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Where to eat: Taste of Busan and Michelin Guide
In February, Busan Metropolitan City published the Taste of Busan 2024, which highlights local restaurants and cafes citywide. The 22nd edition of the annual food and beverage guide is available in four languages; Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese.
Each eatery featured in the guide passed an exacting and multistep review process. First, local hygiene departments compiled a list of 400 establishments based on hygiene management, legal compliance, brand awareness and uniqueness. Then, an expert advisory group composed of food masters, industry professionals, critics, cultural planners and influencers visited and evaluated each place.
The final 144 restaurants, cafes and bakeries epitomize the depth and breadth of Busan's food scene. From family-style eateries serving Korean soul food to multicourse meals featuring cutting-edge techniques and ingredients, Busan has food options to satisfy any gourmand.
In addition, Taste of Busan 2024 presents a collection of "B-Food" recipes created by Busan chefs using local specialties; Sea mustard and anchovies from Gijang and conger eel. Each recipe is inspired by the city's unique history, ingredients, cuisine and natural resources, and can be considered as Busan's representative dishes.
Finally, the guide introduced three neighborhoods that are getting a lot of buzz for their food and beverage offerings: Buridan-gil in Busanjin-gu, Yeongdo Island, and Gijang-gun.
Paper copies of the guide are available at tourist information centers, train stations and Gimhae International Airport. A digital version is available on Visit Busan's official website (visitbusan.net).
■Busan makes big Michelin impression
Michelin Guide Seoul & Busan 2024 recommends 220 restaurants, 177 in Seoul and 43 in Busan.
This marks Busan's debut in Michelin's culinary coverage and it is an auspicious start. Of the 43 Busan restaurants included in the Michelin Guide, three received the coveted star status. The one-star restaurants are Mori and Fiotto in Haeundae-gu District and Palate in Nam-gu District.
Mori is a Japanese kaiseki restaurant co-owned by a Korean chef trained in Japan and his Japanese wife. Chef Kim Wan-gyu's dishes harmonize Busan's bounty of fresh seafood and seasonal produce.
Located on Dalmaji Hill, Fiotto is a cozy Italian pasta bistro run by a chef couple. The restaurant's pasta-only courses feature homemade or directly sourced ingredients from the owners' family farm.
Palate offers diners avant-garde French cuisine that reflects Chef Kim Jae-hoon's innovative approach.
Michelin also awards the Bib Gourmand to recognize restaurants that offer high quality meals at affordable prices. Busan has 15 Bib Gourmand restaurants, including Yakitori Onjung and Bao Haus in Busanjin-gu District, and Anmok in Suyeong-gu District.
Another 25 are listed as selected restaurants, which indicates an establishment that serves high-quality ingredients cooked well; simply put, a selected restaurant provides diners with a good meal.
The entire selection of restaurants is available on the Michelin Guide website or via the free Michelin Guide app for iOS and Android.
※ Taste of Busan 2024: e-book
※ Michelin Guide: website
<Voca Spotlight>
annual: 연간
eatery: 식당, 맛집
epitomize: 전형화하다
sea mustard: 미역
anchovy: 멸치
conger eel: 붕장어
auspicious: 상서로운
coveted: 탐나는
avant-garde: 아방가르드(전위적인)