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

PlaceYeosu, GwangjuRestaurants

Yeosu shabu-shabu buffet for two, carbonara to fondue: Tongkeun Shabu

Tongkeun Shabu (통큰샤브) is an all-you-can-eat beef shabu-shabu restaurant on Mangma-ro in Hakdong, near Yeosu City Hall, with a buffet-style salad bar that includes sushi, pizza and desserts. On an ordinary weekend, a couple ate more than three plates at Tongkeun Shabu, from half-and-half pot shabu-shabu to sushi, carbonara, yukhoe (Korean beef tartare), chicken feet and chocolate fondue, and received hanwoo (Korean beef) chuck through the review event. For shabu-shabu through dessert in one place, Tongkeun Shabu is all you need.

Written Jul 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGimhae, GyeongnamCafés

Kid-friendly Gimhae café with water garden fishing: Yu Yu Yu

Yu Yu Yu (UUU, 유유유) is a large mountain-view bakery café on Inje-ro in Gimhae, Gyeongnam. The visit began at the stepping-stone mini water garden entrance and continued in the outdoor water garden, where children scoop up model fish with toy fishing rods; then came pollock roe mayo salt bread (6,000 won), an almond croissant (6,500 won), a U Cream Latte (6,500 won) and a condensed milk latte at a window seat facing the mountain ridgeline. For families with kids, or anyone who wants to relax with a mountain view, Yu Yu Yu is a Gimhae café worth coming back to.

Written Jul 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYeonje, BusanBars

Busan booth-seat skewer bar: yolk tsukune & cold Chungha at Samajama

Samajama Yeonsan Direct Branch is a Japanese-style handmade skewer bar near Yeonsan Station in Yeonje, Busan. At a booth table, the writer ordered the half-plate grill set (4 skewers + 2 small dishes) and Samajama stir-fried noodles on the table kiosk, pairing them with Chungha (a clear Korean rice wine) and soju; the binchotan charcoal aroma and the tsukune dipped in egg yolk stood out most. Samajama Yeonsan Direct Branch is a good bar near Yeonsan Station for skewers, a drink and a quiet conversation.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongnae, BusanRestaurants

Sushi Set 4 lunch with my parents at Lotte Dongnae, Busan: Moshi Moshi

Moshi Moshi Sushi is a sushi restaurant on the 8th floor of Lotte Department Store Dongnae Branch in Dongnae, Busan. It is within walking distance of Myeongnyun Station and connects directly to Lotte Cinema Dongnae. On a hot day, the writer and their parents had lunch there and ordered Set 4 (for 2–3 people, with udon) plus a cold soba platter, sharing sushi, shrimp tempura, tofu salad, warm udon and chilled soba. It was a satisfying family lunch, and the parents asked to come back to Moshi Moshi Sushi.

Written Jul 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Teppanyaki with parents in Seomyeon, Busan: seafood set at Karen

Karen Lotte Department Store Busan Main Branch is a Taiwanese-style teppanyaki restaurant in the B1 food court of Lotte Department Store in Seomyeon, Busan. Dining with their parents, the writer ordered Karen's seafood set for two plus one à la carte emperor short rib, all cooked by the chef on the grill right in front of the bar seats; the king prawn, scallop, salmon and short rib were tasty and not too salty. Verdict: a seafood set for two plus one emperor short rib is just the right amount for three people to share.

Written Jul 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBuk-gu, BusanRestaurants

Rosé mala xiang guo at level 1 in Deokcheon-dong, Busan: Mara Golmok

Mara Golmok is a self-serve mala tang and mala xiang guo restaurant on the youth street near Deokcheon Station in Buk-gu, Busan. A couple arrived right at opening time and ordered Mara Golmok's new rosé mala xiang guo at spice level 1 and numbing level 1; the added cream made the dish taste nutty and rich before any heat came through. Because beef goes into the same mixing bowl and is charged at the base rate, Mara Golmok is a good pick when dining with someone who can't handle much spice.

Written Aug 9, 2026Sponsored
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