Category

Food Notes

Places I have personally eaten in Busan.

Cold noodles in broth in a metal bowl, topped with a boiled egg and garnishesDaegwallyeong, Pyeongchang · A cold noodle restaurant I make a point of visiting in Daegwallyeong. On a Friday at noon I had mul-naengmyeon and the corn cheese pumpkin dumplings.Whole chicken simmering in an earthenware pot, topped with chives and neungi mushroomsDaegwallyeong, Pyeongchang · Whole native chicken simmered with neungi mushrooms on a Wednesday evening in Daegwallyeong. It was my first neungi, and the broth was the best part.Grilled cuttlefish, beef makchang, and ginkgo nuts on a white plateSuyeong, Busan · A second stop next door to Bogwangdang. Grilled cuttlefish and Daegu-style beef makchang on one plate, plus roasted chestnuts for showing a receipt.Thin slices of red raw beef spread on a white plateSuyeong, Busan · A small bar in Suyeong that was always full when I passed. A friend and I got in at 6:30 on a Thursday and had raw beef and a cheeseburger.Pork, grilled vegetables, and a bowl of sauce on a square grillHaeundae, Busan · The Si set at a pork barbecue place in Haeundae: bone-in pork belly, neck, and skin. The meat was good and the staff were kind. The music was not to my taste.Marinated galbi cooking on a wire grill over charcoalDeokcheon, Busan · After a hospital visit, my family ate at a galbi place near Deokcheon Station. The kids said it beat their usual spot. I liked the price and taste too.The broth trays of an oden bar with skewers in each section, and a bottle of sojuDongnae, Busan · After filling up at the first place, we had a drink over oden and rice cake skewers. The staff are kind and the food is light, good for a second round.Thin slices of white fish laid out neatly on a wide plateDongnae, Busan · A raw fish place in front of Dongnae Station I go to for sashimi at an easy price. I had the small rock bream for 65,000 won with a bottle of soju.Golden-brown makchang on a wire grillDongnae, Busan · A friend and I had the plain and seasoned makchang set near Dongnae Station, then added fried rice. The makchang had no off smell, and the room was tidy.A round plate of assorted seafood arranged on iceGupo, Busan · My mother and I had the small 40,000 won assorted seafood plate in Gupo Market. The seafood was fresh, and even the small size came with spoon worm.Assorted sashimi arranged in a circle on a bamboo tray with greens in the middleSuyeong, Busan · I went back to the raw fish place in Suyeong Paldo Market for a drink with a friend. The sashimi tasted clean and seemed skillfully cut.Salt-grilled hagfish cooking on a wire grill over charcoalHaeundae, Busan · A hagfish place in Jwa-dong that a friend recommended. The 80,000 won set has salt-grilled and spicy grilled hagfish. It was good, but the price felt high.A glass bottle of cola with a name tag and a green bottle opener on its neckSeomyeon, Busan · I bought the 4,700 won bottled cola at a Starbucks Reserve store because it comes with a bottle opener. Not bad, but the fizz was weak. Once was enough.Raw bigfin reef squid spread out like petals in a circle, with green seaweedSeomyeon, Busan · An izakaya in Seomyeon I had seen on YouTube. The squid was so good that I added the konowata ika somen. I wanted more but stopped because of the cost.A divided plate with red tuna, shrimp, abalone, and other seafoodGwangalli, Busan · A second stop with a friend. I picked small squid and shrimp, my friend picked fresh tuna, and it came as one plate. It was fresh and the staff were kind.Grilled LA galbi with vegetables on a black iron plateGwangalli, Busan · I went back to a pub in Gwangan-dong that I used to visit often. The LA galbi, which the staff cut up at the table, tasted good again, and the service was kind.Mountains and a town seen beyond the water garden of a cafe terraceJeonggwan, Busan · A large bakery cafe in Jeonggwan with my family. The room, the view, and the parking were good. The one-drink rule, the cold brew, and the sweet bread were not.Assorted sashimi lined up in rows on a square plate with lemonGyo-dong, Gangneung · With a couple who live in Daegwallyeong, I went to Gangneung for sashimi. We found the place on Naver Map. I liked the mix of fish and the side dishes.Sashimi from several kinds of fish layered on a black plateJangjeon-dong, Busan · A raw fish place in Jangjeon-dong I have gone to for about 20 years. Premium sashimi for three and for two, plus a rockfish stew with a coupon.Boiled octopus on a white plate with two small bowls of sauceDongnae, Busan · A bar with food in Dongnae I went to with a friend who had just left work. The boiled octopus was chewy, not tough. Food comes fast.