Hagfish grill house near Busan Station since 1963: Gyeongbuksan

What kind of place is Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo, the hagfish restaurant in Choryang, Busan?

Do you all like kkomjangeo (hagfish)? I really love it. Especially when it's cooked a bit spicy in sauce — that's my favorite. I like it so much that I sometimes buy pre-cleaned hagfish at the supermarket and grill it up with my parents at home.

Hagfish spots exist everywhere, but they're especially famous in Busan, so close to the sea. I've been eating hagfish with my grandparents and parents since childhood at Jagalchi Market, the place everyone thinks of when they hear 'Busan,' and in Choryang near Busan Station there used to be a whole hagfish alley — much of it gone now, but a few places remain.

Why Koreans eat hagfish: the health benefits people talk about

There are said to be many benefits of hagfish, but they can be summed up in four main points.

• Energy recovery — vitamins A and E, unsaturated fatty acids, calcium, protein, retinol, mucin and other essential nutrients are evenly packed in, helping relieve fatigue and restore vitality, which is why it's popular as a health tonic food.
• Immune support — as a representative protein food, it's said to strengthen the body's immune function, helping prevent and treat chronic, wasting conditions like pulmonary tuberculosis.
• Skin care — it contains collagen, said to make skin more elastic, along with retinol and vitamin E, which are good for skin elasticity, regeneration, and slowing aging.
• Blood vessel health — rich in omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, retinol, and mucin, said to support vascular health. Mucin in particular is said to keep blood vessels smooth and healthy.

So this time I visited a hagfish restaurant with a long history and tradition in Choryang, Busan. Let's go get some nourishment at Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo~ :)

Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo has carried on its long tradition since 1963 and is now run by the third generation — a real local favorite in Busan. It was featured in the essay collection Anyway, a Bar, which introduces notable drinking spots around the country, and it's been selected for the Blue Ribbon award in both 2025 and 2026.

You might think of hagfish as a food for families or groups, but this place is also known as a haven for solo drinkers, many of whom come to enjoy hagfish as a side dish for a drink alone. Fresh hagfish grilled with vegetables over briquette charcoal picks up a smoky flavor that's impossible not to love.

The restaurant is located in Choryang-dong, Dong-gu, Busan, near plenty of worthwhile spots — Choryang Ibagu-gil, Busan Station, Busanjin Station, Busan Port International Passenger Terminal, Busan Port Bukhang Waterfront Park, and Choryang Yukmi Street.

Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo

Parking and directions to Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo from Busan Station

To find Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo, first search 'Sintaeyang Parking Lot' in your navigation. After parking, pass BNK Busan Bank and at the intersection look for the building next to the stream — Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo stands out with its blue signboard. The stream next to it is really nicely landscaped.

Inside Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo: seating and room for groups

The interior of Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo is split into two separate spaces, so it never feels cramped, and it can comfortably seat groups. As such a long-running, well-known restaurant, plenty of celebrities have visited over the years, and there are lots of autographs on the wall — even the mukbang star Hiabap has stopped by.

How to order and what half salt, half sauce hagfish costs

Ordering is easy through the tablet T-order at your table. There's also a nicely laid-out menu board on the wall for reference. I ordered the hagfish half salt-grilled, half sauce-grilled combo. It cost ₩55,000.

Korean wild hagfish, pre-grilled over briquettes before it hits your table

As soon as your order goes in, fresh domestic hagfish is cooked right on the griddle. Once it's nicely pre-grilled, you simply keep it warm at your table on a gas burner while you eat — simple as that. Just look at how lively that hagfish looks. Looks delicious.

How the hagfish tastes, the self-serve side dish corner and portion size

The hagfish that comes out fresh off the grill looks really appetizing. It tastes even better with the onion, chili, and garlic all grilled together with it. There's a self-serve side dish corner near the kitchen with more banchan (side dishes) and lettuce wraps you can help yourself to as much as you like. The portion of hagfish was generous too, which I loved. Thanks to that, I really got a proper boost of energy that day.

If you're traveling to Busan, be sure to try Gyeongbuksan Kkomjangeo, the hagfish restaurant in Choryang. Recommended~ :)