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Latest update: 11 February 2026
Busan is a foodie paradise. Fresh fish straight from the market, trendy coffee shops with ocean views, and surprisingly good pizza. I spent 2.5 days eating and drinking my way through Busan, and here are my best finds, from shakshuka in a side street to Korean BBQ in a tiny spot.
Breakfast and brunch in Busan
The traditional South Korean breakfast isn’t really my thing. Eating pickled vegetables or beans first thing in the morning? Or fish soup in Busan? No thanks. So I went hunting for more Western-style breakfasts.
Cuv Share: shakshuka and French toast
In a side street, I stumble upon Cuv Share. We order shakshuka (they call it “eggs in hell” here) and French toast. The shakshuka is spicy the way it should be, with lots of tomato sauce and perfectly poached eggs. The French toast is well-made, too.
It’s nicely decorated, and the food is good. Exactly what you want after a few days of Korean breakfast (kimchi at 8 AM isn’t for everyone).
Working Holiday: brunch with sea views
This café is on the fifth floor, with views of Haeundae Beach. The concept is inspired by a working holiday in Australia—the owner got the idea there. And you can tell from the menu: eggs Benedict, avocado toast, and flat whites. Western comfort food.
You order via a machine in the back of the place, and the best seats are by the window overlooking the sea. It’s popular, so you might need to stare people down a bit. 😉
Coffee in Busan
Holy moly, Koreans are REALLY into coffee! I honestly didn’t know this before coming here. The city is packed with specialty coffee shops. Here are a few recommendations.
Coffee Bubu: best flat white in Busan
Coffee Bubu is a hip(ster) coffee shop with upstairs seating on pallets with cushions. The flat whites are so good that we come back two days in a row. Seriously, this is the best coffee we have in Busan.
They also have cake: earl grey and matcha. I go for earl grey, my best friend gets matcha. Earl grey wins. The cake isn’t too sweet and really tastes like the tea.
Momos Yeongdo Roastery: coffee as art
This is a completely different story. Momos Yeongdo Roastery looks more like an Apple Store than a coffee bar. Sleek, white, minimalist. They roast their own beans, and everything feels very… artsy.
The coffee shop is in an industrial part of Busan in the harbor, surrounded by ships. It’s already busy at 9 AM on a Sunday morning. There’s even a film crew. The coffee is good, but it seems this is mostly about the experience and the Instagram photos.
If you’re a coffee fanatic, go for it. If you just want good coffee without the fuss, skip it and go to Coffee Bubu
Cheongsapo Hanok Lounge: tea in a traditional house
After the coastal walk from Haeundae Beach to Cheongsapo, we’re looking for a place to recharge. The Cheongsapo Hanok Lounge is perfect. It’s in a traditional hanok house with three seating areas: a relaxed front garden, an antique interior, and a quiet courtyard in the back.
We order herbal tea with flavoring. It’s really serene here. A proper moment to unwind.
Lunch and dinner in Busan
Looking at this list, I realize I really needed some “normal” food for a bit in Busan. I promise that during the rest of my South Korea trip I ate way more Korean!
Green onion pancake at Beomeosa
If you’re visiting Beomeosa Temple, stop at one of the simple restaurants by the bus stop. The specialty here is green onion pancake. Crispy fried, full of flavor, perfect as a snack or lunch. We eat it with bibimbap at a small outdoor restaurant.
Korean BBQ: small but oh so good
We find a tiny Korean BBQ spot called Hanwoo Busan Nampo, so small that there are only a few tables. They only serve beef. We first choose the “fire” version, which is prepared at the table with a gas torch. Then another portion of sirloin and rib.
The meat is perfect. Tender, juicy, grilled just right. It’s so small that most tourists seem to miss it, but the Koreans know where to find it.
Napoli brick oven: when you’re craving pasta and pizza
After eating only Korean food for a while, we’re craving Western food. We end up at Napoli brick oven, and it’s exactly what we need. It’s a small restaurant with one cook and one server.
The pizza dough is made on the spot—you can watch the cook roll it out and slide it into the oven. We order pizza and pasta pesto. The glass of red wine is generously filled (always a nice touch). Mostly Western tourists come here, craving food from home. And there’s nothing wrong with that sometimes.
Lee Jae Mo Pizza: waiting in line for pizza
There’s a pizzeria where people line up daily. Morning, afternoon, evening—there’s always a line. Reviews say people wait up to 5 hours. Five hours! For pizza!
We skip it. To stand in line for pizza in South Korea… The reviews and photos aren’t convincing enough to justify it. But if you’re fascinated anyway, here’s the address: Google Maps location
Jagalchi fish market: have look or a bite?
The Jagalchi fish market is the largest I’ve ever seen. It’s packed with stalls of live fish, unusual shellfish, and octopuses I don’t recognize. It’s not even 9 AM yet, and people are already eating fish soup and fish pancakes.
You can eat here in two ways:
- Sit down directly at one of the stalls in the hall
- Choose fresh fish downstairs and have it prepared in a restaurant on the first floor
We mostly walk around to look. We don’t end up eating here, but if you love fresh fish, this is THE place.
Where are the cocktails in Busan?!
We’re staying in Nampo (at Urbanstay), so most of the restaurants andcaféss I visited are also in that neighborhood. But honestly, I was hoping for nice cocktail bars, and we mostly find restaurants where you can order a drink with your meal, not many bars. There are a handful of beer cafés and a few whisky bars. Not quite what I was looking for.
The gentlemen’s clubs are also notable. Unclear if it’s purely about pole dancing or if more is possible, but it doesn’t feel like something we want to go to. You also see photobooths and claw machines everywhere. Fun once, but in terms of evening entertainment, it’s disappointing for us. But going to bed early is also nice!
If you really want to go out, check out Haeundae. That’s supposed to have more nightlife.
More South Korea inspiration
Useful links for your South Korea trip
- Accommodation. Always handy is Booking.com, but compare prices. Trip is often much cheaper in South Korea. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. You can book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator. You can book ‘free’ walking tours at Freetour and cool food tours at Secret Food Tours.
- Attractions and museums. For 5% off museums and attractions, use discount code KIMOPREIS22 at Tiqets.
- Car rental. Compare your options at Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Be sure to check Expedia, Kiwi and Trip.
- Guide books. I love the practical guides by Lonely Planet, for sale at Amazon.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? Check out your options at Expedia and CheapOair for example.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high phone and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo. Use the code THISIS8469 for a discount.
- Train and bus. Buy your train tickets directly on the Korail site and intercity buses also directly via this site. Some trips can also be booked on
Klook or via12Go . For local transport in the city, you use a T-Money card.
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