Gwangalli yakiniku with oxtail doenjang stew in Busan: Bisyoku Gwangan

Why we picked Bisyoku Gwangan Branch for an anniversary dinner in Gwangalli

Bisyoku Gwangan Branch, a well-known spot in Gwangalli, Busan — for our first wedding anniversary we ate in Gwangalli instead of Myeongji for once. I went there constantly back in school so I figured I wouldn't feel much, but seeing Gwangan Bridge again after so long, it really is a stunning view.

There aren't that many yakiniku places in Gwangalli, but Bisyoku, with its strong Japanese anime-style vibe, is famous not just for the mood but as a genuine yakiniku (Japanese-style grilled beef) restaurant, so we went and checked it out.

• A hanwoo (Korean beef) yakiniku restaurant in Gwangalli
• Interior full of Japanese vibes, perfect for a date course
• Beef that melts in your mouth, plus a killer doenjang stew with oxtail — highly recommend

Bisyoku Gwangan Branch location and opening hours

Bisyoku Gwangan Branch is located at 9-5 1F Gwangan-haebyeon-ro 344beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan, South Korea. Hours are Mon–Fri 16:00–24:00 and Sat–Sun 12:00–24:00, closed every Tuesday.

What the Tokyo-style interior at Bisyoku Gwangan looks like

Bisyoku, a well-loved spot in Gwangalli, apparently took inspiration from a place called Konpachi Nishiazabu in Tokyo, Japan, using natural wood and bamboo for the interior. I don't know exactly where in Tokyo, but it definitely had that Japanese feel — really atmospheric.

The detailed design was genuinely full of mood, and it felt like a really good spot for an anniversary or date course.

The Bisyoku menu and the Oishi Set we ordered

Here's Bisyoku's menu board. There were course sets, yakiniku set menus, and various individual yakiniku items sold à la carte too. We ordered the Oishi Set.

Counter seats or table seats at Bisyoku Gwangan?

Inside Bisyoku Gwangan Branch there are table seats and counter (dachi) seats, and on the other side there were also private table seats. We sat at the counter for the Japanese vibe, and even shot our photos with a slightly Japanese-style filter.

The basic side dishes were the kind that go well with meat. The seasoned scallions in particular were really tasty, and the mu-saengchae (spicy radish salad) had just the right kick — right up my alley.

There was 300g of premium sirloin plated with assorted vegetables, plus a separate 100g of sang-loin meant to be simply grilled.

Prime loin and premium sirloin grilled for you by the staff

Just the grill at the counter already had that tasty vibe going. It's the kind of atmosphere you easily get in Japan, and seeing it made me really want to actually go travel there.

The staff grilled the sang-loin for us themselves, and it came out golden brown — just looking at it got the mouth watering.

Our first bite was dipped lightly in salt, and the juices bursting out were pure art.

And eating it with wasabi versus topped with scallion gave completely different flavors each time. It was fun mixing and matching to your own taste.

They grilled the premium sirloin for us too, and even walked us through the proper way to eat yakiniku. Dipping it into the special sauce made with egg yolk and taking a bite really made me feel like I was in Japan.

The yakiniku truly melted in the mouth — quality meat really doesn't betray you on flavor. We usually eat samgyeopsal (pork belly) most days, but for a meaningful occasion like this, beef is truly the way to go!

A whole oxtail in the Korean beef doenjang stew to finish

For dessert we ordered the Korean beef doenjang stew (fermented soybean paste stew). It seemed like nearly every table around us ordered the stew after their meal too. Watching them eat it looked so delicious that we switched our order from nabe (hot pot) to this — best decision ever!

There was genuinely so much meat inside it looked like a double portion, and the vegetables, blue crab, and other ingredients were all generous too.

This was my first time having a doenjang stew with whole oxtail in it instead of the usual meat scraps.

But with that much thick meat still attached, and it melting in your mouth like that, it was seriously amazing. This is the kind of oxtail doenjang stew you'd expect to only get as a complimentary side dish, not a full order.

You feel the Japanese atmosphere the moment you walk in, and from the yakiniku to the stew, everything was truly perfect. If you're looking for a great restaurant in Gwangalli, I recommend Bisyoku Gwangan Branch!