Basket Carrier · 22 stories

Small Basket Stops

I write about restaurant visits, shopping finds, and beauty stops in Seoul and Busan–Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Hair & beauty salons · Restaurants · Shopping · Bars · Cafés

PlaceNowon, SeoulRestaurants

Nowon sushi buffet for family gatherings: soy crab & fondue, Kuu Kuu

Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch (쿠우쿠우 노원점) is an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet of more than 300 pyeong on the 6th floor of the Seoul Oncheon building near Hagye Station in Nowon, Seoul. The writer, a longtime regular, visited Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch with family and tried all five zones (sushi, fresh, hot food, salad and dessert); weekday lunch is ₩27,900, and the salmon sushi, soy-marinated shrimp, guobaorou (Chinese sweet-and-sour pork) and chocolate fondue stood out. Kuu Kuu Nowon Branch is a family gathering spot in Nowon where everyone can pick what they like, even with very different tastes.

Written Apr 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Rainy-day clam grill pub in Gwangalli, Busan: 3-tier set at Josaeho

Josaeho Gwangalli Main Branch (조새호 광안리본점) is a clam grill pub on the 2nd floor in the middle of Gwangalli Beach in Suyeong, Busan, overlooking Gwangan Bridge. On a heavy-rain day, as the last stop after a jjimjilbang (Korean bathhouse), the blogger had the 3-tier clam grill and king prawn set plus seafood ramyeon; tarps over the windows hid most of the Gwangan Bridge view, but grilling clams to the sound of rain had real atmosphere. One set feeds 2 to 3 people well, making Josaeho a good date-night pub in Gwangalli.

Written Apr 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwanak, SeoulRestaurants

Spring date pizza at Sillim Station: Buldak rosé spaghetti, Pug Pizza

Pug Pizza House Sillim Branch is a pizza restaurant in Sillim, Gwanak, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Sillim Station, set in a three-floor building whose entire 3rd floor is reserved for diners with dogs. On a spring outing, the writer and her boyfriend shared a half-and-half truffle shrimp & scallop and flame-grilled pollock roe beef brisket pizza, butter garlic potatoes and Buldak (spicy fire chicken) rosé pizza spaghetti with Budweiser draft beer, and were happy with the 4 free sauces and generous toppings. Pug Pizza House Sillim Branch is a pizza date spot near Sillim Station worth recommending for both its atmosphere and its dog-friendly floor.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanCafés

String-light terrace café in Jeonpo, Busan: back-door hideout, Hippy

Hippy is a European and American vintage-style dessert café tucked into an alley off the Jeonpo café street in Busanjin, Busan. The writer explored Hippy's brick exterior, antique interior, a hideout-like mini room behind the back door and an outdoor terrace hung with string lights, and ordered an iced Americano, a banana Nutella pie and a lemon iced tea. Hippy is a strong pick for a Jeonpo date if you want an exotic, faraway mood and plenty of fun photo spots.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, BusanRestaurants

Busan mulhoe spot with owner-caught fish and sea views: Suseong Susan

Suseong Susan is a mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) restaurant by the sea in Sinho-dong, Gangseo, Busan, whose owner reportedly goes out on his own boat to fish. We had the 3-fish mixed mulhoe and a half-and-half big halibut and flounder raw fish rice bowl. The fish was so firm and fresh that my partner ordered an extra 3-fish portion and more rice, eating nearly two servings. With floor-to-ceiling sea-view windows, free rice and somyeon noodles, and friendly service, Suseong Susan is a solid mulhoe pick in Myeongji.

Written Jun 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Jjukkumi date spot in Jeonpo, Busan with free clam sujebi: Yongdusan

Yongdusan Sutbul Jjukkumi (용두산 숯불쭈꾸미) is a charcoal-grilled jjukkumi (baby octopus) restaurant on Seojeon-ro 47beon-gil in Jeonpo-dong, Busanjin-gu, Busan. After a 15-minute wait, the writer and her boyfriend ordered the Yongdusan Set (43,000 won) and a whole potato pancake; staff grilled the jjukkumi over charcoal at the table, and the free clam sujebi (hand-torn noodle soup) and the bosam (boiled pork wraps) included in the set were all satisfying. Yongdusan Sutbul Jjukkumi is a confident pick for a Seomyeon or Jeonpo date.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Gwangalli sashimi bar for seafood-loving couples: crab stew, Gwanganda

Gwanganda Jjji Gwangalli Main Branch (광안다찌 광안리본점) is a sashimi restaurant on the 6th floor of Sanbada Hoetown in Suyeong, Busan, serving a single dachi set (a multi-course seafood spread), with Gwangan Bridge visible through floor-to-ceiling windows. Two adults ordered the ₩55,000-per-person dachi set and ate the full course: side dishes, seafood, assorted sashimi of flounder, red sea bream, olive flounder and sea bass, thick crab stew, braised rockfish and abalone porridge. Weighing the sashimi quality, the side dishes and the Gwangan Bridge view, Gwanganda Jjji is a Gwangalli sashimi restaurant worth the price in an era of high prices.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Seomyeon Chinese spot, hangover jjamppong & chewy tangsuyuk: Suraban

Suraban Seomyeon (수라반점 서면점) is a Chinese restaurant near Seomyeon Station, on the 1st floor of the Songgang Building on Seomyeonmunhwa-ro in Busanjin, Busan. The writer ordered a set of large jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup), jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) and chapssal tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork in sticky rice batter), cured a hangover with the smoky jjamppong and loved how the tangsuyuk stayed chewy even when dipped in sauce. Suraban Seomyeon suits anyone who wants jjajangmyeon, jjamppong and tangsuyuk covered in one filling set.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gyeongju hanok restaurant, 60-day kimchi ribs on a weekday: Hwangnam

Hwangnam Dukkebi Restaurant (황남두꺼비식당) is a Korean restaurant specializing in braised pork back ribs, set in a restored old hanok tucked inside Hwangnidan-gil, Gyeongju. On a weekday visit with a partner at a mother-of-pearl table, the order was braised ribs with 60-day aged kimchi for 2, cheese 'royal tomb' steamed egg, Gyeongju Hanwoo beef yukhoe bibimbap and cream makgeolli at 1,500 won a glass, and the rib meat came off the bone at a touch of the chopsticks. Hwangnam Dukkebi Restaurant is a satisfying Hwangnidan-gil meal that nails both atmosphere and flavor.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukCafés

Gyeongju fruit mochi shop: red kiwi eaten at a café nearby, Tareudang

Tareudang (타르당) is a takeout-focused giant fruit mochi dessert shop on Sajeong-ro in Hwangridan-gil, Gyeongju. On a weekend trip to Gyeongju with my partner, I bought red kiwi and mango fruit mochi plus a giant Dubai banana at Tareudang, and because the shop has no seats, we asked a nearby café for permission and ate them there with drinks. The big chunks of fruit and chewy rice cake were satisfying, but popular Tareudang flavors sell out early, so it pays to go early.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Seomyeon Korean BBQ with veggie garnish and pa-kimchi pork skin: Anmin

Anmin Busan is a whole-pig Korean BBQ restaurant on Dongcheon-ro near Seomyeon Station in Busanjin, Busan, where staff grill the meat for you. Still missing the Anmin Myeongji branch, the writer sat at the bar seats with a friend and ordered the half-pig set (41,000 won), a vegetable garnish plate and hwang doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), and especially liked the mini brazier that keeps the meat warm and the many sauce pairings. The Myeongji branch magic carried straight over to Anmin Busan.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Jeonpo Korean restaurant: seaweed refills and eggplant bowl, Hyangtaek

Hyangtaek Jeonpo Branch (향택 전포점) is a Korean restaurant focused on rice bowls and bibimbap, tucked in an alley off Seojeon-ro in Jeonpo-dong, Busanjin-gu, Busan. Over lunch with a friend, the blogger ordered Spanish mackerel gondre rice (rice with thistle greens), an eggplant doenjang (soybean paste) bowl and a hanpan mushroom side; all three were mild, let the ingredients speak, and left the stomach feeling light. For anyone who loves gim (seaweed), the eggplant doenjang bowl wrapped in gopchang gim is the most satisfying meal at Hyangtaek Jeonpo Branch.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored