Weekend lunch CatchTable wait, two pastas at Bueokgan, Gijang outlet

I headed to Shinsegae Simon Outlets in Gijang for a bit of a mood reset and to check out the seasonal clothes. I stop by often just to shop, but honestly, my real goal is to grab a good plate of pasta while making the rounds of the outlet. Every time I go, I think about trying somewhere new, but I always end up walking back to the place that never lets me down — Bueokgan, my go-to Gijang lunch spot and the noodle place that comes to mind whenever I crave pasta, no matter when I visit before or after shopping.

Bueokgan hours and location

• Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu 10:30–20:30 (L.O. 20:00)
• Fri, Sat, Sun 10:30–21:00 (L.O. 20:30)
• Break time: 14:30–16:30
• Location: 1133 Jeonggwan-ro, Jangan-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, South Korea, 1st floor, No. 180

Where to park?

Shinsegae Simon Outlets in Gijang is huge, right? There's not just one parking lot but several. It's worth checking the map before you head over.

How to handle the weekend lunch wait

Every time I go, I notice Bueokgan's popularity at weekend lunch hasn't cooled off one bit. Crowds usually peak between noon and 1:30 PM, so entering your number into the CatchTable tablet at the entrance and then going shopping cuts down the wait and makes your shopping time more efficient. You can check your real-time order through KakaoTalk, so if you happen to be browsing a nearby brand store, the entry text alert usually arrives pretty quickly.

Atmosphere and seating

Step inside and the usual mall commotion seems to fade away instantly, replaced by a calm, cozy European feel. Deep wood furniture, softly lit tables, and brick finishes come together for a comfortable atmosphere every time — great for couple dates, family meals, or group dining, making it a solid Gijang lunch spot.

Tables are spaced quite generously, so you can keep a stroller right beside you while eating. Baby chairs are also available, so families out with kids can relax, and couples get a clean, warm feel instead of the noisy food-court vibe you'd expect in an outlet mall. Recommended.

Ordering via tablet

You order from the tablet menu at your table. The lineup is well rounded, from refreshing salads to rich cream, oil, and tomato-based pastas, wood-fired pizza, gnocchi, and even steak. Calling staff is also done through the tablet, which is convenient.

Tips for ordering at Bueokgan

If I could give one ordering tip for Bueokgan, it would be to try the SET menu, which lets you taste a bit of everything. The composition is great and there are a few customizable options to suit your taste. Here are a few things worth considering when choosing from the set, plus the dishes I've found reliably good across multiple visits.

On my first visit to this Gijang lunch spot, I went for the pizza. I usually like pizza with salad more than spaghetti, but this place is also famous as a Gijang pasta spot. So last time I ordered one pizza and one pasta, and both were delicious. And!!! I kept hearing good things about the napa cabbage Caesar salad, so this time I ordered it too.

I also picked the shrimp anchovy pasta I'd been curious about. Last time I debated between gnocchi and an oil pasta and went with gnocchi, which was delicious. So today I went with the oil pasta instead.

I really wanted my companion to order something different. Well... haha. I tried hard to steer them elsewhere, but no luck!! So in the end we had two kinds of pasta that day. I wasn't expecting much from the seafood tomato since it's such a familiar dish, but honestly, everything marked BEST on the menu really was delicious.

Hot sauce is also available on request.

Napa cabbage Caesar salad

The flavor was surprisingly novel. Sweet napa cabbage with a tangy, savory Caesar dressing and cheese, plus a hint of that smoky, tangy flavor like aged kimchi — it cleanses your palate really well. If you haven't tried this one, you should.

Shrimp anchovy pasta

The pizza's great here, the salads were all good too, but my personal top pick is the shrimp anchovy pasta. The noodles are slightly thick but cooked just right, and coated well with oil for a spicy, savory punch that hits all the way through.

The plump cocktail shrimp were great too, and there was zero heaviness — you just kept eating without getting tired of it.

Seafood tomato pasta

Seafood tomato is such a classic Western menu staple, right? The flavor is familiar so I wasn't super curious about it, but the noodle thickness and shape are different from the anchovy pasta. It holds a generous amount of sauce.

Shrimp, green mussels, clams, and a variety of other seafood are packed in generously — the noodles are delicious, but you end up scraping the sauce right off the bottom of the dish. The combination of oil and tomato pastas here is excellent, and I think pasta lovers will appreciate having both options.

Menu combos: first visit vs. return visit

If you want to try a bit of everything on your first visit, I recommend going with the SET and ordering across soup, salad, pizza, and pasta. For your first combo, sticking to BEST-marked items is a safe bet. On a second visit, order the one dish you loved most from your first visit plus something new, or just go all-new across the board. I've tried more than half the menu, and from sides to pizza to pasta, everything has been good — honestly, I haven't hit a miss (haven't tried the steak yet, though^^).

I've mainly been recommending this as a lunch spot, but it's even better for an evening glass of wine since corkage is free (up to 3 bottles). Weekdays in particular make for a more relaxed, comfortable meal.

Consistent flavor and a comfortable, warm atmosphere no matter how many times I come back. If you want a good rest amid the chaos of the mall, with a cozy vibe and delicious Western food, I recommend Bueokgan, a Gijang lunch pasta favorite.