10 Must-Eat Foods in Busan – A Local’s Guide to the City’s Best Dishes

If you’re planning a trip to Busan, get ready to experience more than just beaches and night views. Korea’s second-largest city is also one of the country’s most exciting food destinations.Busan’s cuisine reflects its coastal identity, post-war history, and vibrant street food culture. From hearty soups that kept people warm during hard times to fresh seafood straight from the port, every dish tells a story.

Here are 10 must-eat foods in Busan that will make your journey unforgettable.

1. Dwaeji Gukbap (돼지국밥) - Definitely Must Eat Food in Busan

A rich pork-bone soup with rice inside, dwaeji gukbap is the ultimate Busan comfort food. After the Korean War, affordable pork soup became a lifesaver for locals and refugees rebuilding their lives. Today, it’s still one of the city’s most iconic dishes.✨ Pro tip: Season it yourself with salted shrimp, chives, and chili paste.

2. Milmyeon (밀면)

Chewy wheat noodles in icy, tangy broth—Busan’s version of naengmyeon (cold noodles). Unlike buckwheat-based naengmyeon from the North, milmyeon uses wheat flour, which was more available to refugees in the 1950s. Refreshing and light, it’s the perfect dish on a hot summer day.

3. Eomuk & Mul-tteok (어묵 & 물떡)

Fish cake skewers (eomuk) are Busan’s most famous street snack—simmered in anchovy-kelp broth and served piping hot. They’re the ultimate comfort food on the go.

What makes Busan truly unique, though, is mul-tteok: plain rice cake skewers boiled in the same broth. You’ll rarely find these outside of Busan. Chewy and simple, the rice cakes soak up the savory flavor of the broth, making them surprisingly addictive.

Locals usually enjoy them in two ways: sipping the hot broth straight from the cup, and dipping the rice cakes in soy sauce for an extra salty-sweet kick. Together with fish cakes, they make a filling, warming combo that captures the taste of Busan street life.

4. Hoe (회)

Raw fish is a must in a port city like Busan. Locals love dipping fresh sashimi in sweet-spicy cho-gochujang (vinegared chili paste). Head to Jagalchi Market or Millak Hoe Center, where you can buy fish downstairs and have it sliced and served upstairs for a small prep fee. Eating hoe by the seaside is a uniquely Busan experience.

✨ Pro tips:

• Along with cho-gochujang, locals also use makjang—a regional dipping sauce made from fermented soybean paste mixed with chili, garlic, and other seasonings.

• Try wrapping sashimi in fresh lettuce with makjang for a hearty “ssam” (wrap). It’s a delicious Busan-style twist on eating raw fish.

5. Bokguk (복국)

Pufferfish soup may sound intimidating, but in Busan it’s a beloved hangover cure. The clean, peppery broth highlights the delicate fish flavor. Only licensed chefs are allowed to prepare it in Korea, ensuring both safety and taste. Start your day the Busan way—with a steaming bowl of bokguk.

6. Jogae-gui (조개구이)

Imagine sitting by the ocean, grilling clams over charcoal as the sun sets—that’s jogae-gui. This dish is more than food; it’s a seaside ritual. Order a mixed set, let the shells pop open, and enjoy with a touch of butter and chili. Just be ready for smoky clothes—it’s all part of the fun.

7. Gomjangeo (곰장어)

Not eel but hagfish—Busan locals grill this chewy, spicy delicacy over open flames. Nicknamed a stamina food, gomjangeo is bold, smoky, and not for the faint of heart. If you want to taste the “real Busan,” this is it. Best enjoyed with soju and sesame-salt on the side.

8. Dongnae Pajeon (동래파전)

This thick green onion and seafood pancake originates from the Dongnae district. Once a royal banquet dish in the Joseon era, it became a rainy-day comfort food for Busan locals. Crispy on the outside, soft inside—it’s best paired with makgeolli (Korean rice wine).

9. Yang & Daechang (양·대창)

For meat lovers, Busan’s grilled beef tripe (yang) and large intestine (daechang) are must-tries. Cooked until crispy on the edges and buttery inside, they’re classic Korean pub food. Wrap them with garlic chives and perilla leaves, dip in ssamjang, and finish the meal with fried rice on the same pan.

10. Assorted Seafood (해산물 모둠)

Only in Busan can you enjoy seafood this fresh. Abalone, sea squirt, sea cucumber, octopus, and more—choose your catch at a coastal village or fish market, and it will be prepared on the spot, raw, blanched, or stir-fried. This “tidal platter” reflects Busan’s ocean-to-table culture like nothing else.

✨ Cultural note:You may have seen the Korean drama Pachinko (Apple TV+), which features Busan’s coastal scenery and seafood culture. The show highlights how food is deeply tied to survival and community—values that still live on in Busan’s markets today.

Equally fascinating are the haenyeo (female divers) you’ll encounter on Korea’s southern coasts. These women free-dive without oxygen tanks to harvest abalone, sea urchin, and other shellfish directly from the ocean. While Jeju Island is most famous for haenyeo, Busan’s coastal villages also keep this tradition alive, offering visitors a rare chance to glimpse an age-old way of life connected to the sea.

Eating assorted seafood in Busan isn’t just a meal—it’s a living link to the city’s maritime heritage and culture.

Final Thoughts

Busan’s food isn’t just about taste—it’s about history, survival, and the sea. Each dish tells a part of the city’s story, from post-war resilience to vibrant street life and coastal traditions.

So, when you visit Busan, don’t just sightsee—eat like a local. These 10 dishes will give you the most authentic taste of the city.

And of course, don’t forget to join a Busan Social event while you’re here—you’ll taste not only the food, but also the vibrant community that makes this city unforgettable 😉

photo by Visit Busan