What to Eat in Busan, Korea

The Ultimate Busan Food Guide For Your Gastronomic Pleasure

Busan has increasingly become a popular vacation destination for international travelers. For food aficionados, the city’s fantastic food scene is one great reason to hop on a train to Busan. If you are wondering what to eat in Busan, this article has your answers, according to Koreans (i.e., me and my brother, a long-time resident of Busan).

As for the largest port city in Korea, it is not surprising to see abundant fresh seafood all over Busan. However, to me, what makes a gastronomic trip to the city worthwhile is the new interpretation of Korean cuisine with a local twist. 

If you are interested in eating like locals, read this Ultimate Busan Food Guide. I have compiled 10 things to eat in Busan you should not miss – including an extraordinary dish only local foodies know (see #10). This guide also includes the best local restaurants or areas to forage.

By the way, in this post, I would not introduce general Korean dishes you can eat elsewhere in the country. I am compelled to put together a more thorough list in a separate post. 

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Busan Food in Korean History

Before getting your mouth watery, let’s get a brief Korean history crash course. Why Korean history for Busan food? Hold that thought for a second. 

Upon the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, Busan became the city of refugees and the last bastion for democratic Korea. (There was only one Korea before the War split the country into South and North Koreas.) At that time, millions of Korean refugees from all over the Korean Peninsula fled to and settled in Busan.

This is, of course, way before Busan became a developed modern city, as you see today. During wartime, there was not enough food to eat or place to live with the sudden influx of population.

In every crisis, there is an opportunity. To survive, Koreans had to get creative with cooking to feed their families. Only using the limited ingredients available – mostly coming from the U.N. troops, they created a new iteration of traditional Korean cuisine. Many of these recipes remain today and make up for Busan’s unique food with a local twist (See #1, #2, #3 & #7 below). 

I won’t bore you with more history. If you are interested, watch this movie: “Ode to My Father (국제시장).” This is a well-made Korean movie that I highly recommend watching for entertainment. But if you are heading to Busan, it will make you understand the city better and appreciate more. (By the way, this is the first movie that made me bawl in the theater since Marley & Me. So be ready to grab Kleenex.)

#1. Pork Rice Soup (Dwaeji Gukbap)

Pork Rice Soup or Dwaeji Gukbap (돼지국밥) is the most famous local dish in Busan. There are many different ways to make Gukbap in different regions of Korea. Jeonju is famous for Bean Spout Rice Soup, for example. Nevertheless, in general, beef is a more popular choice of meat in making Gukbap. During the Korean War, the refugees started making Gukbap with pork bones, surplus parts the U.S. troops did not use for cooking. Voila, that was the birth of Busan’s staple Dwaeji Gukbap! 

Pork bones are braised for many hours in a vat with rice wine, garlic, and other seasonings. Before serving, the milky broth is poured into a Korean clay pot with rice and glass noodles. If you make close observation on the preparation process, you might be able to witness toryeom, a Korean method of warming up rice/noodles and clay pot by pouring and draining hot broth repeatedly. Then, the bowl of Gukbap is topped with thick slices of pork.

Grab a piping hot bowl of Dwaeji Gukbap when you want to sweat off a cold or warm up from wind chill. The soup soothes your throat and easy on your stomach. It also makes a great hangover food to eat at 2 a.m. after the party or the morning after.

How to Eat Like Koreans

Add a dollop of Dadaegi sauce. Many foreigners mistakenly think it as Gochujang (Korean red pepper paste); however, Dadaegi is a mixture of lots of seasoning, including red pepper powder. Alternatively, you can add fermented shrimps to your liking. Gukbap pairs well with diced radish kimchi, pickled onions, and seasoned chives.  

Where to Find Pork Rice Soup in Busan

Songjeong Samdae Gukbap (송정3대국밥), 29 Seomyeon-ro, 68 beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan [Open Google Map], open 24 hours.

Halmae Gukbap (할매국밥), 4 Jungang-daero, 533 beon-gil, Beomil-dong, Dong-gu, Busan [Open Google Map], Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Closed on Sundays)

#2. Cold Wheat Noodles (Milmyeon)

You might assume that Korea’s summer favorite dish, Spicy Cold Noodles (냉면), is a seasonal treat from the Southern region. In fact, the popular dish is originated from Pyongyang – i.e., the capital city of North Korea today.

The Korean War refugees from the North use wheat flours handed by the U.N. troops – as opposed to traditional buckwheat – to make what is the closest to their hometown food. That became Busan Milmyeon. Milmyeon literally means wheat noodles.

Just like Spicy Cold Noodles, Milmyeon also has two versions: Wet (Mul Milmyeon; 물밀면) and Dry (Bibim Milmyeon; 비빔밀면). Mul Milmyeon comes in icy cold broth, and you can add vinegar and/or mustard to your liking. For Bibim Milmyeon, mix the spicy gochujang sauce with noodles. 

How to Eat Like Koreans

Feel free to pour hot broth (usually in thermos or pot) into a cup to drink before the meal. It’s complimentary. Use the scissors to cut your noodles once or twice across.

Also, Koreans like to eat cold noodles with dumplings (만두). It pairs well together and is more fulfilling.

Where to Find Cold Wheat Noodles in Busan

Choryang Milmyeon (초량밀면), 225 Jungang-daero, Choryang-dong, Dong-gu, Busan [