5 Busan Spots That Are Totally Worth the Wait
- The city’s No. 1 pizza for its addictively nutty cheese: Busan's 'Ijaemo Pizza'
- Dumplings so good you’ll eat them standing on the street: Choryang-dong's 'Sinbalwon'
- Premium tonkatsu with legendary wait times: Busan's 'Tonshow'
- A Nagoya classic, now in Busan: Haeundae's 'Haemok'
- Extra-rich texture from pork jowl: Busan's 'Subyeonchoego Pig Soup, Minrak Main Branch'
Where salty sea breeze meets city energy, Busan’s food scene is gloriously wide-ranging. From seafood hauled straight off the docks to time-honored local dishes, every alleyway serves up a different flavor profile. Generous portions and bold tastes are part of the charm, and you can easily stumble upon a meal that sticks with you long after you leave. Here are five spots that really capture the spirit and flavor of Busan.
Busan’s No. 1 pizza for that dangerously nutty cheese flavor: Busan 'Ijaemo Pizza'
This cult-favorite uses locally produced Imsil cheese, which gives every pie a deeply savory, nutty note. The spacious dining room fills up fast, so come prepared to wait. Signature picks include the Cream Bulgogi Pasta—loaded with meat and a blanket of cheese—and the Cheese Crust Pizza, where long, gooey strands of cheese steal the show. Thick crust and unapologetic amounts of cheese make for a satisfyingly rich bite. If you’re indecisive, go for the Twin Pizza and get two flavors on one pie. There’s only one location, in Gwangbok-dong—no branches.
| See more on Siksin: 'Ijaemo Pizza'
- ✔Location
31 Gwangbokjungang-ro, Jung-gu, Busan
- ✔Hours
Open 10:00 AM – 9:10 PM; closed Sundays
- ✔Menu
Ijaemo Crust (S) 25,000 KRW ($18.75) / Crust King Shrimp (S) 32,000 KRW ($24.00)
Dumplings so good you’ll eat them standing on the street: Choryang-dong 'Sinbalwon'
Sinbalwon has been making dumplings for more than 70 years across three generations. They handcraft dumplings with carefully chosen, fresh ingredients; the steamed meat dumplings have fermented wrappers that lock in the juices, and the fried dumplings are stuffed with meat and veggies before being crisped to golden perfection. Located near Busan Station, it’s a local favorite that tourists love, too—perfect for a quick, satisfying bite on the go.
| See more on Siksin: 'Sinbalwon'
- ✔Location
62 Daeyeong-ro 243beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan
- ✔Hours
Wed–Mon 11:00 AM–8:00 PM / closed every Tuesday
- ✔Price
Meat dumplings 4,500 KRW ($3.38) / Fried dumplings 5,300 KRW ($3.98) / Soy milk + snack 4,000 KRW ($3.00)
Premium tonkatsu with legendary waits: Busan 'Tonshow'
Tucked in Jangjeon-dong, Tonshow is obsessive about ingredients and technique—only top-grade cuts, precise cooking temperatures, and timing. The result is tonkatsu with an irresistible crust and juicy, tender meat inside. It’s one of Busan’s most hyped spots, so expect a wait. Pro tip: join the digital queue via the app and wander the neighborhood while you wait—totally worth it.
| See more on Siksin: 'Tonshow'
- ✔Location
247-10 Geumgang-ro, Geumjeong-gu, Busan
- ✔Hours
Daily 11:00 AM–9:00 PM (last order 8:30 PM)
- ✔Price
Berkshire K Loin Katsu 15,500 KRW ($11.63) / Hirekatsu 12,500 KRW ($9.38) / Loin Katsu 12,000 KRW ($9.00)
A Nagoya classic, now in Busan: Haeundae 'Haemok'
Haemok specializes in hitsumabushi, the Nagoya-style eel rice bowl. A whole, perfectly grilled freshwater eel rests on the rice, and the clean, composed plating is as Instagrammable as it is delicious. The set comes with green tea broth, perilla leaves, nori, and scallions—traditionally, you divide the bowl into portions: one plain, one with herbs, one with the broth, and then finish with whichever method you loved most. Their colorful kaisendon is also a winner—fresh seafood piled high and delicious wrapped in seaweed.
| See more on Siksin: 'Haemok'
- ✔Location
8 Gunam-ro 24beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan
- ✔Hours
Daily 11:00 AM–10:00 PM (last order 9:00 PM)
- ✔Price
Hitsumabushi 39,000 KRW ($29.25) / Kaisendon 37,000 KRW ($27.75) / Tuna + Salmon + Negitoro 24,000 KRW ($18.00)
Extra-rich texture from pork jowl: Busan 'Subyeonchoego Pig Soup, Minrak Main Branch'
Subyeonchoego Pig Soup at the Minrak main branch serves a crowd-pleasing pork soup with almost no off-putting odor and a mild, clean flavor that appeals to everyone. The rich, clear broth and tender pork jowl make the Pork Jowl Soup especially popular, while the lean Meat Soup is a lighter alternative. They’re open 24 hours, but lunch and dinner can get busy—reserve through the app if you can.
See more on Siksin: 'Subyeonchoego Pig Soup, Minrak Main Branch' ▶
- ▲Location
9-32 Gwanganhaebyeon-ro 370beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan
- ▲Hours
Open 24 hours / open daily
- ▲Price
Pork Jowl Soup 13,000 KRW ($9.75) / Meat Soup 11,000 KRW ($8.25) / Tripe Soup 11,000 KRW ($8.25)
