Toddler-friendly dinner with silicone tableware at Haeundae Chinese

My husband, our kid and I came out to Cheongsapo, and I heard that right nearby on Dalmaji-gil was 'Bueokgan,' the Western restaurant I'd visited before and loved so much. Turns out they also run a gorgeous Chinese restaurant under the same name! Perfect timing, so I didn't hesitate to check it out right away.

Both the food and the atmosphere exceeded my expectations, so I really want to introduce this place. If you're hunting for a Chinese restaurant in Haeundae or a good spot on Dalmaji-gil — especially somewhere to take your kid in Haeundae or for a family meal on Dalmaji-gil — pay attention!

Basic info and parking for Bueokgan Chinese Haeundae Branch

• Address: 부산 해운대구 달맞이길117번나길 200 1층 (200 Dalmaji-gil117beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea)
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00 (break time 15:00–16:30 / last order 20:30)
• Parking: Underground lot behind the building; roadside parking in front of and across from the restaurant
• High chair and toddler tableware available
• Restroom inside the restaurant

It's a bit of a distance from the subway station, so I'd recommend driving. It's really close to Cheongsapo, just 8 minutes from Haeundae Beach and only 5 minutes from LCT, so the access is great. And no need to worry about parking — there's plenty of space, with enough roadside spots in front of the store and across from it to park comfortably.

We used the underground parking lot behind the building. After we finished eating it started raining, so I was so glad we could just take the elevator straight down to the parking lot.

It's a standalone building with Bueokgan Chinese on the 1st floor and a Western restaurant on the 2nd floor. The Western restaurant I visited before was the Gijang Outlet branch.

The 2nd floor entrance alone is something else. The unusual interior made me feel like I was on a trip.

An elegant, atmosphere-filled interior

Stepping inside, we were met with an atmosphere on a totally different level from a typical Chinese restaurant. Without being overly Chinese in theme, the interior kept an Asian elegance that felt classy and refined — really impressive. The soft, dim lighting throughout made visiting in the evening feel even quieter and more atmospheric. It struck me as perfect for a date, and just as fitting for a special occasion with parents or a child.

Why it's great with kids — the silicone suction plate

One reason I'd recommend this restaurant for dining with a child is how well-equipped they are with toddler tableware. A silicone suction plate — I didn't have to worry the whole meal about my baby flipping it over, which was such a relief. Even the cup was silicone!

Once seated, I looked over the menu and it was packed with delicious-looking dishes. The signature items included sooran samgyeop ganjjajang, black vinegar sirloin sweet and sour pork, spicy braised monkfish, and whole-garlic yuringi — everything looked so good I had a hard time deciding. In particular, the sooran samgyeop ganjjajang, the dish that made this place famous on Dalmaji-gil, was one I really wanted to try, so I put it on the order list without hesitation.

What we ordered — sooran samgyeop ganjjajang, shrimp fried rice, whole-garlic yuringi

Shrimp fried rice — with egg soup on the side

The first dish to arrive was the shrimp fried rice, which I ordered for our two-year-old. It was loaded with big, plump shrimp, and the seasoning was just right, not too strong, so we happily shared it. My kid seemed to like it too and ate really well, which made this mom proud. Most Chinese restaurants serve fried rice with a spicy jjamppong broth, but here they thoughtfully gave us a mild egg soup instead, so I could feed my kid the soup along with the rice too — that was especially satisfying.

Sooran samgyeop ganjjajang

The dish I was most looking forward to, sooran samgyeop ganjjajang (black bean noodles topped with a soft-cooked egg and pork belly), is meant to be enjoyed by breaking the golden egg on top and mixing it into the noodles and jjajang sauce. The rich egg yolk gently wrapped around the salty flavor of the chunjang, giving it incredible depth. The pork belly was also generously piled on in big pieces, so the texture was great and it exceeded my expectations. One bite and I immediately understood why this is their signature, most popular dish. Seriously recommend this — I'll definitely order it again next time.

Whole-garlic yuringi

What can I say about the yuringi (crispy fried meat with tangy sauce) — it was perfection itself! No gamey smell from the meat at all, and the batter stayed nice and crispy. The sweet-and-tangy sauce was poured on generously, and paired with the perfectly cooked whole garlic cloves and spicy chili, each bite was a fantastic combination. Thanks to the clean, sharp finish, we enjoyed it to the last piece without feeling greasy. Their black vinegar sweet and sour pork is also famous here, but if you want something other than sweet and sour pork, give this a try! :-)

Final verdict and who it's for

The upscale interior makes it a wonderful spot for a cozy date between couples, and the crowd-pleasing menu makes it just as good for a family meal. The environment and menu made dining with a kid so comfortable that I already want to come back soon.

With both taste and atmosphere covered, I'll definitely stop by again whenever we're out around Cheongsapo or Haeundae. If you're nearby and searching for a good Chinese restaurant in Haeundae or an atmospheric spot on Dalmaji-gil, give Bueokgan Chinese a try. Especially if you're looking for a restaurant to enjoy comfortably with a child, or a place on Dalmaji-gil to make some precious memories, I recommend it!