Food
The Michelin Guide to surviving Busan's hot and humid summer
"Bite Into Busan" is a monthly celebration of the city's restaurants. Each featured spot is listed in the Michelin Guide and Taste of Busan, the city's official gourmet guidebook, and is known for its signature dishes.
In this edition, we dive into the best dishes to eat to stay energized during Busan's hot and humid summer. A nutrient-rich meal can make all the difference when the heat wears you down. Rebuild your stamina with local favorites like "bokguk," or puffer fish soup, and savory grilled freshwater eel, foods known for their revitalizing power.
Bokguk makes for a light and refreshing summer meal.
Kumsu Bokguk's steamed puffer fish has a subtle, slightly sweet flavor with a firm yet tender texture.
■Kumsu Bokguk, Haeundae Main Branch 금수복국해운대본점
For over half a century, Kumsu Bokguk in Haeundae-gu District has set the gold standard for puffer fish cuisine. As the flagship location of a renowned chain with outposts nationwide, this legendary eatery has built its reputation on tradition, quality and safety.
○Address: 23 Jungdong 1-ro 43beon-gil, Haeundae-gu
○Hours: Open 24 hours every day.
○Menu: Eunbokguk (silver puffer fish soup) clear/spicy broth ￦15,000/￦16,000.
Milbokguk (green puffer fish soup) clear/spicy broth ￦20,000/￦21,000.
○Available: Parking, takeout, foreign language menus.
The luxurious unaju bento box at Tokyo Babsang.
■Tokyo Babsang 동경밥상
At Tokyo Babsang, Chef-owner Tae-woo Kim brings a refined vision of Japanese grilled eel to the shores of Gwangalli Beach. After years of training at Jubako, an esteemed Tokyo restaurant founded in 1790, Kim returned to Korea to open this intimate eatery dedicated to the art of eel. His dedication shows in every bite, from the meticulous charcoal grilling to the silky glaze of sweet soy sauce.
The restaurant's signature dishes, "unaju" and "hitsumabushi," showcase regional eel traditions from Tokyo and Nagoya. Whether you choose unaju, with whole fillets served over rice, or hitsumabushi, which is enjoyed in multiple stages with different toppings and broth, each dish offers a harmonious balance of textures - crispy on the outside, tender and juicy within.
○Address: 34-6 Namcheonbada-ro, Suyeong-gu
○Hours: Open daily 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 5:30 to 9 p.m. for dinner. Last order is 30 minutes before closing.
○Menu: Unaju ￦43,000. Hitsumabushi ￦38,000.
○Available: Parking, takeout, foreign language menus
The hitsumabushi at Shunsai Kubo comes with various toppings and a savory broth.
■Shunsai Kubo 슌사이쿠보
Shunsai Kubo is a popular destination for hitsumabushi, the beloved Nagoya-style grilled eel rice bowl. Japan-trained Chef Jae-wook Lee carefully grills each piece of fish over charcoal while brushing them with a house-made sauce that enhances eel's natural richness.
The restaurant is also popular with families as it offers a dedicated children's menu.
○Address: 17 Yangdal-ro 4beon-gil, Buk-gu
○Hours: Open from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 5:30 to 9 p.m. for dinner. Last order is 40 minutes before closing. Closed on Mondays.
○Menu: Hitsumabushi ￦39,000, Salmon rice bowl ￦17,500
○Available: Parking, takeout, foreign language menus
Editor: Ji Minkyeom, Song Soomi
Copy Editors: Anton J. Mapoy, Ryu Hyoseung