What to Eat in Busan: Local dot Picks – Part 1

Busan is one of those cities where deciding what to eat can be harder than deciding what to see.

Of course, the city is famous for seafood, pork soup, and wheat noodles. But there’s much more to Busan’s food scene than its most famous local dishes.

For Part 1 of our Busan food guide, we’re mixing things up: crispy tonkatsu, Pyeongyang-style cold noodles, an old-school Korean pork meal, omakase sushi, and okonomiyaki with a cold beer.

Here are five Local dot picks for your next Busan trip.

1. Tonshou

톤쇼우

For seriously good tonkatsu

If you love tonkatsu, Tonshou should be on your Busan food list.

Known for its thick and juicy Japanese-style pork cutlets, Tonshou serves beautifully cooked pork inside an incredibly crispy coating.

For your first bite, skip the sauce. Try a piece simply with a little salt and enjoy the flavor of the pork itself.

One thing to know before you go: Tonshou is popular. Very popular.

Waiting is common, so plan ahead rather than showing up when you’re already starving.

Local dot tip: Combine your meal with a walk around Gwangalli. Good tonkatsu followed by an ocean view is never a bad idea.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/C6r48CXuVag2QnY2A

2. Baegil Pyeongnaeng

백일평냉

For a different kind of Korean cold noodle

Pyeongyang-style naengmyeon can be surprising if you’re used to bold Korean flavors.

Instead of a spicy or heavily seasoned sauce, the focus here is on a clean, subtle broth and delicate flavors.

Your first sip might even make you wonder, “Is this supposed to be this mild?”

Yes.

That simplicity is part of what makes Pyeongyang naengmyeon so interesting. Take your time with it and let the flavor develop as you eat.

Local dot tip: Try the broth on its own before adding vinegar, mustard, or any other seasoning.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XFfGsrqaLBVZ631S8

3. Choryang Wonjo Bulbaek

초량원조불백

For an old-school Korean meal near Busan Station

Sometimes the best meal is also the simplest.

Bulbaek is short for bulgogi baekban: seasoned pork served with rice and a selection of Korean side dishes.

At Choryang Wonjo Bulbaek, expect a hearty, straightforward meal rather than a trendy dining experience.

Take a piece of pork, wrap it in lettuce with garlic and sauce, and follow it with a spoonful of rice.

Simple. Filling. Very Korean.

Local dot tip: Its location around Choryang makes this an easy meal to work into your arrival or departure day around Busan Station.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/iAxGsAw2qhyFFqd76

4. Sushi Kou

스시코우

For an omakase experience

Want to make one meal in Busan a little more special?

Book an omakase at Sushi Kou.

Omakase literally means leaving the meal up to the chef. Instead of choosing individual pieces from a menu, you sit at the counter and enjoy a course selected and prepared for you.

Piece by piece, the meal unfolds in front of you.

That interaction is part of the experience, so if possible, enjoy your meal at the counter where you can watch each course being prepared.

After several casual meals and street-food stops, Sushi Kou is a nice way to slow things down and make dinner an experience of its own.

Local dot tip: Omakase is best planned in advance, so check reservations before your trip.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/1BBtEv7w9kJ7X8nWA

5. Hyottoko Gwangalli

횻토코 광안점

For okonomiyaki and a cold beer

Save this one for the evening.

Our pick at Hyottoko is the okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese pancake served piping hot.

But there’s another reason we like coming here: the atmosphere.

If you can, take a seat at the bar counter. Order an okonomiyaki, get yourself a cold beer, and settle in.

After spending the day exploring Busan, you don’t always need another elaborate dinner.

Sometimes you just need:

Okonomiyaki + a seat at the bar + a cold beer.

And since you’re already around Gwangalli, finish the night with a walk by the beach.

Local dot tip: Grab a bar seat if one is available. It’s our favorite way to enjoy Hyottoko.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/gDapBSQ1L7W2JMg16

Five Meals, Five Different Sides of Busan

There’s no single way to eat your way through Busan.

You can have crispy tonkatsu for lunch, discover the subtle flavors of Pyeongyang naengmyeon, sit down for an old-school Korean meal, treat yourself to omakase, or end the night with okonomiyaki and beer.

And that’s exactly why we need a Part 2.