13 Best Restaurants in Busan, South Korea

Gaya Milmyeon. A refreshing bowl of spicy or sour Milmyeon (cold wheat noodle dish) is just the thing on a swelting summer day. Milmyeon is a local specialty and is rumored to have been invented during the Korean War, when people from the northern provinces brought their noodle-making skills to Busan and used flour brought in by the US army. Milmyeon is a little chewier than other types of noodles and served with various toppings, like boiled egg and cucumber. It's a popular street food and the price is just right.

Located off a side street in Seomyeon Market, this is one of the most famous kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) joints in the city. The broth is savory and clean, and the noodles are all made the old-school way: by hand. You can choose between mool (with broth) or bibim (no broth, with chili paste). Look for the line.

Eomuk is a kind of fish cake found throughout Korea that is particularly popular in Busan. Goraesa is the one-stop shop for everything eomuk, with a dizzying array of choices coming in many sizes, shapes, flavors, and colors. Whether you grab a gift box to go or munch on your snack at one of the tables, you'll understand right away why Goraesa is a local institution.

This perpetually busy restaurant has been serving nakji-bokkum (long-legged octopus) to Busanites for a handful of years now, and has quickly earned a reputation as one of the best joints in town. Customers can choose between three levels of heat (spicy, medium, or mild), as well as add favorites such as saewoo (shrimp), or for more adventurous eaters, gopchang (pork intestines) to the mix. Make sure to wash it all down with an ice-cold bottle of beer for maximum effect.

Housed in a hanok (traditional house) and tucked off the street by a short path lined with Korean pottery, Jeonglim is where Korean ladies lunch. While not completely vegetarian, the restaurant does specialize in vegetable dishes. The dolsotbap (rice dish in a hot stone pot) is prepared with locally grown, organic vegetable and is the perfect antidote for last night's heavy Korean barbeques. The meals start with a warm juk (rice porridge) flavored with pumpkin and is followed by what feels like an endless parade of small plates, like immaculately presented pickles and one-bite pajeons (pancake-like dish). The location can be a little difficult to find, so it is best to catch a taxi from nearby Dongnae station.

Mackerel is Busan's unofficial city fish, and this new addition to Haeundae's dining scene serves it a variety of ways for a price that doesn't break the bank. The second-floor restaurant is clean and bright and comes with a self-serve bar, where you can load up on sides and extras.

This little neighborhood spot is all about the silky Korean soft tofu known as sundubu, served bubbling hot in black earthenware pots. They also have meals for two with tasty extras such as stir-fried spicy pork and octopus. It gets slammed at lunchtime, but the home-cooked style food is an outlier in shiny Centum City, so it's more than worth the wait.

Perched on the 43rd floor of the Lotte Hotel, the Mugunghwa offers lucky diners sweeping views of the city and the distant hills. This elegant restaurant has five private rooms (for four to fifteen diners) in addition to its light, spacious main room. The cuisine emphasizes traditional Korean dishes, like galbi (grilled short ribs) and kimchi. The menu always offers courses that feature a good selection of local and seasonal fare, like Yeongdeok crab and seasonal fish. There's also an excellent Korean liquor list and a decent selection of wines.

This popular neighborhood joint serves up top-notch old-school Korean fare like vegetable pancakes (potato, green onion, and chive), grilled fish, steamed pork, boiled octopus, and more. This all comes with a kaleidoscopic array of banchan (side dishes), as well as a terrific collection of soju and makgeolli, Korea's milky rice wine. The surroundings are dark and intimate, and the place stays open late, as it's as much of a drinking establishment as it is an eatery.

Nothing says "Busan" more than its signature dish of dwaeji gukbap (pork rice soup), and Ssangdoongi is one of the most popular places in town. Warm your insides with pure savory goodness at this institution, but be prepared to wait, as there is often a line.

At this friendly, modern café, within easy reach of both Kyungsung and PNU universities, K-Pop hits play on a flat screen TV and college kids wolf down giant bowls of Bibimbap. This small restaurant is popular for their reasonable prices and large servings; menu items can be ordered individually or as part of a set menu. We recommend the house specialty, Garbi Bibimbap. It's a quick five-minute walk from exit five of Kyungsung Station.

This chain specializes in myriad varieties of bibimbap, Korea's healthy mixed-rice dish that has become synonymous with the country's cuisine. For the full experience, make sure to order the dolsot bibimbap, which comes sizzling in a hot stone pot. Vegetarians will also have options here.

This Busan institution is one of the best places in town to satisfy your craving for samgyetang (chicken ginseng soup). The broth is so clean tasting that it's almost medicinal, and the whole rice-stuffed chicken in your bowl is fall-off-the-bone tender. Woosung Samgyetang is located on a side street in the Suyeong neighborhood, just one subway stop away from Gwangalli. Be prepared to wait.