Must-Eat Foods in Busan for Foreigners
Must-Eat Foods in Busan for Foreigners
1. Dwaeji Gukbap (Pork Soup with Rice)
The ultimate soul food of Busan. It’s a hearty, milky broth made from pork bones, filled with tender slices of pork.
- How to Eat:Taste the broth first. Then, add chive salad (Buchu-muchim)and salted shrimp (Saewoo-jeot)to season it to your liking. Usually, you eat the thin wheat noodles (somyeon) first, then mix the rice into the soup.
- Top Spots:‘Bonjeon Dwaeji Gukbap’ near Busan Station or the Seomyeon Gukbap Alley.
2. Milmyeon (Wheat Cold Noodles)
A refreshing alternative to Naengmyeon. It uses wheat flour noodles instead of buckwheat, making them chewier and softer. It has a historical background, originating from refugees during the Korean War.
- How to Eat:Use the provided scissors to cut the noodles once or twice. Add vinegarand mustardfor a tangy kick. Sip the icy broth first to cool down instantly!
- Top Spots:Gaya Milmyeon, Gaeguem Milmyeon, or Choryang Milmyeon.
3. Ssiat Hotteok (Seed-stuffed Pancake)
Busan’s signature street snack. Unlike regular pancakes, these are deep-fried until crispy and then sliced open to be stuffed with sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and nuts.
- How to Eat:Served in a paper cup. Eat it while it’s hot! It’s the perfect balance of salty, sweet, and crunchy.
- Top Spots:BIFF Square in Nampo-dong.
4. Jagalchi Market Seafood & Grilled Clams
Visiting Korea’s largest seafood market is an experience in itself. Grilling fresh clams by the ocean is a favorite among foreigners for its interactive “K-BBQ” style.
- How to Eat:Place the clams on the grill. Once they open and start bubbling, add cheese or butter. Don’t forget the fried riceat the end using the leftover sauce!
- Top Spots:Jagalchi Market or Taejongdae Clam Tent Village.
5. Busan Eomuk & Mul-tteok (Fish Cakes & Water Rice Cakes)
Busan is the birthplace of premium fish cakes. Mul-tteok(long rice cakes simmered in fish cake broth) is a local delicacy you won’t easily find in Seoul.
- How to Eat:Grab a skewer from the street stall and dip it in soy sauce. The hot broth is free—just grab a cup and scoop some out!
- Top Spots:Samjin Amook (Yeongdo Main Store) or Bupyeong Kkangtong Market.
Transportation & Travel Tips
- Subway is King:Busan’s subway (Lines 1–4) connects all major spots like Haeundae, Gwangalli, and Nampo-dong.
- Visit Busan Pass:I highly recommend the Visit Busan Passfor foreigners. It offers free entry to major attractions and functions as a rechargeable transit card.
- T-money / Cashbee:You can buy these at any convenience store. They are much cheaper than paying cash and allow for free transfers between buses and subways.
- Bus Etiquette:Always tap your card when getting on andoff. Press the “Stop” button before your station to alert the driver.
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