Big Apple Motel

Co-owned by a Korean chef trained in Japan and his Japanese wife, Mori offers nicely presented authentic Japanese kaiseki dining that will delight both your eyes and palate. Chef Kim Wan-gyu crafts delicate dishes using the fresh seafood and seasonal produce of Busan. He has an unmatched sense of culinary balance as manifested by the perfect harmony of ingredients and a well-controlled sense of rhythm that characterizes Mori’s course meals. Enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine in this cozy space, where the chef’s sincerely crafted cuisine is complemented by the smooth and attentive service of his

Popular among both tourists and local regulars, Haemok offers accessible Japanese fare. Its blue fence and inexplicably exotic edifice create a vibe that makes this spot stand out in the neighborhood. Its wood-based décor and tatami floor also add to the exotic ambiance. Haemok’s menu includes a few selections of Japanese rice bowls, sashimi, tempura, and tataki dishes. But its signature item is unarguably hitsumabushi (Nagoya-style grilled eel). Coated with umami-rich sauce, the eel features bottomless flavor and is a perfect accompaniment to the rice cooked to perfection. And just so you kno

Using 100% Korean buckwheat and milling the noodles in-house, this restaurant invites you to appreciate the pure flavour and chewy texture of freshly made buckwheat noodles. While the bibim buckwheat noodles focus on a spicy bite, the perilla-oil and cold buckwheat noodles showcase the delicate aroma of buckwheat that the restaurant aims to highlight. The bouncy, tender slices of boiled pork also pair well with the noodles.

Tucked deep within the Haeridan-gil area, this establishment stands out with a long line of diners waiting to be seated. This ramen joint in Busan is the first Korean outpost of a restaurant that started during the 1960s in the Nagahama area in Fukuoka, Japan. The ramen is prepared by simmering pig bones for hours until the broth becomes milky and smooth. Combined with a secret homemade soy sauce, the broth tastes rich, but never heavy. You may request your noodles be cooked to your liking, or add raw garlic or a spicy sauce. If you find your new broth a little too salty, feel free to ask for

Buda Myeonoak, relocated near Haeundae Beach in 2021, offers Pyeongyang cold noodles made out of 100% buckwheat flour. Served with mild, umami-rich broth, the noodles are pleasantly chewy, revealing additional nutty flavour with every bite. Top them with your choice of garnishes to enhance both flavour and texture, making each bite more satisfying than the last. Oxtail soup is another speciality of the house. Simmered for hours with generous pieces of oxtail, it develops a deep, rich flavour, and the tender meat adds heartiness and comfort to each bowl.

Palate offers contemporary French cuisine that is free-spirited and adventurous in style. Its sensuous fare is based on the culinary diversity experienced by Chef Kim Jae-hoon. Ever since he boldly opened this diner in Busan, his hometown, the chef has been taking up diverse epicurean challenges while injecting freshness into the restaurant’s concept. This progressive aspect of Palate is well reflected in the cuisine it serves today. When it comes to dining, Busan has much respect for the old and traditional. This urban dining landscape makes one wonder how the chef’s ever-evolving culinary ex

Perched on Dalmaji Hill, fiotto is a small, husband-and-wife–run restaurant offering a pasta-focused tasting menu. The dishes highlight vegetables from the owners’ family farm, Jirisan pork, native Korean rice, and other carefully sourced ingredients. Most components—fresh pastas, cured ham, kombucha vinegar and syrups—are made in-house, expressing Piotto’s natural, understated style. The cooking draws on modern Italian techniques, balancing pasta with other starch-based dishes, while restrained sweetness and a light touch allow the ingredients’ true character to shine. The wood-toned, beige-a