Deohada
This booming barbecue joint near Kyungsung and Pukyong universities offers amazing bang for your buck. The restaurant specializes in thick cuts of water-aged samgyeopsal (pork belly) at low prices. It's no wonder they're always slammed.
6 Best Restaurants in Busan, South Korea
Busan overflows with restaurants and cafes of every description. Portions are large and prices are reasonable so it's as easy to indulge in fine dining as it is in street food—options at both ends of the price scale are most likely serving local seafood specialties, particularly in the area around the Jagalchi Markets.
Jeonglim
Housed in a hanok (traditional house) and tucked off the street by a short path lined with Korean pottery, Jeonglim is where Korean ladies lunch. While not completely vegetarian, the restaurant does specialize in vegetable dishes. The dolsotbap (rice dish in a hot stone pot) is prepared with locally grown, organic vegetable and is the perfect antidote for last night's heavy Korean barbeques. The meals start with a warm juk (rice porridge) flavored with pumpkin and is followed by what feels like an endless parade of small plates, like immaculately presented pickles and one-bite pajeons (pancake-like dish). The location can be a little difficult to find, so it is best to catch a taxi from nearby Dongnae station.
La Bella Citta
Slip into any one of La Bella Citta's three dining areas or the outdoor grotto dotted with fairy lights and you'll quickly realize that it's not just the excellent food that draws in the well-dressed couples, expats, and family. These spaces have been designed to feel miles from the busy stretch of bars just meters away, along the bustling Gwangan beach. The art spaces on the second floor house the most sumptuous dining areas and give lots of privacy. The creamy pasta carbonara is served perfectly al dente and margarita pizza was a standout.
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Mackerel in Busan
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.
Turmbräu
This delightful little brewery serves German-style beers and Euro food favorites such as wurst, goulash, and schnitzel, bringing a nice taste of Deutchsland to the beach of Busan.
Woosung Samgyetang
This Busan institution is one of the best places in town to satisfy your craving for samgyetang (chicken ginseng soup). The broth is so clean tasting that it's almost medicinal, and the whole rice-stuffed chicken in your bowl is fall-off-the-bone tender. Woosung Samgyetang is located on a side street in the Suyeong neighborhood, just one subway stop away from Gwangalli. Be prepared to wait.
