Category

Food Notes

Places I have personally eaten in Busan.

Two large oysters on a silver plate, each topped with a slice of lemonGwangalli, Busan · A seafood place in Gwangalli I had wanted to try since around its opening. My first triploid oysters were big and tasty. The seafood was fresh.A plate of thinly sliced raw fish topped with marinated crab, with rice balls and small side dishesNamcheon-dong, Busan · A seafood place in Namcheon-dong I found on social media and booked ahead. You wrap raw fish with soy-marinated crab. The taste was fine, and it was crowded.A white and brown cat curled up with its eyes closed on a wooden shelfGwangalli, Busan · An animal cafe in Gwangalli I visited with a friend over the Children's Day holiday. You buy a ticket, not food. We saw cats, dogs, a pig, and a chicken.A large tray of assorted seafood in small dishes, with sea squirt, abalone, and shrimpGijang, Busan · On a family member's day off we ate by the window at Yeonhwa-ri Haenyeochon. The small seafood platter was a great deal at 30,000 won. No cards.Makchang cooking on a round grill plate with squash and green onionYeonsan-dong, Busan · A place in Yeonsan-dong where a friend and I went for makchang after work. It came pre-grilled with hardly any smell. We added an order of spicy chicken feet.A large platter of gizzard shad and white-fleshed sashimiDongnae, Busan · A friend kept asking for gizzard shad, so we went on a Thursday evening. We ordered it as a set with mixed sashimi; the mullet and the shad were good.A whole pizza topped with pepperoni and ham in a black panSeomyeon, Busan · I saw the sign on an errand in Seomyeon and went in. I ate about two slices of the Lee Jae-mo Crust and took the rest home. Not bad, but worth a long line?A bottle of Yoichi single malt next to a whisky glassSuyeong, Busan · The third stop of the night, after Tansuho. I had a glass of Yoichi single malt, a Japanese whisky, and it was smooth. I chatted with the owner and went home.A tray of mango shaved ice on a terrace table with the sea behind itGijang, Busan · A seaside cafe my family and I went to after seafood at Gijang Haenyeochon. We had the signature mango shaved ice for two on the terrace, facing the sea.A glass of white wine, an iced coffee, and a cup of gelato on a wooden trayGwangan-dong, Busan · A cafe in Gwangan-dong I stopped by on a fine Friday afternoon with a friend. It sells gelato and wine by the glass. I liked the stylish room.A round plate with perilla leaves, seaweed, and several accompanimentsMangmi-dong, Busan · A second stop after Ijo Sutbul Galbi, at a Korean restaurant. I expected a long line, but we got in right away. The aged kimchi gimbap was good.Fresh pork belly on a black grill plate, surrounded by side dishesMangmi-dong, Busan · At my companion's suggestion we grilled fresh pork belly at an outdoor table in Mangmi Jungang Market. 9,000 won for 130 g, and less smoke outdoors.A table with skewers on a rotating charcoal grill, surrounded by plates of ingredients and saucesJangjeon-dong, Busan · A place near PNU that my friend found for malatang and lamb skewers. Skewers and hot pot, all you can eat, for 24,000 won per person. Better than I expected.A bottle of Macallan 12 on the bar next to a long-stemmed glass of whiskyGwangalli, Busan · The third stop of the night, after Yasumu. It is the bar I end up at when I am in Gwangalli. I had Macallan 12 and my friend had a non-alcoholic cocktail.Raw beef and salmon sashimi on a round plate, with white mist spreading below itGwangalli, Busan · A second stop after Durumi and a walk on the beach. We ordered the 37,000 won platter of raw beef and salmon sashimi. I was too full to eat much.Pork belly, kimchi, and mushrooms cooking on a round grill plateGwangalli, Busan · The first stop of the day with a friend. The staff explained and grilled the meat for us. We had Jeju pork belly and rib meat, then finished with fried rice.An Old Fashioned with ice and orange peel in a glassSuyeong, Busan · A small whisky bar in Suyeong that an acquaintance recommended. I had an Old Fashioned and my friend had Bunnahabhain 12. The owner is kind and cheerful.Marinated ribs served on a black plate, sprinkled with green onionYangjeong, Busan · A rib restaurant by Yangjeong Station. I liked the sweet marinated ribs and preferred them in a lettuce wrap, but I cannot recommend the gochujang yukhoe.Two thick slabs of pork belly on a charcoal grill plate, with cooked meat set aside on foilSuyeong, Busan · A close younger friend suggested it, and we had only pork belly at a barbecue place in Suyeong. The pork, 11,500 won for 130 g, and the service were fair.Makchang, bean sprouts, and chives grilling on a round iron plateDongnae, Busan · With a university friend after work, I tried a makchang place that looked new. We had the A set of salted and seasoned makchang and finished with pork skin.