Jeonpo pizza restaurant with a jamón-taco cream pasta set: Pickles

Pickles in Jeonpo at 1pm on a weekday: how busy are the seats?

I visited Pickles, a famous Jeonpo restaurant in Seomyeon known for long waits whether it's a weekday or weekend, on a weekday afternoon. I got there around 1pm, a bit past lunchtime. I figured it might be quieter since it was slightly past the lunch rush on a weekday, but almost every seat was taken except for one or two.

There was no wait when I arrived, but in this economy... the fact that customers keep coming in shows just how popular this Busan Jeonpo restaurant really is.

Photo spots at the entrance and how to book Pickles on Catch Table

You could feel the hip factor from the entrance!!! The neon sign, the color combinations, the interior — it all caught my eye.

There were photo spots everywhere, so it seemed like a great place to take pictures while waiting. You can reserve through Catch Table, and the base wait was said to be 90 minutes. From the 3rd party onward, you have to wait in front of the store, so I'd say it's a good idea to make full use of the Catch Table app!!

Inside Pickles: the interior and the self-serve pu'er tea and herb-leaf pickles

Contrary to expectations, the space isn't huge, but it's laid out so efficiently that it never felt cramped or tight. The sofa seating was styled nicely down to every corner, and there was plenty of distance between each table.

Once you're seated, they bring you the menu, and at the self-serve bar you can help yourself to water, pickles, and tissues. What was a bit unique — the water was chilled boricha (roasted barley tea), and the pickles had an herb leaf in them, giving them a different scent from the usual star anise pickles, which I liked!

The Pickles menu, the cream pasta set order and the iced cola cup

They have lasagna, pizza, pasta, and side dishes here. We didn't know what to pick so we ordered the set menu! Apparently this place is known for putting real effort into its lasagna too. Next time I definitely need to try that!!!

We also ordered a cola, and even that had a nice touch. They gave us an ice cup with a lemon slice in it!? This kind of attention to detail is probably exactly what makes a place feel like premium dining.

How do the jamón-taco half-and-half pizza and cream pasta taste?

We ordered the half-and-half pizza (jambón and taco) and the cream pasta.

The visuals on the half-and-half pizza were seriously no joke!?!?!? The jambón was sliced thin and arranged like decoration, while the taco side had the cream sauce plated in a much more upscale way.

First I tried the jambón pizza!!??!

From the cheese pull to the combination of arugula, jambón, and butter — there are no words... Next I put the taco slice in my mouth, and it was genuinely delicious. I forgot to even take pictures and just kept eating. The crust had a crisp-yet-chewy texture, and the toppings came together perfectly.

Especially when I dipped the crust ends in salt and hot sauce like they guided us to, it was seriously so good! A lot of people don't actually know this way of eating it, so I really appreciated the staff kindly showing us how!

I thought the cream pasta was a cut above even among Busan's good restaurants.

It wasn't too heavy, but the rich flavor of the cream still came through, and just the right amount of spice balanced it out. The pasta noodles stayed al dente too, so the texture was exactly right.

Is Pickles a good pick for a date or meeting friends?

The interior at Pickles really was hip and stylish.

Warm-toned lighting, white panel walls, and wood-toned furniture came together to create a genuinely upscale atmosphere. Each table had its own small light, which made it feel even more atmospheric, and the plants and greenery were placed naturally throughout. It's a space that photographs really well, so it's more than qualified as a spot for a great shot.

The place isn't big, but it can comfortably seat around 8, so it'd work well for a get-together with friends! For anyone looking for a good restaurant in Busan's Jeonpo, and especially couples wanting somewhere a bit special for a date — even with the wait, I'd really recommend Pickles!!

Pickles Jeonpo: address, hours and directions

• Address: 62-14 Seojeon-ro 46beon-gil, 1st floor, Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00 (last order 20:00)
• Reservations: Catch Table
• Location: 5-minute walk from Seomyeon Station Exit 2/6 or Jeonpo Station Exit 7