Healthy salad, poke and wraps in Jung-gu, Busan: PARENTS

I've been eating out a lot lately, so every now and then I start craving a healthy meal packed with vegetables instead of something greasy and strongly seasoned. But then I hesitate, thinking a salad full of nothing but vegetables will leave me hungry again in no time.

The PARENTS Coffee & Salad I visited this time was great because it had so many options, from salads to poke, wraps, and pasta salads. After trying it myself, I found the vegetables fresh and the portions quite generous, so it was filling without sitting heavily after the meal.

PARENTS Coffee & Salad Jungang-dong Branch: location and hours

• Location: 103, 1F, Geukdong Building, 13 Chungjang-daero 9beon-gil, Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea
• Getting there: About 155 m from Exit 14 of Jungang Station on Busan Metro Line 1
• Hours: Mon–Fri 09:00–20:00 / break time 14:00–16:00
• Regular closure: Every Saturday and Sunday
• Chuseok holiday closure: September 24–26

An easy lunch stop in Jungang-dong

PARENTS is in Jungang-dong, not far from Busan Station. With lots of offices and shops around, it looked like a good option for office workers looking for a quick but filling lunch.

The front of the shop is all glass, so you can see clearly inside from outdoors, and the large red PARENTS sign makes it easy to spot. From the photos I checked, I did not see a dedicated parking lot. Given the Busan Station and Jungang-dong area, it would probably be more convenient to check nearby paid parking in advance if you are driving.

At the time of my visit, there was also a lunch event from 11:00 to 14:00. Orders for two or more received ₩1,000 off per person, with an additional ₩500 off per person when a drink was ordered. Events can change, so do check when you visit.

The interior and seating atmosphere

Once I stepped inside, the shop was longer than I expected and had quite a few seats.

White walls with bold red accents, wood tables, and rattan-style chairs gave the space an overall relaxed feel. Rather than being flashy, it felt neat and well suited to a meal. The tables were not cramped together, and it looked good for a quick solo meal or a visit with two or three people.

Menu options from salads to poke and wraps

What I liked about PARENTS was that the menu had a wider range of choices than I expected.

There were grilled tofu and kabocha squash mash salad, herb-aged chicken breast salad, grilled mushroom and arugula salad, seasoned shrimp salad, plus a variety of poke and pasta salads.

The wrap selection included a whole shrimp wrap and crispy chicken wrap, so it seemed ideal for anyone who feels a salad alone may not be enough for a meal. There was also an impressive range of dressings: wasabi soy sauce, sesame soy sauce, balsamic, Oriental, sweet chili, Italian, yuzu, olive oil with salt and pepper, sriracha mayo, and more.

I could also check the country-of-origin labels: chicken breast from Korea, shrimp from Vietnam, salmon from Norway, and mushrooms from Korea.

Whole shrimp wrap, crispy chicken wrap, and shrimp poke salad

That day, we ordered the whole shrimp wrap, crispy chicken wrap, seasoned shrimp poke salad, and two iced Americanos.

Crunchy vegetables and springy shrimp in the whole shrimp wrap

With the first bite of the whole shrimp wrap, I could immediately taste how fresh the vegetables were. They were not limp at all but nice and crunchy, while the shrimp added its signature springy texture, making every bite fun.

There was a substantial amount of vegetables even in one wrap, so it did not feel heavy afterward. Still, it did not feel like I was eating vegetables alone—the shrimp made it satisfyingly filling too.

The more substantial, nuttier crispy chicken wrap

The crispy chicken wrap was a little more substantial and savory than the whole shrimp wrap.

The contrast between crispy chicken and crunchy vegetables was clear. Chicken on its own could feel a little heavy, but the generous vegetables made the overall flavor much fresher. If you do not usually enjoy salads, starting with a wrap like this could be a nice idea.

Seasoned shrimp poke salad loaded with vegetables and shrimp

And then there was the seasoned shrimp poke salad, which I especially liked that day. First of all, the colors looked absolutely appetizing. It was generously filled with all kinds of vegetables and topped with shrimp, making for a very substantial bowl.

Above all, the vegetables were fresh. Their crisp snap was still very much alive, and together with the springy shrimp, they brought savory depth to the clean flavor. Mixing all the ingredients and taking a big bite gave me the freshness of vegetables, the bounce of shrimp, and the chew of grains one after another, so it never felt monotonous.

Sometimes I worry that a salad will leave me hungry quickly, but after finishing this bowl, I was more satisfied than expected. At the same time, it did not leave me feeling weighed down the way greasy food does, which I loved.

To me, it was a menu item that truly suited the description: “a meal that makes your body feel lighter, a healthy meal.”

An iced Americano was just ₩2,000 per cup, so it was easy on the wallet too. Sipping it between bites of the wraps or poke refreshed my palate, making it a good accompaniment to the meal.

For a healthy meal near Busan Station

On a day when you want something a little lighter and healthier near Busan Station instead of familiar options such as gukbap (rice soup) or milmyeon (Busan-style wheat noodles), PARENTS seems like a good choice. I especially liked that I could enjoy plenty of fresh vegetables and choose not only salads but also poke and wraps. It felt less like a strictly light diet meal and more like healthy food that delivers both flavor and fullness.

I would recommend the whole shrimp wrap to anyone who likes bright flavors and springy textures, and the crispy chicken wrap to anyone wanting something more substantial. The seasoned shrimp poke salad was perfect for a day when I wanted a proper meal with an even mix of vegetables and shrimp. Today, I had a healthy meal that was easy on my stomach too :)