6 Best Restaurants in Haeundae, Busan

Opened in 1964 and known for its premium cuts of Korean hanwoo beef, this upscale barbecue restaurant is regarded as one of the finest in the city. The traditional u-shaped hanok building it calls home adds to its deep charm. Just make sure to bring a mighty credit card, or plenty of cash. 

Situated on the newly developed café street behind the old Haeundae Station, this charming coffeehouse offers up an array of coffee and tea drinks, along with tasty desserts. Enjoy them on either of the café's two floors or its small outdoor balcony. Their Honey Bee Latte is worth the trip alone, and unlike most Korean coffee joints, they're open in the morning.

Eomuk is a kind of fish cake found throughout Korea that is particularly popular in Busan. Goraesa is the one-stop shop for everything eomuk, with a dizzying array of choices coming in many sizes, shapes, flavors, and colors. Whether you grab a gift box to go or munch on your snack at one of the tables, you'll understand right away why Goraesa is a local institution.

Mackerel is Busan's unofficial city fish, and this new addition to Haeundae's dining scene serves it a variety of ways for a price that doesn't break the bank. The second-floor restaurant is clean and bright and comes with a self-serve bar, where you can load up on sides and extras.

This popular neighborhood joint serves up top-notch old-school Korean fare like vegetable pancakes (potato, green onion, and chive), grilled fish, steamed pork, boiled octopus, and more. This all comes with a kaleidoscopic array of banchan (side dishes), as well as a terrific collection of soju and makgeolli, Korea's milky rice wine. The surroundings are dark and intimate, and the place stays open late, as it's as much of a drinking establishment as it is an eatery.

Stroll down the side streets off Haendae's main Gunam-ro to find this popular barbecue joint that will make you feel as if you're sipping soju in a Korean drama. With fresh cuts of both beef and pork, it's guaranteed to please carnivores without decimating their wallets. The tabletop grills also come with side pans for cooking scrambled eggs and kimchi.