Category: Cafes

LAB24 by Kumuda: Voted Busan’s Best Restaurant by La Liste

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The city of Busan announced on December 2nd that the restaurant “LAB(Lab)24 By Kumuda” located in Songjeong had been named one of the best 1,000 restaurants in the world by La Liste.

La Liste is a gourmet guide that selects and announces the top 1,000 restaurants in the world every year for the purpose of providing the most reliable information by the French Tourist Board.

LAB24 by Kumuda, owned by Chef Edward Kwon, opened its doors in January of this year.

36 restaurants in Korea were selected, but LAB24 By Kumuda was the only restaurant selected outside of Seoul.

Dim Sum Restaurants You Must Try in Busan

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There are many Chinese restaurants in Korea, but admittedly, most of them are Korean-styled Chinese restaurant. Surprisingly, there are not many Chinese restaurants that have good dim sum. So today in this blog post, I would like to introduce you to restaurants with good dim sums in Busan!

1. Dim Dim Sum

Located on the 9th floor of the Shinsegae Department Store Centum City, if you are looking for good quality dim sums in Busan, Dim Dim Sum won’t disappoint. This restaurant has a massive menu, with everything from dim sum to Peking style meats. My favorite menus include the Piggy Custard (7,000won), Shrimp stuffed Eggplant (6,500 won), and Wontan noodle soup (10,000 won).

The lines to Dim Dim Sum are always long. Though typically packed, there’s no making a reservation. The first people there get dim sums.

2. HaoSum

This Dim sum restaurant is also located in the Shinsegae Department Store Centum City. But this place felt more like food-court-ish. I probably got that feeling as it was located on the B1.

Haosum has different menus from Dim Dim Sum. Haosum specializes in cooking traditional Chinese dishes with their own modern twist. I recommend ordering their black prawn dumplings and their fried chicken. They also offer an extensive drink menu, featuring refreshing black tea beer and tangerine beer. 

3. Dim Tao, Haeundae

Haeridan-gil (Haeridan strip) is packed with many restaurants and cafes. Among them, Dim Tao is definitely one of the most popular ones.

Dim Tao in Haeridan strip became a big success, and the same owner opened two more branches in Incheon City and in Busan’s Seomyeon area.

The chef here is said to have Michelin stars.

Once you have a seat, you will spot a steamer trolley moving around tables. I highly recommend you try their Xiao-long-bao (Steamed Soup Dumplings).

The lines are always long, but they don’t take reservations.

4. Dim Tao, Seomyeon

If you are closer to Seomyeon area, I would recommend you check this place out. It’s located on the 6th floor of Samjeong Building in Seomyun area. Dim Tao, Seomyeon is more spacious with a similar vibe and menus.

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Two Gomtang (Beef Bone Soup) Restaurants You Must Try in Haeundae

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Beef bone soup aka Gomtang (곰탕) is the ultimate comfort food in Korea. There are many Gomtang restaurants in Busan, but you cannot go without trying these two!

1. Yireok [이레옥]

Yireok is one of the most well-known restaurants in Marine City. The restaurant serves fresh Gomtang with kimchi, radish kimchi, pepper & bean paste (된장), thin noodles and white rice. Put the noodles into the soup as soon as it is served. Then, after eating a few scoops of rice, the noodles will be soft enough to eat.

Yireok is always crowded with both locals and tourists eager to try their dishes. In 2018, it was named the best Gomtang restaurant in Busan by MBN.

Also, Yireok overlooks the Gwangan Bridge and the ocean, so you can admire the view while you eat. Prices start at 16,000 won ($15), and it is well worth the visit!

Location: 1st Floor of the Haeundae Adelis, The Sharp Apartment Complex, Marine City.

Hours of operation: 24/7

2. Geodae Gomtang [거대 곰탕]

In Busan, Geodae has been the name for Geodae Galbi (Korean beef bbq), but also a Gomtang restaurant has opened. On the restaurant’s menu 한우 곰탕 뽀얀 국물 is their signature Gomtang , which costs 20,000 won. The broth is so rich that it looks like milk and the beef is extremely tender. It pairs nicely with their kimchi and fish sauce. If this does not appetizing to you, I recommend trying their Pyeongyang Noodle (평양냉면), which costs 15,000 won. Geodae Gomtang is also available at the B1 food court in the Shinsegae Department Store Centum City.

Location: Inside the Hyundai Benecity Apartment Complex, Haebyunro 163

Hours of operation: Open from 10 am to 9 pm on weekdays and 7 am to 9 pm on weekends

(They take orders until 8:30 pm)

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Hanok Cafes in Busan

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It is safe to say that you can find a café on almost every corner in Busan, but I’ve realized that there are not many hanok (Korean traditional building) cafes here in the city. So today I would like to introduce you to six hanok cafés that are in Busan!

1. Bibibidang [비비비당]

“Bibibidang” is a tea house located in Dalmaji Hill. While the exterior of the building looks modern, its interior features a hanok style.

This place has a wonderful ocean view! I hope you get a table next to the window.

My favorite dish is their “patbingsu.”

There is parking available on the first floor of the building. You can also get there by taxi, or you can take the village bus No. 10 from Haeundae Subway Station. It is about a 10 minute commute from Haeundae Subway Station to Woosung Villate.

Location: 4th Floor, 239-16, Dalmaji-gil, Jung-dong, Haeundae

Hours of operation: 11 am to 10 pm daily (closed on Mondays)

2. Soowolkyoungwha [수월경화]

“수월경화” is one of the most popular cafes in the Songjeong area, which means that it is usually flooded with people. I would recommend visiting this place on a weekday. The interior is decorated in a hanok style, and it has a wonderful view of Songjeong Beach.

In “수월경화,” coffee and tea are available. Two people can enjoy “Korean Styled Afternoon Tea” for 63,000 won.

If you use public transportation, get on bus number 63 (or 100-1, 181) at Haeundae Subway Station and get off at “Jugong Apartment Songjeong 1 Complex (송정 1단지 주공).” It will take about 30 minutes.

Location: 4th Floor, Songjeong Jungang-ro 6-gil, Haeundae

Hours of operation: 11 am to 9 pm daily

3. Café Hito [카페히토]

“Café Hito” is located in Haeridan-gil, which is one of the most well-known strips in Busan.

A 30-year-old house was recently renovated and turned into a café. It has a mix of Hanok and traditional Japanese style throughout it.

You can walk there from the Haeundae Subway Station.

Location: Woo-dong 1-ro, 21, Haeundae

Hours of operation: 11:50 am to 9:30 pm through Monday to Friday / 11:00 am to 9:40 pm on weekends

4. Munhwa Gongam Sujeong [문화공감 수정]

“문화공감수정” was featured in the IU’s music video, “Through the Night.”

This used to be a house owned by Japanese in the 1940s when Korea was still under Japanese occupation. When Korea gained its independence, many of these houses were bought by new owners while others became abandoned.

This is now recognized as a cultural heritage.

The café used to serve drinks, but now it is only open for house tours.

Location: Heunggok-ro 75, Dong-gu District

Hours of operation: from 10 am to 5 pm. Closed on Mondays and on national holidays.

You can take subway line 1. Get off at Busan Jin Subway Station. The house is a 10 min walk from the subway station.

5. Choryang 1941 [초량 1941]

This was also a house owned by Japanese when Korea was under Japanese occupation.

This place had been abandoned for many years. It is now one of the most well-known cafés in Ibagu-alley.

Location: Mangyang-ro 533-5, Dong-gu District

Hours of operation: 11 am to 7 pm through Monday to Friday / 11 am to 8 pm on weekends

If you use public transportation, take line 2 and get off at Gaya Subway Station.

From Gaya Subway Station, take bus number 186 and get off at Geumsusa Temple.

After getting off the bus, you will need to walk up a little hill before finding “Choryang 1941.”

6. Angro Gotaek [앙로고택]

This is a hanok café located on the outskirts of Busan relatively near the Gimhae International Airport. If your travel plan allows, I would recommend checking this place out before your flight.

Location: Sikman-ro 122, Gangseo-gu District

Hours of operation: 11 am to 9 pm daily

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In the Mood for Makgeolli? Here Are My Recommendations!

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Have you ever tried Makgeolli [막걸리]? In case you have never tried or have never heard of it, it is a traditional Korean wine made from rice.

It has a milky white color, is a little sparkly and a little sweet. Words cannot describe it. You must try it!

Wine is best paired with cheese and fruit, but with Makgeolli, the first thing that pops into my head is “Haemul-Pajeon [해물파전],” which is a Korean seafood – green onion pancake. Makgeolli and Pajeon make a great combo. So, if you are in the mood for Makgeolli, here are my recommendations!

  1. Boksoondoga [복순도가] at F1963

Boksoondoga is one of the most well-known Makgeolli breweries in the Busan Kyeongnam Province. When they opened their own restaurant, they used the name of their representative, Makgeolli. Boksoondoga serves traditional Korean fusion food and you can either order a bottle (18,000 won) or a glass of Makgeolli (4,000 won).

Location: First floor at F1963

Hours: 11:00 – 20:00 closed on Monday. On break from 3:30 pm to 5 pm.

2. Mia Jeon [미아전]

Mia Jeon is a relatively small/ cozy wine bar decorated with a vivid orange color. But surprisingly, they brew their own Makgeolli! The bottle comes in two different sizes, one is 375 ml and the other is 750 ml. The price is 32,000 won and 58,000 won respectively. At Mia Jeon, I recommend the Gamjajeon [감자전](potato pancake) over the Pajeon. This place is more suitable for a night-out.

Location: First floor of the Hyperion Apartment Complex, Marine City.

Hours: 5 pm – 12 am (closed on Monday).

3. Haeundae 31cm Haemul Kalguksu [해운대 31cm 해물 칼국수 Seafood Hand-cut Noodle]

This place is located in Gwangalli, but the name features Haeundae, which is a little confusing. It is nothing too fancy, just a good local restaurant. If you visit, make sure you order a bowl of seafood noodle, Kalguksu, Pajeon and Makgeolli. The three of them make a very tasty combo. Their portions can easily feed two to three people, and the prices are super reasonable.

Location: Gwangnam Road 144, Suyeong-gu. Just a five-minute walk from Gwangan Subway Station

Hours: Open from 11:00 am to 10 pm.

4. Solbat jib [솔밭집]

This place is very authentic. You may like it… or you may hate it.

I first came here a long time ago. My first time there felt so odd (in a good way). It was nice to be able to enjoy Pajeon, noodle and Makgeolli in a forest surrounded by trees. It almost felt like the middle of nowhere.

However, I recently went back in order to better recommend this place to my readers, but my family hated it there. Personally, I would still recommend Solbatjib to someone looking for a very different experience.

It is located in the mountains near Busan National University. The restaurant is close to the Art Building of BNU. You could even walk up toward the mountain from the North Gate, which is about a 5-10 minute walk.

Location: Sanseong Road 961-3, Geumjeong-gu

Hours: Open from 10:30 to 8-ish

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Places to Go for Bingsu in Busan

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Wow! It is hard to believe that August is already here and summer is coming to a close! Just don’t let the summer end before trying Bingsu.

Bingsu is a Korean summer dessert, made from shaved ice, milk and different toppings. The traditional topping used on the dessert is red bean. Red bean means ‘pat’ in Korean, so we call it ‘Patbingsu’.

But now, a variety of toppings are available. That includes mangos, shine musket (green grape), milk tea, tiramisu, and many more! Ever since the Shilla Hotel launched the Jeju Apple Mango Bingsu, people can’t get enough!

Over the summer, the price of Bingsu increased so much that some hotels were charging $100 for a bowl. The attention that the Bingsu prices received made news headlines.

So, let’s see where in Busan you can try good Bingsus and how much it would cost.

Park Hyatt Busan

I recommend you try either Mango Bingu or Watermelon Bingsu. The price of Mango Bingsu is 65,000 won while Watermelon Bingsu is 55,000 won.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the price of Watermelon Bingsu last year was 38,000 won. We are experiencing such crazy inflation, right?!

The Watermelon Bingsu comes with cotton candy as a topping. Previously, the cotton candy was decorated to look like a cloud, but things have changed since then. Am I the only one who prefers the old look?

One bowl of Bingsu at Park Hyatt Busan is supposed to be shared by two people. The view from the Park Hyatt Busan while enjoying Bingsu is always a great experience.

Signiel Hotel Busan

You can order either Jeju Apple Mango Bingsu (78,000 won) or Patbingsu (45,000 won).

The Mango Bingsu at Signiel comes as a slightly smaller portion, but it’s supposed to be enough for two people. It is also served with cream and a piece of cheese cake. From the lounge, you can enjoy the view of Haeundae Beach.

Grand Josun Busan Hotel

Their signature Bingsus includes Apple Mango Bingsu (65,000 won) and Shine Mustcat Bingsu (65,000 won). Last year, the price of their Shine Mustcat Bingsoo was 49,000 won. Prices have only increased since then.

Schedule Haeundae

This restaurant is located on the 2nd floor of the Sea Cloud Hotel right across from the Busan Josun Grand Hotel. They have so many options to choose from, but don’t forget to try their Bingsu. Their signature Bingsus includes Mango Bingsu (47,000 won), Melon Bingsu and Peach Bingsu.

If you are not willing to spend more than $50 on desserts, but looking for classic sweets you should try…..

Mealtop

Mealtop is famous for their signature “Patbingsu.” There had not been a Mealtop for a long time in Busan, so whenever I went to Seoul or Ulsan, I had to stop by Mealtop to try their “Patbingsu.” However, it turns out that we now have one right in front of the Gwangalli Beach! The price of Patbingsu is 10,000 won. If you are lucky, you can even sit at a table that has a nice view of the Gwangan Bridge.

Namcheon Greentea Patbingsu

Located in the Namcheon area, the exotic feel of the surroundings may convince you that you are in South East Asia. The only items they serve are Patbingsu, Red Bean Porridge, Iced Americano and Sikhye drink. Nevertheless, you can add as much or as little of the green tea powder and cinnamon powder as you would like to your Patbingsu. The price of Patbingsu is only 4,000 won! One bowl per person is their policy. Here is their address: Suyeongro 394-28, Suyeonggu District.

Haeundae Old Patbingsu

Locals have loved this place for many years. But this place has been recently relocated here due to the city’s redevelopment plan. Patbingsu and Red Bean Porridge are the only items on the menu here as well and the cost of a bowl is 4,000 won ($4).

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4 of My Favorite HANWOO (Beef BBQ) Restaurants in Busan

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There are many types of BBQ restaurants in Busan to choose from, like pork belly to Bulgogi and Korean beef called Hanwoo (한우). In this blog post, I will introduce you to 4 of my favorite Hanwoo restaurants. Not pork belly or Bulgogi. Yes, I said Hanwoo (Korean beef).

1. Geodae Galbi 거대갈비

At least for me, whenever I think of ‘meat’, I picture a dinner meal. I wouldn’t usually choose to eat meat for lunch, but Geodae Galbi has a very good lunch selection starting at 48,000 won.

The price looks a little expensive, but I highly recommend their lunch specials. The lunch menu includes choices of meat and many side dishes. After you finish with your meat, you can choose either rice or Nangmyeon (cold noodle). Kimchi stew or Deonjang stew is also served with the rice.

The unique thing about this place is that each room has a table that the waitress uses to grill the beef right in front of you. I highly recommend checking it out.

There are two Geodae Galbi in the Haeundae area. One is near the Paradise Hotel while the other one is located close to Dalmaji Hill.

2. Daedo Restaurant 대도식당

Among the restaurants I have recommended, this one ‘Daedo’ is the most touristy. It is located on the 2nd floor of ‘The Bay 101’ at the entrance of Dongbaek Island.

If you come here, I recommend you order their 등심 (sirloin) , and after you finish eating your meat portion, have ‘깍두기 볶음밥’ or ‘된장죽’. That’s a good way to wrap up your meal.

3. Woobong 우봉

Woobong is located on the 2nd floor of the Hyperion Apartment complex in Marine City, Haeundae. The price here starts at 30,000 won for 등심 (sirloin) and their side dishes are free.

The meat served is always fresh and tender, only the highest quality for their costumers. This restaurant looks neither touristy nor fancy, but attracts many of the locals.

If you have a child, they offer some extra banchans (side-dishes), including a fried egg.

After you finish your meal, they will offer you a glass of Shihye drink.

4. Gawon 가원

Gawon is located right next to the sea and has a large lawn garden, perfect for photo opportunities.

It turns out that this place won awards for it’s exterior design work in 2011!

When I visited, the waitress cooked our meat for us at the beginning of our meal, but later, we had to grill the meat by ourselves, which was a little disappointing.

After you finish your meal, you can hop over to the café right next to the restaurant.

The only downside to this place is that it’s a little difficult to locate via public transportation.

Side note: Hanwoo’s price is a little high, but so worth it!

In Korea, we do not have a tipping culture so there is no need to tip your waitress.

With that being said, it isn’t against restaurant policy to tip your server so if you want to, please don’t hesitate to do so!

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Three of the most successful coffee chains from Busan

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Do you love coffee? Because I do! I am a big fan of coffee.

Koreans love coffee so much that you can find a café on every single corner. Busan is no exception.

In Busan, we have many cafes.

Some are worldwide popular ones with big names like Starbucks.

We also have brands made in Korea like Angel-in-us and Café Pascucci.

Meanwhile, there are some coffee chains born in Busan.

But some of them have become so successful that they are everywhere and found in other cities, like Seoul, Daegu, and Ulsan.

So I would like to introduce three of them.

  1. Blu Shaak Coffee

Their signature drink is the “Shaak Latte’.

Espresso goes in the bottom, milk in the middle and creamy foam on the top.

You should definitely try this.

The first ever ‘Blu Shaak Coffee’ shop is the one located in Centum’s Cubi Building in 2016.

I like their cute brand logo!

2. Cafe 051

The name explains a lot!

Before the mobile phone era, when we had landlines,

(do I sound old if I say I remember that time? haha) Busan’s area code was 051.

So when I saw the name of this café, I immediately assumed that it was made in Busan.

The very first Café 051 opened in Nampo-dong, Busan.

The most well-known drink from Café 051 is a canned strawberry milk released during spring time.

3. Compose Coffee

Trust me. I absolutely had no idea that Compose Coffee began in Busan.

This coffee chain is so successful that there are nearly 2,000 Compose Coffee shops across South Korea.

The first Compose Coffee shop began in the Kyungsung University area.  

One characteristic of Compose Coffee is its membership policy.

After 7 purchases, you get either a free Americano or a 1,500 won discount.

But the buy-7-get-one deal is only available at the same store where you purchased your coffee.