Pocket Pouch Picker · 18 stories

Small Pouch, Busan and Jeju

Writes about restaurants, bars, cafes, and beauty finds around Busan/Gyeongnam, Gwangju/Jeolla, Jeju, and Daejeon/Chungcheong. · Writes about: Bars · Cafés · Restaurants · Food & snacks · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping · Beauty products

PlaceJung-gu, BusanRestaurants

All-you-can-eat hot pot near Kkangtong Market, Busan: Sacheon Hwogwa

Sacheon Hwogwa Yangkkochi Nampo Branch is an all-you-can-eat hot pot and lamb skewer restaurant near Kkangtong Market in Jung-gu, Busan. Visiting with friends, the writer had half-and-half hot pot with white and red broth plus lamb skewers cooked on an automatic rotating grill; the lamb had no gamey smell at all, and the self-serve bar ingredients were fresh. Sacheon Hwogwa Yangkkochi Nampo Branch is a good-value choice for a filling hot pot and lamb skewer meal after exploring Kkangtong Market.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGijang, BusanRestaurants

Songjeong Korean BBQ with beer-chilling ice boxes: The Barbecue 051

The Barbecue 051 is a camping-style charcoal Korean BBQ restaurant on Gijanghaean-ro in Gijang, Busan, near Songjeong. On a family drive, the writer ordered The Barbecue 051's set of 440g aged, pre-grilled meat plus 5 kinds of handmade skewers, then finished with Gijang seaweed ramen, beef brisket doenjang stew and bibim naengmyeon. The standout was the ice box at every table, filled with ice for chilling beer. Both the atmosphere and the food were satisfying, and The Barbecue 051 is worth another stop on the next Busan trip.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeogwipo, JejuRestaurants

Hangover-cure cutlassfish set for two in Seogwipo: Tamra Hansang

Tamra Hansang (탐라한상) is a Korean restaurant popular with locals on Taepyeong-ro in Seogwipo, Jeju, serving Jeju home-style dishes such as braised cutlassfish, grilled cutlassfish, dombe pork and braised mackerel as full set meals. On a day of pouring rain, the writer and her husband ordered the braised cutlassfish set for two to cure a hangover from the previous night's Hallasan soju, and it came with side dishes, seasonal sashimi, a tasting portion of grilled cutlassfish, a tasting portion of grilled pork belly and multigrain pot rice. To taste a whole Jeju spread from a single braised cutlassfish order, Tamra Hansang's braised cutlassfish set is a generous choice.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSasang, BusanBars

Izakaya for couples in Sasang, Busan: tomato nabe, karaage at Samajama

Samajama Sasang (사마자마 사상본점) is a Japanese-style izakaya specializing in handmade skewers on Sasang-ro 202beon-gil in Sasang, Busan. The writer and her husband had the half grill platter (20,000 won) and the spicy tomato-based Samajama nabe (28,000 won), served with baguette slices stuck into the pot, and enjoyed the horigotatsu-style sunken seating and quiet atmosphere. With beer, dinner for two at Samajama Sasang comes to about 60,000–70,000 won, which the writer found good value and worth a return visit.

Written Jun 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeogwipo, JejuRestaurants

Couple's Jungmun black pork BBQ at drum-barrel tables: Kkamang Dwaeji

Kkamang Dwaeji Jungmun Branch is a black pork restaurant near the Jungmun Tourist Complex in Seogwipo, Jeju, grilling fresh, never-frozen pork over hardwood charcoal. A couple on a Jeju trip stopped in for lunch and chose ogyeopsal (five-layer pork belly), which the owner took from the aging room and pre-seared over charcoal so it came out crisp outside and juicy inside. They also had the lunch-special kimchi stew and doenjang stew, an extra bibim guksu and the complimentary cheese steamed egg. With hip drum-barrel tables and a self-bar, Kkamang Dwaeji Jungmun Branch is a satisfying Korean BBQ meal on a Jungmun trip.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuCafés

Yeon-dong dessert shop in Jeju: 6 gift set prices compared, Today Jeju

Today Jeju Shilla Duty Free Shop Jeju Branch is a dessert and souvenir shop on the 1st floor of Shilla Duty Free Jeju at 69 Noyeon-ro, Jeju City, known for Harubangne, madeleines shaped like a dolhareubang (Jeju stone grandfather statue). The writer compares six Today Jeju gift sets, from 14,600 won for the 4-piece Harubangne set to 29,800 won for the 8-piece half-and-half set, then tries the 8-piece Harubangne set (28,200 won) and a red bean egg tart (4,000 won). Today Jeju is an easy one-stop pick for dessert gifts at the end of a Jeju trip.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuRestaurants

Jeju Airport black pork BBQ, stone-pot meljeot for two: Pork80

Pork80 Jeju Airport Branch is a traditional charcoal-grill black pork restaurant on Noyeon-ro in Jeju City, and its signature is Nanchuk Matdon, a crossbreed of Jeju's native black pig. A married couple shared the 600g Nanchuk Matdon plate (72,000 won) grilled by staff, discovered a combo of meljeot (salted anchovy sauce) in a stone pot with grilled scallions, then moved on to bibim guksu (spicy mixed noodles) and cheonhyehyang citrus sherbet. Pork80 Jeju Airport Branch sits near the airport, yet it is a Jeju black pork spot that clearly cares about everything from the meat to the side dishes and dessert.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJeju, JejuRestaurants

Yeon-dong, Jeju hanwoo BBQ, somaek with my husband: Dolgyeok Hanwoo

Dolgyeok Hanwoo (돌격한우) is a 1++ hanwoo (Korean beef) charcoal BBQ restaurant in Yeon-dong, Jeju City. On a dinner visit during a Jeju trip, the writer ate brisket, hanwoo special cuts and garlic (manong) galbisal in the order and sauce pairings shown on the table guide, then added the 10,000-won Dolgyeok jjajang Chapagetti, complimentary 1++ hanwoo brisket seaweed soup and a fresh carrot juice to finish. With its cut-by-cut pairings and service that lasts to the very end, Dolgyeok Hanwoo is a hanwoo restaurant in Jeju worth recommending.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeosu, GwangjuCafés

Yeosu café for couples with a self photo booth: Avocado Yeosu

Avocado Yeosu is a Vietnamese-style banh mi and avocado café at 6 Tongjeyeong 4-gil in Yeosu, South Jeolla. On a trip to Yeosu, the blogger and her husband ordered 1 avocado coffee, 1 bak xiu condensed-milk latte and 2 avocado banh mi, then took photos in the café's self photo booth. With its clear concept and plenty to photograph, Avocado Yeosu is a cosy café stop for two.

Written Jul 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeosu, GwangjuCafés

Yeosu burger café: skipping the set for 3 single items, Jwasuyeong

Jwasuyeong Baguette Burger (좌수영바게트버거) is a baguette burger and dessert café on Dongmun-ro near Yi Sun-sin Square in Yeosu, in business since 2016. Skipping the set, the writer ordered one of each: a baguette burger (6,000 won), a sea-breeze mugwort ice cream (4,000 won) and a Jwasuyeong ttungcaron (fat macaron), and enjoyed the Jeolla Left Naval Headquarters-themed well sculpture and a window seat facing Jinnamgwan. Verdict: Jwasuyeong Baguette Burger covers both a meal and a Yeosu dessert in one stop.

Written Jul 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBuk-gu, BusanRestaurants

Group dinner BBQ in Hwamyeong-dong, Busan: Jinro happy hour, Go Ok-hui

Go Ok-hui Hwamyeong Main Branch (고옥희 화명본점) is a seasoned pork belly restaurant in Hwamyeong-dong, Buk-gu, Busan, that serves several flavors on one plate (pollack roe, galbi marinade, gochujang marinade and honeycomb pork skin), all grilled for you. Looking for a group dinner spot, the writer ordered pollack roe, gochujang pork, the signature honeycomb pork skin and grilling cheese, and was pleased with the nine side dishes, steamed egg, happy hour, traditional liquor time and free umbrella loans. Go Ok-hui Hwamyeong Main Branch is a solid pork belly pick for group dinners where tastes differ.

Written Jul 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangsan, GyeongnamCafés

Rooftop infinity pool café in Hopo, Yangsan: floor tour at Choi

Bakery & coffee CHOI (Choi Main Branch) is a large bakery café on the Nakdong River in Hopo, Yangsan, Gyeongnam, where the whole building is the café: ordering on the 1st floor, the bakery on the 2nd, a lounge on the 3rd and a rooftop with an infinity pool reflecting the river and mountains. The writer toured each floor and tried a cream dessert, a heart-shaped strawberry mousse cake, a chocolate chip cookie and free tofu cracker samples. Choi in Yangsan suits anyone who wants rooftop views and a different mood on every floor in a single visit.

Written Jul 17, 2026Sponsored