Haeundae Korean restaurant for spicy bone soup: Byeolhaebyeol

On a rainy evening, I had spicy ppyeo-haejangguk (pork bone hangover soup) at Byeolhaebyeol Gamjatang Centum Branch (별해별감자탕 센텀점) in Jaesong-dong, Busan. The broth was spicy and rich, with plenty of siregi (dried radish greens), and I ended up finishing every drop.

Where is it, and what are the parking and waiting areas like?

The restaurant is a little farther on from the Jaesong Hanmaeum Market intersection. Its address is 70-1 Jaeban-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea.

The restaurant occupies a converted old house, with dedicated parking in the building courtyard. During my visit, I could eat without worrying about parking time.

There was also a shaded outdoor waiting area to escape the sun. It is a space for busy times, and the tables seemed to turn over fairly quickly.

What are the hours and indoor dining environment like?

The hours posted when I visited were 10:30 AM to 9:30 PM. On Tuesdays, it closes at 3:30 PM, and there was said to be no separate break time during summer.

Inside, there were spacious four-person tables. The gaps between tables were wide enough that the room did not feel cramped, and it seemed like it would remain comfortable even when busy.

The restroom was inside the restaurant as well, which was convenient.

What are the solo dining options and spice choices?

The menu included gamjatang (pork bone stew) in small, medium, and large sizes, extra additions, and individual earthenware bowls of ppyeo-haejangguk. I visited around 8 PM and ordered one bowl of ppyeo-haejangguk.

For ppyeo-haejangguk, I could choose between mild and spicy. Since I like spicy food, I chose spicy.

At the time of my visit, there was also a promotion offering one of a soft drink, alcohol, or an extra addition for writing a receipt review after ordering.

What side dishes come with the meal, and can you get more?

The basic side dishes were chili peppers, onion, kkakdugi, kimchi, garlic, ssamjang, and sauce.

If I needed more side dishes while eating, I could get them from the self-serve station.

How were the broth and meat in the spicy ppyeo-haejangguk?

The white rice served with the ppyeo-haejangguk was said to have been cooked that day. It was glossy and pleasantly sticky, with a subtle sweetness even on its own.

A large piece of meat in the earthenware bowl was the first thing that caught my eye.

The broth was bracingly spicy when I tasted it first. It also had a deep flavor that reminded me of beef bone broth, giving the stock a substantial feel.

There was plenty of siregi, too. I never felt short of it throughout the bowl.

My ppyeo-haejangguk had two large pieces of meat. They had been simmered thoroughly, so the meat came off easily when I touched it with chopsticks. The meat and soft siregi went well over white rice. Because the meat was tender, I thought children might find the mild version easy to eat as well.

Since it was late, I initially planned to eat only half the rice. But the broth paired so well with the rice, and there was plenty of siregi, that I ended up finishing the broth too.

Can you get one bowl of ppyeo-haejangguk for takeout?

I was told that even one serving of ppyeo-haejangguk can be ordered for takeout. Delivery and reservations were also listed as available. I ate at the restaurant this time, but next time I would like to take home a bowl and try it there.