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Spoon and Map

I write about meals at restaurants I visit in Busan and Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Bars · Shopping · Cafés

PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Seomyeon noodle shop, stretchy mandu, herbal broth: Seomyeon Milmyeon

Seomyeon Milmyeon is a milmyeon (Busan cold wheat noodle) restaurant in the Eos Plaza building near Exit 8 of Seomyeon Station in Busan. Returning after several years on a weekday evening, a Busan local ordered mul milmyeon and bibim milmyeon (10,000 won each) plus mandu (dumplings), and the ginger-like herbal note in the broth and the chewy mandu skin that stretches like cheese stood out most. Seomyeon Milmyeon is a good-value, refreshing local meal for summer travelers in Busan.

Written Jun 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBuk-gu, BusanRestaurants

Gupo, Busan Chinese dinner: ₩25,000 A-course at Gupo Jjambbong

Gupo Jjambbong Gupo Main Branch is a Chinese restaurant in Gupo-dong, Buk-gu, Busan. The writer went at dinner for the short rib abalone jjambbong, limited to 10 bowls a day, but it had sold out. The writer and a friend ordered the 25,000-won-per-person A-course instead: nurungji-tang (crispy rice soup), gochu japchae (chili pepper and pork stir-fry), tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), eggplant dumplings and jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles). Verdict: the Gupo Jjambbong A-course is a good-value Chinese course that even includes the signature eggplant dumplings.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanCafés

Millak brunch café by bike, panuozzo & pumpkin soup: Working Holiday

Working Holiday Millak is a large ocean-view brunch café on the 7th floor of a building at the end of Gwangalli Beach, on Millaksubyeon-ro in Suyeong, Busan. After a workout, the writer cycled to Working Holiday Millak around 10:30 am for a panuozzo, a chicken sandwich with pumpkin soup and an iced latte, and especially enjoyed the panuozzo made with in-house dough and the pumpkin soup. For an unhurried morning brunch in Gwangalli, the less crowded Working Holiday Millak is a good choice.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongnae, BusanRestaurants

Dongnae sushi with parents: Set B vs abalone Set C, Moshi Moshi

Moshi Moshi Sushi, Lotte Department Store Dongnae Branch is a sushi restaurant on the 8th floor of Lotte Department Store Dongnae, near Myeongnyun Station in Dongnae, Busan. A family of four booked a weekday 6:30 pm table in a partitioned room and ordered two each of assorted sushi Set B (23,000 won) and Set C (27,000 won); Set C, with abalone, soy-marinated shrimp and tuna cuts, simply melted in the mouth. With long, soft toppings for the price, Moshi Moshi Sushi is a satisfying choice for dinner with parents.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanBars

Seomyeon bar, Busan: okonomiyaki that tastes like Japan at Teppan King

Teppan King (데판킹) is a Japanese-style teppanyaki izakaya in an alley between Exits 4 and 6 of Seomyeon Station in Busan. Missing the food from a trip to Japan, the writer ordered Teppan King's okonomiyaki and yakisoba set and added teppan-grilled chicken neck, and a friend said it tasted so close to Japan that there was no need to go there. If you love Japanese-style okonomiyaki and yakisoba, Teppan King at Seomyeon Station is a bar worth stopping by.

Written Jun 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Marine City Chinese, no seafood: beef jjamppong & beer, Bueokgan

Bueokgan Chinese Marine City Branch (부엌간 차이니즈 마린시티점) is a Chinese restaurant with sea and Dongbaek Island views on the 2nd floor of a building on Marine City 3-ro in Haeundae, Busan. The writer, who doesn't eat much seafood, ordered the beef brisket jjamppong (spicy noodle soup, 12,000 won) and a small black vinegar pork tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork, 28,000 won). The rich, beefy jjamppong and the black vinegar sauce went down with two bottles of beer. Verdict: Bueokgan Chinese Marine City Branch has the atmosphere, food and ocean view to earn a return visit.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuseong, DaeguRestaurants

Daegu cold noodles vs Busan milmyeon: Golmok Naengmyeon 1966

Golmok Naengmyeon 1966 is a naengmyeon (Korean cold noodle) restaurant on the Deuran-gil food street in Suseong, Daegu. A Busan local who had only ever eaten milmyeon (Busan wheat cold noodles) visited on a Saturday after a walk around Suseongmot and ordered double portions of mul and bibim naengmyeon (10,000 won each, plus 1,000 won for a double portion) with handmade meat dumplings, and loved the clean broth and the mild bibim sauce. For a cool meal instead of grilled meat on a Daegu trip, Golmok Naengmyeon 1966 is a good choice.

Written Jul 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuseong, DaeguRestaurants

Beomeo, Daegu burger brunch at 11am: Downtown Daegu Believe Heritage

Downtown Daegu Believe Heritage is a handmade burger restaurant on the first floor of the Believe Heritage shopping complex in Beomeo-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu. For an 11am brunch, the writer ordered the Downtowner set, an Egg Bulgogi Smash and Cream Cheese Chicken Bites, and found the burgers stood out for the balance of fresh vegetables, sauce and bun rather than the patty alone. Downtown Daegu Believe Heritage is a relaxed brunch spot worth recommending to anyone who values well-balanced ingredients.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanBars

After-work beer pub in Seomyeon, Busan with pop music: Craft Hans

Craft Hans Seomyeon Branch is a craft beer pub on the 2nd floor of a building in Seomyeon, Bujeon-dong, Busan, with pop songs playing and a barrel-like interior. After work, the blogger and a friend ordered garlic soy chicken (16,900 won) and original fries with the signature coffee-scented Hans Draft and the fruity Hans Pilsner. Craft Hans Seomyeon Branch is a Seomyeon bar with good-value chicken and an easy-to-talk atmosphere, good for a second round or a long night from the first.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGijang, BusanCafés

Gijang brunch café with Americano sets for friends: Mandali To Go

Mandali To Go Ilgwang Branch is a two-floor brunch café and bakery near Ilgwang Beach in Gijang, Busan. On a weekday morning, the writer and a friend ordered the Warm Cup Set (soup and Americano) and the Sweet Bite Set (Summer Lamington cake and Americano), plus a broccolini mushroom focaccia and a butter salt brioche. Moist bread, a nutty Americano and a space that is easy to talk in made Mandali To Go Ilgwang Branch a satisfying spot for a late-morning brunch with friends in Gijang.

Written Jul 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanCafés

Haeundae Station bakery: egg tart rivaling HK Bakehouse, Low & Sweet

Low & Sweet Bakery is a bakery café on Haeri-dan-gil near Haeundae Station in Busan, known for its egg tarts. On a visit with a friend, the egg tart (₩3,800), pistachio madeleine (₩3,800) and iced americano (₩5,500) stood out: Low & Sweet's flaky pastry and moist custard held their own against the egg tarts at Hong Kong's Bakehouse. Low & Sweet Bakery is a good café for a dessert break on a Haeri-dan-gil date.

Written Oct 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Gwangalli pork soup restaurant with clear broth: 1953 Hyungje Gukbap

1953 Hyungje Dwaeji Gukbap Gwangalli is a third-generation pork soup (dwaeji gukbap) restaurant in Suyeong-gu, Busan, near Gwangalli Beach. The 2-person set costs 29,000 won and puts the clear broth and the milky broth side by side, served with hotpot rice, a tasting portion of boiled pork and blood sausage. The clear broth gives 1953 Hyungje Dwaeji Gukbap a character of its own, making it a memorable Korean meal near Gwangalli.

Written Sep 27, 2026Sponsored