The Best Restaurants in Busan
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If there’s one thing you need to know about me, it is my absolute, full-blown love affair with food. My world revolves around food; it is genuinely the highlight of my day when I get to eat. When I moved to Korea, I was determined to find all the best restaurants in Busan. This proved to be slightly more difficult than I originally planned. What no one tells you before you travel to Korea is that typical western apps like Googlemaps that we’re so used to, simply don’t work here. Instead, we have Naver and KakaoMaps, and if you don’t read Korean, you’re probably mostly out of luck!
Because of this, it’s actually really hard to find good restaurants on your own. To be completely honest, most of the restaurants on this list were due to us stumbling in or my bestie Victoria obsessively spending her time looking for good ones on Instagram discover pages. Finding the best restaurants in Busan was really tricky!
Not to mention, the way that a restaurant will close and new ones open in their place (only to also close a year later) is actually insane? So while I will try to keep this list up to date, if the Naver or Kakaomaps link ever stops working for any of the restaurants, chances are they’ve closed:(
And obviously, I’m one singular girl who has lived in Busan for just one year. There’s only so many restaurants I can actually try! I’ve had way more subpar meals than truly stellar ones, so while this list is not as comprehensive as I’d like it to be, it’s the best I could do. As always, if you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments! I’d love to add a few more to the list before I leave in the next two months.
Where to stay in Busan
Quick pitstop in the assumption that you’re planning a vacation to Busan (excellent choice) and need some recommendations of where to stay!
Luxury
Park Hyatt Busan: If there’s one place I wish I could’ve treated myself to a staycation at, it’s the Park Hyatt. Their restaurants are world class - you wouldn’t even have to leave the hotel to access some of the best restaurants in Busan! The views of the Gwangalli bridge at night from this hotel get me every time, and if it’s in the budget, I highly recommend splurging on a stay here.
Signiel Busan: If you’re looking for luxury, look no further than Signiel Busan. I think that might just be the most epic infinity pool in all of Korea, if you ask me. And the bathtubs?? With those views?? Unreal. Reviews rave about the comfy beds and the impeccable concierge, who are able to arrange just about any activity you could ever wish to do in Busan.
Mid-range
Hotel1 Gwangalli: Even though I had an apartment in Busan, I was able to stay in Hotel1 for a little staycation one weekend in the summer, and it was the cutest experience ever. Think: checking your shoes at the door, floor pillows and low-to-the-ground tables, and a snack goodie bag upon arrival. The rooms (especially the corner units!) have floor to ceiling windows giving you a perfect view of the Gwangalli bridge. This is the perfect location - on the beach, in between touristy sights such as Haedong Yongungsa temple and Gamcheon Culture village.
Grand Josun Busan: I’m not lying - I walked on the beach boardwalk right by this hotel every day, and every day I longingly stared into the windows. It is simply the most aesthetic hotel I’ve ever seen. This hotel is located in Haeundae (one of the top areas of Busan), and you can’t tell me there’s a more curated hotel than this one - it would simply be a lie.
Budget:
Kimchee Haeundae Guest House: And for all of you budget backpackers out there - of course I didn’t forget you! Kimchee has a more popular guest house that has a higher rating if you were to look at it on hostelworld, but I’m here to tell you that it’s in a super inconvenient location! The branch in Haeundae is right in the center of the action - you can’t beat being a block away from the beach.
Best Restaurants in Busan
Korean Food
Shabu-ya
Shabu-Shabu is a classic Korean dish that consists of a pot of boiling broth, raw meat that you cook in said broth, and lots of different sides and veggies (there’s usually a refrigerated bar where you can go top up on all the veggies and even get noodles to put in your leftover broth when you’re done). I’ve gotten Shabu-Shabu a few different places. The first place I went, it was literally the most sketchy restaurant I’ve ever been to, and the Shabu Shabu was actually one of the very worst things I’ve ever ordered from a restaurant in my entire life. So when my coworker suggested we go out after work for Shabu-Shabu, I was extremely skeptical. She promised it was good, and led us into a ratchet looking elevator in a random building. My hopes were not high.
The elevator doors opened, however, and immediately I knew it was going to be good food. The restaurant looked super nice, and we ordered on screens at our table, which let us take our time with google translate and order at our own pace. When they brought it out, it even had rice paper that you could wrap all of you different elements in, and it was the best meal I’ve had in Korea - not to mention the most fun. Like Korean barbecue, it’s definitely intimidating because of all the different moving parts, but you just cook the meat in the broth, pull it out along with some veggies, add it to your rice paper with some fresh veggies, roll it up, and dunk it in some sauce! Make sure to give this specific place a go if you’re looking for restaurants in Busan!
Tobico
This restaurant was discovered by my best friend here, Victoria. She lives in Oncheonjang, and is one stop away from PNU. To be completely honest, we’ve only actually tried one thing on the menu - and we are absolutely hooked. The way that we can inhale the creamy shrimp ramen is actually appalling. This dish consist of the most perfect, thick, udon noodles, shrimp, and boiled egg in the creamiest, almost ~alfredo~ like sauce. And, it has a little bit of a kick to it.
It is actually to die for, and you need to try it. I’m sure if any of their other menu items are anything like this one, they’ll be fabulous, but do yourself a favor and get the creamy shrimp ramen.
오반장 (Korean Barbecue in Haeundae)
Obviously, you can’t come to South Korea without eating Korea BBQ. Genuinely, I eat kbbq at least once a week, sometimes more. I’ve been on the hunt to find the best kbbq in all of Busan, and I think I’ve succeeded. Eating kbbq can be really intimidating, but never fear - I’m here to make it easy for you. With one of my favorite bbq places in Seomyeon (currently under renovations - I’ll update when it’s open!), and the other in Haeundae (오반장), hopefully you’re staying in the popular areas of Busan and can make it to one of these!
When ordering kbbq, you typically have to order by portions of meat - and there’s generally a three portion minimum. I typically do 3 portions for my friend and I, and I always recommend that you get whatever they use a marinade on, as it’s always 10x better in my opinion. I typically go for 3 portions of marinated beef, but if it’s a pork only restaurant (very common) go for 3 portions of the marinated pork. You can always buy more portions if you’re still hungry!
Be sure to add a portion of rice to each of your orders. Put about 6-8 pieces of meat on the grill, flipping them when they get really condensated on the top. When they look done, toss it right into the bowl of sauce they give you. Take a piece of lettuce or a sesame leaf, put some rice and the meat on it, and pop it in your mouth! Genuinely to die for. (If you go to the one in Haeundae, they give you steamed egg! Wait for the egg to finish cooking and then just eat it with your spoon.
Honorary Hotteok mention
If you come to South Korea and don’t try the freaking Hotteok here, you’ve done something wrong. While this is definitely not a restaurant, and you can get Hotteok anywhere you see a street food stand. It is, in my brain, the quintessential Korean dessert that you absolutely cannot miss. They’re sweet, fried pancakes, filled with the most insane brown sugar cinnamon sauce. My favorite variation is the one that includes seeds - and although it sounds a little bit strange, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and nuts go amazing with the cinnamon and add a little bit of texture. You can’t leave Korea without trying some!
멘야산다이메 해운대점 (Ramen)
Located in Jangsan, at the very end of the green subway line (two stops away from Haeundae), (go out of exit 7 and its right by Baskin Robbins) is this tiny, hole in the wall ramen place. You literally have to duck to get under the door frame, and there’s no way this restaurant can seat more than 4 people (there’s also only one four-person table, but if it’s just you and one other person you’ll probably be fine and not have to wait for a seat).
This ramen….. words cannot describe my love for this ramen. I get the miso ramen with chasyu added in, as well as an order of Gyoza dumplings, and I probably go once a week. No joke. The miso ramen is packed with pork and tons of veggies, and the chasyu just adds a whole other flavor dimension. They do take away food as well as sit in, so if you want to grab some and take it home with you, feel free! It’s super inexpensive, and is the most comforting food I’ve ever had in my life.
Western food
Pendejo
My friend and I went during opening week, and while is is a little bit of a pain to get there (it’s quite the walk from Gwangalli Station), we took a bite of these tacos, looked at each, other, and just laughed until we cried. These tacos brought us so much joy actual tears came out of our eyeballs. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but if you’re craving Mexican food, you NEED to go here. The menu is itty bitty, but what they do have is actually out of this world. Victoria has been here for a year and she ranked it as her number one meal of her entire time here. So if that doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will. 100% worth grabbing a taxi to get to.
Or, it’s about a 15 minute walk from Gwangalli Beach! The best post-beach dinner you’ll ever, have, I can guarantee it.
SOL Taphouse
Maybe this wouldn’t be the best place to come if you’re just visiting, but if you’re and expat living here and you’ve been craving really good pizza, Slice of Life Taphouse is just the thing for you. It has a stunning view of Gwangalli Beach, and some of the best pizza I’ve had during my time here. They also have lots of beer on tap, as well as chicken wings. Get a few pizzas to share with your friends, or just stop by for a slice!
This is so random but they also have a really good caesar salad? And that’s really hard to find in this country lol
Moon Burger
Located on Dalmaji hill, a short taxi drive (or steep uphill walk) from Haeundae beach, is Moon Burger. While it is just a tiny little restaurant with limited seating, they do this absolutely INSANE burger — its called “The F**cking Cheese Burger”. While the name makes you raise an eyebrow, your jaw will drop when your order comes out.
They have your burger sitting open, and bring a brick sized block of cheese that they’ve been heating up over to your table. Then, using a knife, they slide all the melted cheese right on top of your burger, absolutely drowning it. It’s hilarious, and also so freaking delicious. I’ve included the lowest quality screenshot from an instagram story because you genuinely just need to see it for yourself to have an idea of what I’m talking about LOL
Sabbia
If you’re in the mood for a little bit of a boujier pasta dinner, look no further. Also located on Dalmaji hill, this restaurant does some of the best pasta I’ve ever had, regardless of my location. They have a really unique take on truffle gnocchi, and while everything else on the menu is really good (especially the seemingly simple tomato chorizo pasta) you absolutely can’t go wrong with the truffle gnocchi. The flavor is absolutely out of this world. Pictured above, next to the hilarious cheeseburger.
Home
This restaurant is the only 100% Vegan restaurant on this list, but it is also my favorite restaurant on this list. They way they make things that normally have meat taste even better than if they actually had meat in them is BAFFLING to me. The Kung Pao boy is actually fried mushrooms, and the tacos have beyond beef in them. They have really strange hours, so be sure to check their instagram before you go, and be sure to get there right as it opens because it fills up fast. Home is located in Haeundae, and it is worth a stop whether you’re vegan or not. One thing to note is that all their dishes are pretty spicy? I personally don’t do spice, but I love their food so much that I force myself to power through. I’m also a baby when it comes to spice and I can do it (although it hurts towards the end haha) but if I can do it so can you.
The atmosphere here is to die for, with a super maximalist, eclectic feel to it. It really does feel homey, and it’s one of the best restaurants in Busan hands down.
Miscellaneous
Dal Thai
This is a small restaurant up on Dalmaji hill, right near where my apartment is. The menu is shoddily laminated in a neon Daiso binder with some terrible translations, but the Pad Thai was some of the best I’ve ever had. 10/10. I go so often, the owner knows me and waves at me on my daily coffee runs as I walk by the store, and he speaks perfect English! Amazing, perfect, incredible flawless.
Dim Tao Haeundae
Now, full disclosure, I’ve never been here because there’s always a line around the block before they even open, but if I’ve learned anything from living in Korea, it’s that anywhere with a line outside is a place you want to be. One of my best friends was able to snag a table one time, and she described eating here as a religious experience.
I don’t have much input, other than to tell you that it’s all dumplings and Chinese inspired food, but I’m hoping to go at least once before I leave the country, and I’ll report back. It’s located back behind the Haeundae Metro Station, and there are a million cute cafes and restaurants and brunch places back there so if you go to check out the status of the queue at Dim Tao and it’s not looking do-able, you’ll be able to find a fabulous alternative just by walking around this little area of town. I recommend basically any restaurant back there - it’s one of my favorite places to hang out in all of Busan.
And that wraps up my list of the best restaurants in Busan! I hope you’re able to try some of these out, and if you have any contributions to make I’d love if you could send a picture and a description so that this list can be more complete! There’s only so many restaurants one girl can go to haha
What do you think is the best restaurant in Busan? I’d love to hear your answers in the comments below!!
My last roundup post while still living in Korea! Catch up on what I’ve gotten up to this summer: