Busanjin Coffee Circuit · 35 stories

Busan & Gyeongnam Cafe Journal

I write about visits to cafes in Busan and Gyeongnam. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Bars

PlaceCheongju, ChungbukCafés

Cheongju rice cake café: sweet-salty yakgwa, 6-tteok haul, Tteokmama

Tteokmama Cheongju Yullyang Branch is a café-style rice cake shop on Gonghang-ro in Yullyang-dong, Cheongju, selling trendy tteok such as pizza sulgi, fruit chapssaltteok (fruit mochi) and pumpkin injeolmi, and making thank-you tteok to order. The writer bought 6 kinds (red bean paste tteok, salty yakgwa, pizza sulgi, honey tteok, fruit mochi and pumpkin injeolmi) for just over 20,000 won, and reheated the pizza sulgi in the microwave for 1 minute the next day. Tteokmama Cheongju Yullyang Branch suits anyone who wants to sample trendy tteok in small amounts without a reservation, as well as anyone looking for thank-you tteok.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheongju, ChungbukBars

Cheongju izakaya with spicy crab nabe and jjolmyeon noodles: Sutori

Sutori Cheongju Bongmyeong Branch is a yakitori izakaya in the Bongmyeong-dong food alley in Cheongju, Chungbuk. The writer ordered the Sutomakase Hot Soup Set (42,900 won) and worked through mashed potato, 5 kushikatsu, yakitori and a spicy crab nabe with jjolmyeon (chewy Korean wheat noodles). The charcoal-grilled skewers and the crab broth make Sutori a Japanese-style bar worth going back to.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAsan, ChungnamRestaurants

Pork BBQ in Baebang, Asan: whole-grain mustard and myeongi, Arego Gogi

Arego Gogi Asan Baebang Branch is a pork BBQ restaurant near Baebang Station in Asan, Chungnam, that grills 48-hour aged pork over hardwood charcoal. Arriving right at the 4 p.m. opening, the writer ordered the 600g Hangeun Special (46,000 won) and enjoyed the included kimchi stew, seven sauces, a self-serve bar with myeongi (pickled wild garlic leaves) and lettuce wraps, jjolgitsal dipped in curry powder and mul-milmyeon (cold wheat noodles in broth) to finish. For anyone who wants to try five pork cuts in one go or needs a place for a work dinner, Arego Gogi Asan Baebang Branch is well worth recommending.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon pizza at weekend opening: loaded 4-flavor pie, Backstreet Pizza

Backstreet Pizza is an American-style pizza restaurant on the second floor of an alley at the entrance to Haenggung-dong in Suwon, opened after its Seoul branches in Ikseon-dong and Yeonnam-dong. Arriving at weekend opening time, the writer ordered the Quarter Street Small with four flavors on one pie (33,000 won) and 5 cheese balls (6,000 won); toppings like shrimp and french fries were loaded right to the edge, but the pizza took 40–50 minutes to come out. If you want a bold, generously topped pizza in several flavors, Backstreet Pizza in Haenggung-dong is worth visiting right at opening.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAsan, ChungnamRestaurants

Onyangoncheon shabu-shabu buffet: chili sauce, spicy kalguksu, Shabu20

Shabu20 Asan Onyang Branch (샤브20 아산온양점) is an all-you-can-eat beef and pork shabu-shabu buffet on the 2nd floor of the Asan Nonghyup building on Nambu-ro in Asan, Chungnam. On a weekday visit, the blogger ordered a half spicy, half sukiyaki broth with Australian beef, LA galbi and sweet-spicy chicken gangjeong (Korean fried chicken bites), then finished with spicy kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and fried rice; the favorite was the less-sweet, spicy Shabu20 chili sauce. With courses in the ₩20,000s, a spacious dining room and 3 hours of free parking, Shabu20 Asan Onyang Branch is a solid pick for a family meal out.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangsan, GyeongnamRestaurants

Pork BBQ in Beomeo, Yangsan: pine pollen salt, hairtail sauce at Anmin

Anmin Yangsan (안민 양산) is a fresh-pork charcoal grill restaurant in the Beomeo housing district of Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan, Gyeongnam. On a weekday evening with their parents, the writer ordered two portions each of fresh thick-cut pork belly and pork neck (₩12,000 per 130g), which staff grilled at the table, and ate them with pine pollen salt, shiitake wasabi, cheese fondue and galchi sokjeot (salted hairtail) sauces. Thanks to the table-side grilling and attentive service, Anmin Yangsan made for a satisfying family dinner out.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Ulsan shabu-shabu buffet for team dinners with soy chicken: Wabom

Wabom Ulsan Mugeo Branch (와봄 울산무거점) is an all-you-can-eat beef shabu-shabu buffet on the 10th floor of Hansol Apple Tower in Mugeo-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan. On a weekday evening at Wabom Ulsan Mugeo Branch, the writer had shabu-shabu in half-and-half broth, then the sushi zone, a hot food zone with soy sauce fried chicken and bossam (boiled pork), and a chocolate fountain dessert; the hall and rooms were big enough to hold company dinners and family gatherings. Verdict: the spread at Wabom Ulsan Mugeo Branch rivals a regular buffet, making it an easy pick for group meals in Ulsan.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceAsan, ChungnamRestaurants

Private cabin BBQ in Asan with a gas-grilled pork jowl set: Stay Green

Stay Green Tourist Farm BBQ & Camp is a private-cabin barbecue spot and glamping site on Simin-ro 180beon-gil in Asan, Chungnam. On a weekday, two people booked the pork and hangjeongsal (pork jowl) set, grilled it on a Char-Broil gas grill, ate the included beef brisket doenjang stew with rice and free fried rice, then played badminton afterwards. For a private camping BBQ where you just turn up empty-handed, Stay Green Tourist Farm BBQ & Camp is a satisfying choice.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulBars

Haebangchon wine bar street seats, weekend bottle rule: Sugar Hill

Sugar Hill is a wine bar in a green building in the middle of Sinheung Market in Haebangchon, Yongsan, Seoul. On a cool evening at Sugar Hill's outdoor tables, the writer ordered Cha Cha Tomato, Sugar Hill Nachos, the Obok cocktail and the Hill Garden Spritz, then looked around the 2nd-floor seats and the reservation-only 3rd floor with its outdoor terrace. Sugar Hill is a good Haebangchon bar for outdoor wine and unusual cocktails on a date or with a small group.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Amalfi-blue Italian restaurant in Haebangchon: gnocchi fritz & lasagna

Villa de Blue Haebangchon is an Italian and Mediterranean restaurant on Sinheung-ro in Yongsan, Seoul, with a blue interior inspired by Italy's Amalfi Coast. Of the aligot cheese lasagna (22,000 won), Sicilian puttanesca pasta (19,000 won) and gnocchi fritz (fried gnocchi, 9,000 won), the gnocchi fritz was the dish we kept reaching for, the lasagna stood out for its tableside cheese-sauce pour, and the puttanesca tasted healthy, though its saltiness was a slight letdown. Villa de Blue Haebangchon is a good pick for a date or a glass of wine in an exotic, Amalfi-style setting.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheonan, ChungnamRestaurants

Cheonan Chinese lunch: smoky ganjjajang, thin jjamppong, Lala Dragon

24-Hour Lala Dragon Cheonan Ssangyong Branch is a Chinese restaurant in Ssangyong-dong near Ssangyong Station in Cheonan, Chungnam, specializing in chili jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) and chili jjajang. On a weekday lunch the writer ordered Dragon Set 3 (jjamjatang) and swapped in chili jjamppong, ganjjajang (dry-fried black bean noodles) and sirloin glutinous-rice tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork); the deeply smoky ganjjajang and the thin noodles that soak up the jjamppong broth stood out. With parking, solo seats, a self-serve bar and plum tea after the meal, Lala Dragon is a hearty Chinese meal worth returning for.

Written Jul 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Dog-friendly Gwangalli brunch: seafood tomato risotto at Marento

Marento is a dog-friendly brunch restaurant across from Millak Waterside Park in Gwangalli, Busan. On a second visit to Marento, the writer had the Maren Brunch (₩18,000), seafood tomato risotto (₩17,000), watermelon juice (₩6,000) and the new shredded mango bingsu (shaved ice), and the big shrimp in the risotto and the naturally sweet ice of the mango bingsu stood out. On a hot summer day, Marento covers both a meal and dessert in one stop.

Written Jul 19, 2026Sponsored