The 10 Best Restaurants in Busan

Situated on the fourth floor of Shinsegae Centum City Mall, Brooklyn the Burger Joint serves up comfort food at its finest. Using only the freshest of ingredients, the restaurant’s burgers are some of the tastiest, not to mention juiciest in all of Busan. Pair your burger with a generous side of fries (there are five kinds to choose from) and wash your meal down with a milkshake. You’re sure to walk out feeling full, if not a bit guilty.

It’s not difficult to find a decent donkasu, or Japanese-style fried pork cutlet, in Busan. But what differentiates Miss Mister Homemade Wang Donkasu from the rest is their old-fashioned sauce, which is lighter and sweeter than the typical sauces that are served with the dish today. Also on the menu are fish cutlets, cheese cutlets and various noodle dishes, which can be ordered for dine-in or take-out. This no-frills eatery gets packed during the lunch hour, so plan your visit accordingly.

Furnished with long marble tables and illuminated by an ornate chandelier, Mon Dieu is an elegant yet cozy dining space that offers a memorable dining experience. The name of the restaurant, which is the French exclamation for ‘My God,’ was appropriately selected, and no doubt a nod to the way customers feel after their meal. Each dish is made using seasonal ingredients and is plated on exquisite tableware with great attention to detail.

Located near Songjeong Beach, Songjeongjip is a casual Korean restaurant that places an emphasis on fresh, homemade dishes. The menu is limited and features kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), dumplings and kimbap (rice wrapped in seaweed) – Korean classics that may come across as simple. Despite this, it’s easy to see that the chefs’ enthusiasm for food is not simple at all, as they take great care to ensure each dish is delivered as fresh as possible.

With a seemingly infinite number of Italian restaurants to choose from around the city, few stand out like Onsemiro. Upon entering, one is immediately put at ease by the welcoming, warm atmosphere. The friendly, uniformed staff are attentive to customers’ needs, and the aromas that permeate from the open kitchen and coffee bar keep patrons waiting for their meal in anticipation. While Onsemiro serves up a nice selection of pastas and seafood dishes, the real star is their steaks, which are wet aged for two weeks using a special salt imported from the UK. Having worked for more than two years as a chef overseas, the owner carefully infuses his expertise and passion into each dish.

Appropriately named, Le Jardin (meaning ‘The Garden’ in English) provides a homey atmosphere in a renovated private residence. Situated in an alley in the Kyungsung University-Pukyong University area, it was opened by a Franco-Korean couple who worked at various hotels in Korea before branching out with their own. Focusing more on simplicity and less on pretentiousness, Jardin’s meals are tasty, filling and affordable. Choose salmon, steak or confit for your main course and top it off with with creme brulee for dessert.

Busan may be a beach destination, but it can get pretty chilly when winter hits the peninsula. It’s during these colder months that hanu gomtang, or beef soup, really hits the spot. And perhaps there’s no better place to sample this Korean specialty than Seoul Kkakdugi in Yeonsan-dong. The flavors of the savory soup are well balanced and can be spiced up a bit by adding a piece or two of kimchi.

Amid the eclectic interior designs, artwork and furnishings of the former Dong-baek Art Center, Kitchen Dongbaek’s team of innovative chefs work together to serve up delectable European cuisine. Cherish the harmony of the flavors of fresh tomatoes and mozzarella cheese in the Caprese salad, or savor the aroma of the truffle gorgonzola risotto. If the weather is nice, choose to dine outside on the terrace, and take in the contrasting views of Haeundae’s towering skyscrapers and the vast sea that spreads out below them.

If you’re looking for a place to celebrate a special occasion, consider the Living Room. Situated on the 31st floor of the Park Hyatt hotel, the restaurant offers some incredible views, making for a truly romantic setting. Start your meal with a few slices of just-out-of-the-oven bread and amuse-bouche, before moving on to the soup of the day, marinated meat or seafood, and risotto or pasta. On weekdays, enjoy the lunch buffet, which is as affordable as it is varied.

Established in 1964 and spanning two generations, Haeundae Somunnan Amso Galbijip is a local favorite for Korean BBQ. The restaurant’s unique marinade adds a savory, delectable taste to their most famous dish, galbi (beef short ribs) made from high-quality hanu (Korean beef). Another crowd favorite is the gamja-guksu (noodles with potato), which is often ordered as a follow-up to the meat. Simmer the noodles, made of potato and yuksu (meat stock), in the edge the of pan, and bon appétit!