Hwanggong Eomuk (Fish cake) 환공어묵 부산역점

While at Busan Train Station, we came across another traditional fish cake brand that has been around since 1940. With such a high turnover, we quickly grabbed a few freshly fried fish cakes and found a spot near the station for a quick bite. Yes, this was our breakfast!

Hwanggong Eomuk (Fish Cake) in Busan Train Station

We made a quick selection, so we didn’t really remember exactly what we picked. 

Fish Cake

These fish cakes, as usual, came in all kinds, from cheese-filled to vegetable-mixed, all with that springy texture we love. 

Fish Cake

Some had a rough, crispy coating while others had the usual smooth bite.

Fish Cake

If you ask whether they were good or if I ever get bored of them, honestly, I find them interesting every time. And to think that in my entire life, I’ve never spent more than $10 on fish cakes for breakfast like this!

Fish Cake

When I compare these to the Samjin Amook Eomuk we had earlier from the Busan Train Station branch, honestly, I can’t really tell much difference, even though this brand is supposed to be more senior in the industry than Samjin Amook Eomuk, which was established in 1953.

Hwanggong Eomuk (Fish cake) 환공어묵 부산역점
Location: Jungang-daero, 초량제3동 Dong-gu, Busan, South Korea
Nearest Station: Busan

Bonjeon Dwaeji Gukbap 본전돼지국밥

We couldn’t get enough of Dwaeji Gukbap, a hearty Busan-style pork soup served with rice, so here we go again! While reading reviews, we found out that Bonjeon Dwaeji Gukbap is just a stone’s throw away from our accommodation, and we’re lucky there’s no queue this time! 

Bonjeon Dwaeji Gukbap 본전돼지국밥

The interior was spacious, and as we settled in, more customers gradually started to fill the place.

Interior

I have noticed that restaurant menus in Korea are rather straightforward, and luckily, I can still rely on my phone’s picture translation to help out.

Menu 

What amazed me was the Korean food culture of serving banchan small side dishes as starters with every meal. It’s always a pleasant surprise to see what banchan will appear at the table. Here, we were served chives, kimchi vegetables, raw green chilies, onions, and garlic.

Banchan

The thin slices of pork in the soup bowl, paired with spring onions, were tender and naturally sweet. 

Pork Soup & Rice - ₩ 10,000

As a soup lover, I found this comforting bowl of hot pork broth with rice so satisfying. I prefer to eat the rice separately, but it’s interesting to see how some Koreans pour their entire bowl of rice right into the soup.

Pork Slices

We ordered the Tripe Soup with Rice too and loved how clean and tender the pig’s stomach was. It really made for a comforting meal.

Tripe Soup & Rice - ₩ 10,000

Overall, this meal reminded me once again why I love Korean comfort food so much, simple, hearty, and full of thoughtful touches like banchan and clean, flavorful broths. Finding a spot like Bonjeon Dwaeji Gukbap so close to where we stayed made it even better. I’d gladly come back for another bowl anytime.

Bonjeon Dwaeji Gukbap 본전돼지국밥
Location: 3-8 Jungang-daero 214beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan, South Korea

Nearest Station: Busan Station

Mimi Dang 미미당

After a long walk around the Jagalchi area, especially through the markets on a rainy day like this, we decided to have something hot while resting our feet. We hopped into Mimi Dang for shelter and took a look at their menu.

Mimi Dang

Looking for something warm, we decided to order their sweet red bean porridge along with a cup of jujube tea.

Menu

The sweet red bean porridge felt more like a thick red bean paste to us, sprinkled with cinnamon powder, some nuts, and chewy mochi. The jujube tea was just like our familiar red date tea. Overall, both weren’t too sweet but were perfectly stomach-warming for the cold, wet weather.

Sweet Red-Bean Porridge & Jujube Tea - ₩6000 & ₩5500

If it hadn’t been such a cold day, I would’ve loved to try the bingsu on their menu.

Mimi Dang 미미당
Location: 4 Jagalchi-ro 47beon-gil, Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea
Nearest Station: Jagalchi Station

Samjin Eomuk Busan Station Square 삼진어묵 부산역광장점

While looking through the must-eats in Busan, fishcakes were high on my checklist. With Samjin Eomuk just a stone’s throw away from my accommodation, we figured our way there. The entrance was big with a check-in area, and the range of fishcakes was more than I could have imagined.

Samjin Eomuk Busan Station Square

The place spans two storeys, huge and spacious.

Looking Down from the 2nd Level

With the upper level for dining and the lower ground for watching the fishcakes being made, making payment, and picking up your selections.

Area at 2nd Level

After paying at the counter, you can head upstairs, heat up your fishcakes in the microwave, and grab utensils at the self-service station.

Self-Service Station on the Right 

Being so excited, I grabbed a whole variety that added up to more than $30, just for breakfast!

Our Fishcakes Orders

The variety was impressive, fishcakes with vegetables, cheese, bacon, seafood, deep-fried options — basically, fishcakes with anything you can think of!

Fried with Bacon

Turns out, Busan has more than just Samjin Eomuk when it comes to traditional fishcakes.

White Whale

All in all, Samjin Eomuk was a fun and satisfying stop, a fishcake lover’s paradise with endless choices and a peek into how they’re made. I’d gladly come back for more next time!”

Samjin Eomuk Busan Station Square 삼진어묵 부산역광장점
Location: 7 Jungang-daero 214beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan, South Korea

153구포국수 하단점 (153 Gupo Noodles Hadan Branch)

We visited the 153 Gupo Noodles branch in Hadan after our final stop and yes, finally! We had completed our cross-country ride from Seoul to Busan! Yeah! 

153 Gupo Noodles Hadan Branch

We didn’t have anything extravagant, just two simple bowls of noodles and some gimbap before heading to the hotel by metro.

Our Orders

We ordered these meals through a self-service kiosk, and luckily, it could be done in English. The beef bone noodles were a comforting meal, especially in the cool weather. The noodles were springy and came with bean sprouts, pork slices, shredded carrot, vegetables, and more.

Beef Bone Noodles - 8,500

I chose the Jjanchi Guksu noodles because I was drawn to its colourful illustration. It came with seaweed, kimchi, vegetables, egg, fishcakes, and carrots. It was beautifully eye-pleasing and, most importantly, stomach-soothing.

Jjanchi Guksu + Gidan Gimbap - 10,000

Gimbap, which is basically Korean-style sushi, came as neat rolls filled with egg, vegetables, carrot, and pickles, all surrounded by rice and wrapped in seaweed.

Gimbap

Ending our ride with a simple meal of noodles and gimbap was the perfect way to celebrate our journey. Nothing fancy just comforting, satisfying food that warmed us up and made us smile after completing our Seoul to Busan adventure.

Yums!

153구포국수 하단점 (153 Gupo Noodles Hadan Branch)
Location: South Korea, Busan, Saha-gu, Nakdongnam-ro, 1419 102호
Nearest Station: Hadan 하단역

Susan 215 (수산215)

While cycling past the park amidst the cold, drizzling weather, we decided to take a break to fill our stomachs and find shelter from the rain. We were somehow drawn by loud English pop music coming from a lower area beside the path.

BBQ & Cafe

A quick glance at Google Maps led us to a BBQ place nearby. The spot was unique, dining was in a tent, and it was my first time experiencing this. 

Entrance

We took our seats and then followed the owner to place our order.I chose the items based on her recommendations and was pretty excited to try them.

Menu

 It was a one-lady show, she single-handedly pre-grilled everything in her BBQ tent before serving it to us.

Preparing

As we waited in our tent, the blasting cold air-con kept us shivering while the lady worked the BBQ. I couldn’t help but wonder how she came to blast such lively English pop music!

Dining Area

The glutton in me went all out; our order could easily feed four! Besides pork belly and Korean beef, we also got scallops and prawns. Everything came beautifully arranged on a metal plate with brinjal, three slices of pineapple, enoki mushrooms, and king oyster mushrooms.

Our Orders

 A buttered bun was also included in the serving. The lady came by to help us get started, then we took over and savoured our BBQ session in the cozy tent.

Feast!

Just look at that piece of pork belly, so tasty even without any seasoning. All we had to do was grill it and cut it into bite-sized pieces to enjoy.

Pork Belly

With full tummies, we continued our journey through the wet weather, feeling satisfied and happy.

Susan 215 (수산215)
Location: 215 Susanjebang-gil, Hanam-eup, Miryang-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea

Hanyang Hwaro 한양화로

That’s for dinner? Korean cuisine, of course! A quick Google search led us to a BBQ place that was exactly what we were craving.

Hanyang Hwaro 한양화로

It was just a short walk from where we were staying, so we got there in no time. The place was spacious and, while it wasn’t crowded, there was still another big group enjoying their meal too.

Interior

Upon looking at their Korean menu, we realised we were too used to being illiterate in Hangul and had to rely on the pictures for translation. Still, such barriers never stopped us from making requests and asking questions, and the server’s friendly reply was always, ‘Ok, ok, ok, ok.’ It seemed like he could understand a bit of our English and what we were trying to ask for.

Menu

Soon after we placed our order, we were served banchan. It was quite special this time, as there were four items presented neatly in a wooden square tray. Along with that, we were also given some onions in vinegar, raw garlic, fresh vegetables, and other sides.

Banchan

The steamed egg in stone pot, better known as Gyeran-jjim in Korean, was served as one of the banchan. We were definitely delighted and enjoyed every spoonful of it. Taste-wise, I felt it was on the bland side.

Stone Pot Egg

As the server prepared the charcoal BBQ stove, I was thrilled to see that we’d be enjoying BBQ meat with melted cheese. Oh yeah!

Cheese

We were in the mood for beef, so we ordered a hearty platter, perfect for firing up the grill and kicking off our BBQ feast!

Beef

Looking back, this trip gave us exactly what we needed, good eats, fun memories, and plenty to laugh about. Can’t wait to plan the next one!

Hanyang Hwaro 한양화로
Location: 979-10 Namji-ri, Namji-eup, Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea