinki, Solsot

Solsot Gwangalli (솔솥 광안리점) is a Korean pot rice (sotbap) restaurant in Suyeong, Busan, about a 1-minute walk from Gwangalli Beach. The blogger couple ordered steak pot rice, Wando abalone pot rice and the 8,500-won Tasty Yurinki (fried chicken in a tangy soy sauce), then finished the broth nurungji (scorched rice). For a filling meal before or after a walk along Gwangalli Beach, Solsot Gwangalli's pot rice and yurinki make a great pairing.

Written Nov 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Haeundae crab restaurant's fruit-aged spicy crab: Deodo Gejang

Deodo Gejang (더도게장) is a gejang (marinated raw crab) restaurant newly opened in the Hanil Ordyu building in Marine City, Haeundae, Busan, after building a word-of-mouth following in Yangsan, with Jeju yellow crab prepared by a chef with 20 years of experience who came from a 5-star hotel. The blogger couple ordered Deodo Gejang's signature Ajju Bulgogi live crab set for 2 and were especially impressed by the clean, savory spicy crab aged with chili flakes and natural fruit instead of gochujang. With a hall of over 60 pyeong and parking in the building's lot, Deodo Gejang is a solid pick for a family meal or lunch after a walk around Dongbaek Island.

Written Nov 11, 2026Sponsored
ProductYunjanghyeok jeoBooks & stationery

Yunjanghyeok jeo investing book with 87,066 redemption cases: Yunjanghyeok jeo Investment Rules

Yunjanghyeok jeo Investment Rules (Yunjanghyeok jeo 투자의 법칙) is a personal finance book by Yoon Jang-hyeok that analyzes the actual redemption results of 87,066 Yunjanghyeok jeo (equity-linked securities) issued between 2015 and 2025. A blogger who had bought an Yunjanghyeok jeo on a bank employee's word used the book's statistics and 13-item checklist to review their own Yunjanghyeok jeo account. Verdict: Yunjanghyeok jeo Investment Rules gives you clear criteria for weeding out bad Yunjanghyeok jeo before you go looking for a good one.

Written Nov 7, 2026Product provided
PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

Nampo octopus restaurant with easy parking: naksae for 2, Jobang Nakji

Jobang Nakji No. 1 Lotte Department Store Gwangbok branch is a Korean octopus restaurant on the 10th-floor dining level of Lotte Department Store Gwangbok's main building in Nampo, Busan. While shopping, the blogger couple Jjokko Bubu ordered naksae stir-fry (octopus and shrimp) for 2, two bowls of rice and a Coke Zero, mixing everything with seaweed flakes, and enjoyed the plump octopus, springy shrimp and the sweet, savory sauce aged for over a month. Because diners can use the department store car park, Jobang Nakji No. 1 is an easy place to drive to for a filling Korean meal.

Written Nov 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

Japanese eatery linked to Nampo Station: 2 sets & menbosha, Daidokoro

Daidokoro Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch is a Japanese home-cooking restaurant on the 10th-floor restaurant floor of Lotte Department Store Gwangbok's main building, connected underground to Nampo Station in Jung-gu, Busan. Two diners shared a mentaiko (spicy cod roe) set and a crispy Japanese-style kkanpunggi (sweet-spicy fried chicken) set, plus a mini menbosha (shrimp toast), a mini udon and a Pepsi Zero. For a neat Japanese meal before or after shopping with no weather worries, Daidokoro Lotte Gwangbok is a good fit.

Written Nov 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongnae, BusanRestaurants

Dongnae fusion restaurant: seaweed clam pasta and 4 katsu, Sasaenghwal

Sasaenghwal is a fusion Western restaurant in an alley near Exit 6 of Dongnae Station in Dongnae-gu, Busan. The blogger couple Jjokko shared the Seaside Village Pasta (fresh clams and seaweed tossed in an oil sauce) and the Gamdong Katsu 4-katsu platter (pork loin, tenderloin, cheese katsu and a scotch egg) at Sasaenghwal. With a large central shared table and 1 hour of free parking at the Dongyeong private parking lot, Sasaenghwal is a solid pick for a family meal out in Dongnae and Sajik.

Written Nov 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongnae, BusanRestaurants

Executive dinner BBQ in Dongnae with mini warmer: Sanseong Meat Shop

Sanseong Meat Shop Dongnae Main Branch (산성식육점 동래본점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant near Dongnae Station in Busan that specializes in nuruk-aged pork belly and pork neck, with staff grilling every cut from start to finish. The couple behind the blog ordered the A set (500g of pork belly, nuruk pork neck and a special cut) plus Suhyangmi buckwheat pot rice, and Sanseong Meat Shop placed the cooked meat on a mini warmer so it stayed hot to the last bite. Thanks to pairings like truffle scallion mayo and nuruk chili pickles, it is easy to see why Sanseong Meat Shop fills up every evening with company executives and older diners.

Written Nov 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeumjeong, BusanRestaurants

Busan Univ. katsu spot: half-and-half & ₩2,700 mini udon at Gatjidong

Gatjidong Busan Jangjeon Branch is an old-school Korean-Western-style katsu restaurant on the border of Oncheonjang and Busan National University in Geumjeong, Busan. The blogger ordered the signature half-and-half katsu, with pork loin and whole-cheese katsu on one plate, plus a ₩2,700 mini udon add-on. The blogger also enjoyed timing the cheese katsu with an hourglass, the unlimited cream soup and rice self-bar, and free parking in the building. For a filling, good-value meal, the blogger recommends the half-and-half katsu with mini udon and a pinch of shichimi.

Written Nov 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonje, BusanRestaurants

Yeonsan noodle house: bossam, chive pancake & free sundae, Sinseon

Sinseon Myeonga (신선면가) is a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant near Yeonsan Station in Yeonje-gu, Busan, that makes its own fresh noodles in-house. Two adults ordered the kalguksu and taster bossam (boiled pork) set for two plus a seafood and chive pancake, starting with complimentary sundae (Korean blood sausage), moving on to bossam with garlic sauce and dried radish and chewy fresh kalguksu, and finishing with sikhye and yakgwa for dessert. With generous portions and a warm welcome, Sinseon Myeonga is a solid pick for a hot bowl of kalguksu on a chilly day.

Written Oct 31, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanCafés

Haeundae brunch café: free pre-11 AM Americano & Hanwoo burger, Oira

Oira is a dog-friendly brunch café and dining lounge with a second-floor art gallery in Jwa-dong, Haeundae, Busan, near Jungdong Station. At Oira, the writer had the 100% Hanwoo (Korean beef) open burger with added fries (2,500 won), the 2nd-anniversary discounted Oira lasagna (9,900 won) and the Hanwoo hamburg steak. With a free Americano for brunch orders before 11 AM, dog-only drinks and desserts, and a fenced yard, Oira is a great Haeundae brunch café for an early morning out with your dog.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongnae, BusanRestaurants

Curry shop near Allak Station, Busan: omelet curry with ramune, Omuka

Omuka is a Japanese curry restaurant in Yeonsan-dong, Dongnae, Busan, near Allak Station and the Oncheoncheon café street, opened in March 2026. Omuka caramelizes onions and ages its curry for 24 hours; this visit covered karaage omelet curry, hamburg steak omelet curry, fried king prawn and fried gyoza, finished with ramune, the Japanese marble soda. With one free refill each of rice and curry, Omuka suits anyone after a simple, well-made and filling curry meal.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanCafés

Gwangalli brunch café with luggage storage app: Famous Benny

Famous Benny Gwangalli Branch is a brunch café in Millak-dong, Suyeong, Busan, near Millak The Market, inspired by Australian morning café culture. At Famous Benny the writer tried ham cheese toast made with baguette-textured bread, French toast, and a house salad and yogurt bowl topped with homemade granola, and noted that suitcases can be stored through the Lit (Life is Travel) app. Famous Benny has no dedicated parking, but it is a great spot for car-free Busan travelers to drop their bags and enjoy a light breakfast.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored