Busan’s food culture is built around the sea. The freshest raw fish in Korea, the finest seafood markets in the country, and a street food culture with regional specialties that do not exist anywhere else.
Busan is Korea’s second city and its food capital in everything except reputation, which still goes to Seoul and Jeonju. This is partly unfair. Busan’s proximity to the sea and its position as Korea’s largest port give it access to seafood that the capital cannot match. The city also has its own distinct street food culture, its own noodle tradition, and a fish market culture that is genuinely one of the finest in Asia.
Jagalchi Fish Market
Korea’s largest seafood market and Busan’s most essential food destination. The market covers both the outdoor stalls on the waterfront and the large indoor building (the ‘7-story Jagalchi’ opened in 2006). The outdoor stalls are the most atmospheric, with haenyeo (female divers) selling their daily catch directly from the dockside from early morning.
The market sells everything alive or caught that morning: flatfish (gwang-eo), crab, sea urchin, octopus, sea squirt, abalone, and dozens of less familiar species. On the upper floors of the indoor building, restaurants take what you select from the market downstairs and prepare it as hoe (raw sliced fish) for a preparation fee of around 5,000 to 10,000 won. This is the complete Jagalchi experience: choose your fish, climb the stairs, eat it sliced raw with soju and the accompanying banchan.
Best time: 7 am to 11 am on weekdays for the freshest selection and most active atmosphere.
Busan’s Regional Dishes
Milmyeon (밀면) – Busan Cold Noodles
Busan’s signature dish. Wheat noodles (not buckwheat, as in Pyongyang naengmyeon) are served in a cold beef broth with cucumber, radish, a hard-boiled egg, and a spicy seasoning. The dish has its origins in Busan during the Korean War era, when wheat flour was more readily available than buckwheat. Around 8,000-12,000 won at dedicated milmyeon restaurants. Naeil Sikdang in Busanjin-gu is the most famous.
Ssiat Hotteok (씨앗호떡) – Seed Pancakes
The Busan version of hotteok is filled with sunflower seeds, peanuts, and brown sugar instead of the standard cinnamon-sugar filling. Crispier than the Seoul version and more complex in flavour. Available from street stalls throughout BIFF Square and the Gukje Market area. Around 1,500 to 2,000 won each. One of Korea’s finest street food upgrades.
Dwaeji Gukbap (돼지국밥) – Pork Soup with Rice
A hearty pork bone broth soup with sliced pork and rice, served with kimchi and green onion, is a Busan institution eaten for breakfast, lunch, or as a late-night meal. The Seomyeon area has a high concentration of excellent dwaeji gukbap restaurants, with bowls priced around 8,000-10,000 won.
Hoe (회) – Raw Fish
Busan’s hoe culture is the finest in Korea. The freshness of the fish market supply means raw flatfish, sea bream, abalone, and sea urchin are available to standards that Seoul cannot replicate. How restaurants throughout the Haeundae and Gwangalli beach areas serve elaborate raw fish sets for 30,000 to 80,000 won per person. The market restaurant experience at Jagalchi is cheaper and equally good in quality.
Best Food Neighbourhoods and Markets
Gukje Market and BIFF Square
The Gukje covered market in central Busan is one of Korea’s largest traditional markets. The food alley has everything from fresh produce to prepared Korean snacks. The adjacent BIFF Square (named for the Busan International Film Festival) is the street food heartland of central Busan. Ssiat hotteok stalls, tteokbokki, soondae, and fried snacks from late morning through midnight.
Haeundae Beach Area
The beach neighbourhood has Haeundae Market (excellent fresh seafood and prepared food for breakfast and lunch) and a dense restaurant strip. Seafood restaurants facing the beach are good but pricey for tourists. The streets one block back have better value and equal quality.
Gwangalli – Late Night Eating
The Gwangalli beach neighbourhood has Busan’s best late-night dining scene. Grilled fish restaurants, Korean BBQ, and pojangmacha tent stalls operate until 1 am or later. The view of the illuminated Gwangan Bridge from the restaurant tables is one of Busan’s most pleasant evening experiences.
Choryang Ibaek-jang – Japanese-Era Market
A covered market in the Choryang area (near Busan Station) dating from the Japanese colonial period. Genuine, local, rarely visited by tourists. Excellent for cheap prepared food, street snacks, and understanding what a Busan neighbourhood market actually looks like.
Busan Food Budget
Market and street food: 3,000 to 10,000 won per meal
Dwaeji gukbap or milmyeon: 8,000 to 12,000 won
How much at Jagalchi market restaurants: 20,000 to 40,000 won per person
Full seafood restaurant dinner: 30,000 to 80,000 won per person
See the Korea travel budget guide for the full daily cost breakdown.
