Please try to add to this list as you come across new restaurants. Thanks. Just names and directions, please try to limit discussion.

Turkish restaurant
One in Dusil next to the Mosque
One in Haeundae in the Seacloud hotel
Kebabistan in PNU (excellent)
Bey Kebab House in Kyungsung Dae

Mexican
Taco El Pueblo in Haeundae (excellent and cheap)
Taco Loco in Seomyon

Indian
Great India in Kyungsungdae
Ganga in harbourtown building in Haeundae (excellent)
One in PNU
One in Sassang the name I forget
One in Nampodong which is reputedly fairly average

General western food
The Seamans Club behind Pusan Station
Obrien's bar in Gaya and Haeundae Newtown
Dave's Fish and Chip shop in Haeundae Newtown
Ono in Haeundae (expensive but I do like the burgers)
Also Bennigans and TGIF in Haeundae (AFAIK these are the only branches left open)
and ubiquitous Outbacks and VIPS.

Sandwiches
Quiznos in Haeundae benecity, Haeundae New Town and Kyungsung Spark building
One near Dongseo or Dong eui university which is rubbish in my opinion
Sally's in Seomyon which was mentioned
No Naim in PNU (which has just been sold and may or may not be still serving up very adequate sandwhiches)
Vynal Underground in Kyungdae also does a decent sandwich and thai curry (not available fri/sat AFAIK)

Buffet
There's a vegetarian buffet in Seomyon which a lot of people like but I'm not sure on the details.
The Maris Buffet in Jangsan (largest in Pusan?) is fantastic. Jangsan subway stop, exit 15
Sfonge right next to Haeundae is delicious and has good variety.

VIETNAMESE
'Hanoi' in Haeundae (on the same floor in the same building as 'Ganga') is excellent

PHILIPPINE
'Mabuhay', a stone's throw from Shanghai Gate (across from Pusan Station) is good

Especially when she has Kalamuncy for Pan Ceit Bihon.

New Hawaii for Indonesion food. Texas Street.

Venezia in Hadan.

Tullas in Hadan.

Trevor can give btter directiosn than I can.

Thema Coffee for light breakfast.

Sandberry by subway stops 108 and 110

And B and C Bakery for BLT in Jagalchi.

Bey Kebab House in Kyungsung Dae

Great India in Kyungsungdae


Could you provide directions to these two restaurants?

The Indian restaurant in Sasang (Gwae-beop dong) or right be E-Mart is Sangam.

Pinned and Topic title amended a little!

For directions to Bey Kebab and Great India

Kyung Sung/ Pukyong Subway Exit 3.
Go straight, take first right.
Walk down a couple of blocks till you get to Family Mart on your right. Bey Kebab house is in the building on your left across from Family Mart and above Rush Bar on the 3rd floor. For Great India, continue another block and it's on the corner above OL '55 bar. Look for the big orange sign. (there used to be a fish restaurant below, but that just closed down, so don't know what it's new incarnation will be yet)

Does the Vietnamese place have vegetarian options? The Vietnamese restaurants I frequented in other countries always did but the two I've tried in Korea so far haven't; however, the chef at the one in Yongsan Station made a special meal for me so I didn't have to just sit and watch my friend eat.

Here are two more:

CHINESE:
The Chinese Restaurant in the Hotel Glory, on the main beach road in Haeundae. Real Chinese cooking in Pusan exists. (Their card says "Jung Guo Da Fan Dian" which just means "Chinese Big Restaurant.")

GERMAN:
'Hirschimchung Brau' at the Hotel Nong Shim in Oncheonjang. During Oktoberfest (and perhaps all year), they serve(d) several types of sausages and potatoes, with good beer brewed on the premises.

JohnHenry: I just don't know anything about Vietnamese vegetarian dishes. Sorry. I'll look next time.

Vietnamese Saigon - Gwangali and Seomyeon. Pho Thai - Seomyeon (down from Migliore across from McDonalds). Pho Something - Across from Migliore

Chinese Beijing Story - Gwangali (going towards Haeundae, left at Guess Who? and first right)

Not sure how to categorize but also Calamari in Kyung Sung Dae. Walking down the main street to Pukyong, take your first left and it's on your left 2nd floor.

By the way anyone looking for better directions to any restaurants listed on this thread just do a search, because I think all have been reviewed at some point.

I'm interested in booking Maris in Jangsan later in the year. I've been once before (food is fantastic) for a function but I can't recall whether drinks were involved?

Can anyone confirm whether the buffet ($35 a head?) is inclusive of drinks? If so: What and How much?

-Quiznos and Starlite (sandwiches and burgers) in the Primus building (first/ground floor) in Jangsan.

-Penne (steak restaurant) and Pho Kim (Viet) in Sfunz (4th and 3rd floors respectively, I believe)

I don't recommend Saray which is an expensive Turkish restaurant on Haeundae Beach. The portions were too small, low quality, and expensive.

I haven't been, but recently stumbled upon The Mango Tree, a Thai restaurant on Songjeong Beach. Its down at the south end, on the road behind the beach road.

There is a great curry and teryaki restaurant in Kyunsung owned by a Korean-Canadian family named "Kirin". I don't know the subway exit #, but if you walk away from Kyunsung, in the direction of Pukyoung, you'll see a "K-swiss" store. Turn left down a side street and the first restaurant on your left is "Kirin." It's only $5000 for a really good sized meal.

My two favorite things on the menu here are Chicken Curry (4000 won) and Teriyaki Chicken (5,000 won).

Can anyone tell me easy way to get to Taco al pueblo/Taco Loco from Jangsan station??

Would like to check it out seeing as how I'm from San Diego

also, are there any Subways or Popeye's in Busan???

All the Subways here have closed. There is one in Somyeon called "Sally's", which used to one and may still have a few remnants or reminders,

There are some Popeyes's around, like there may be one still open in Namcheon, not far from Kwangalli Beach. I know for sure that there is one at the food court of the Sasang E-Mart. Take the moving incline to the second floor. Therefore you may consider trying the other E-Marts as well.

I believe the Subways have gone. The closest equivalent is Quiznos.. CGV-Kyungsungdae subway stop and Jangsan Primus theater subway stop.

There is a Popeye's in Namchon (Kwanganli).. take the subway to Namchon, exit # 1, walk straight ahead for several traffic lights. At the traffic light intersection with the Busan Bank on one side and the Pari Baguette Bakery on the other, turn right and you will see it ahead of you at the "Y" intersection. The beach is only another block down the road. From the beach side, this is the street that has a traffic light at the bathrooms, closest to the Samick Beach Apartments.

there are extensive directions on the forum. start a sfunz building/megbox. walk towards the ocean down the side street. two long blocks down you will see the "Beauty Zone" store on a right hand intersection corner. across the street is a small alley. Taco al Puebla is just inside the alley.

To clarify. You want to go to Haeundae station not Jangsan. Take exit 1, go straight, turn right at Sfunz and follow BFG's directions above.

If you plan to eat at Taco al Puebla you should have a back-up restaurant in mind as well since he is very busy and frequently runs out of food. On at least two occasions I've been there (out of four total) he has shut down for a few hours for lack of stock, leaving hundreds of westerners in the lurch. For any of you entrepreneurs out there, this is quite the investment opportunity if you could help him get a bigger restaurant.

The other night walking out of the underground it looked as if Sally's is gone, too.

Chinesewoman, I, for one, am very interested in hearing your opinion concerning Chinese restaurants in Busan. And about western restaurants, Korean food, Korean fashion, and just about any other subject. Didn't someone else recently ask you what it was you missed the most about China? (Oh yeah, it was I who asked; and you never answered.) We are lucky to have you in Pusanweb, and are interested in pretty much whatever you have to say. Please don't hold back from expressing your opinions, especially on the subject of China. After all, when it comes to Chinese food, you are a "native eater."

So . . . which "Chinese" restaurants in Busan do you like and which do you not like?

Also for the cheapest and best chinese "King Yen" in PNU near the basement. The man is really friendly and had a chinese restaurant in SanFran for almost 20 years.

There is a Popeye's at GS Mart in Jang jeon dong (one stop from PNU).

This forum had a LONG thread about the KING YEN..but we closed it because we all thought that he had closed his restaurant. If he is still cooking in Pusan, please post some directions (PNU basement????), also list his phone number and hours..
The general consensus was that he had the best chinese-chinese food in town, and at cheap prices!

The busanfoodguy needs your help! I want to go asap. When I do, I'll take pictures and we'll start up with him again.

No, the consensus was that he had the only American Chinese in town. Several thought his food was schlocky crap with uninspired sugary suaces of the type you usually find at strip malls in flyover states.
Chinese woman, do you ever hit up the actual Chinese Chinese restaurants here?

Exit the PNU subway station on the side away from PNU. You'll be on a narrow but crowded street; turn right and head south, back toward Oncheonjang. Within a block or so is a colorfully-lit tall building with a McDonald's on the ground floor and movie theaters above; I believe the basement is where there is a coffee shop I've recently read about on Pusanweb. Keep walking and the next building to the south has its back to the street you're on, but there is a sign on the second floor (in English) for American-Style Chinese Food. I didn't see the name King Yen; but this must be the place in question. I'm eager to try it; but there are so many interesting places to eat in Busan, it might take me a while to get to it.

On the other hand, if Chinesewoman would condescend to tell us about her favorite restaurants, I'd be all over that, like a cheap suit on a used-car salesman.

Texas Street is ALL foreign food. Mostly Chinese (My favorites are Buhang and Wonhyangze), but a couple of decent Philippino (Hawaii is all right, and the other names escape me now. None really stand out though. I'm not a big fan of Phillipino food, except for Pork Tocino.)

There is also some good Russian food there. Cafe Tigr is decent, Kuritsa Grill is the best: cheap and delicious, and it's the one nine out of ten Russians down there will tell you they prefer, for what that's worth.

There are also a couple of outdoor grills down there that do burgers, fried shrimp, and other assorted artery-cloggers.

My Mistake His Old Restaurant was called King Yen the new one is call Chef Chen but it is the same owner. Yes some of it is western-style but still i really think some things there are great. Went there yesterday and the Mushu Pork was awesome. It's across from the old No Naime restaurant on the corner 2nd floor. It's not the place Weikuboy is speaking of. Basement is the foreigner bar near the gates of PNU.

My problem (and perhaps also for many others) is that I don't know the PNU area at all. I vaguely remember how to find the PNU gates. I never went to the "No Naime restaurant". It would help a lot if you would give directions from a subway exit (number ?).. everyone can always find that as a starting place.

Sorry, Tyster, I didnt see your question until just now.
Well, I usually dont make negative comments on food (not service), I do positive ones more, though.
Cuz people have different taste for food and it is not right to stop people from going the place they love by saying bad things about it only because I dont like it.

I havent find any authentic Chinese food here yet, it is IMPOSSIBLE to find them.
Busan have lots of Chinese chefs, but they have to cook for Korean and foreigners.
I know a chef near my university, he cooks real Chinese food for me only when I am there...

The problems are

1, I am from Southern China (Hunan), food back home is very spicy and we dont like sweet food.
2, A lot cuisines thicken the sauce with flour, but which also buffer/change the original taste of the food.
3, Chinese people believe the highest level of cooking is preserving the natural flavor of the ingredients and combining them artfully.
4, Most food ingredients here are not from China, and Korean people never heard food like "taro, lablab, asparagus lettuce,Hunan smoked mean, Jinhua Ham..." to name a few. The menu you can chose are limited. ( I am a little bit bitchy to say this)

The food I tried in Korea, no matter King Yen or even the most expensive restaurant on Lotte department store 13th floor...
They dont know how to preserve the flavor of food, all I tasted was soybean sause and flour-thickened soup...

Well, I am picky when it comes to Chinese food so, dont believe me all, and again, let us have Gamjatang, let us have Bulgogi here...

If you want Chinese food, welcome to China, anytime...

Can vouch for Chinesewoman on that. My mother's hobby was cooking international dishes and she would never think of substituting an ingredient. When ever I got an international meal it was authentic.
I may be cheap when it comes to just eating for myself, but I can spot a fake attempt at real food when I see it. Classic example, Popeyes is nowhere near spicy as it is at home in The States. And as you can see from my postings under the favorite recipe section, I am no slouch in the cooking department.

And I love Szcheuan food CW, I had the authentic stuff in Bejing.

Have you tried the Chinese places near Texas street?

Indeed. The "American-Style Chinese Restaurant" I've seen at PNU is called Rak 'n Wok (락인왁), one block southeast of the PNU subway station. The directions are as in post #27 above.

In the meantime, I've been turned onto a really good Italian restaurant at PNU. It has the unlikely name of 꼬모도 or Komodo; it has a nice-looking pizza oven; the dining room is small and rather elegant; and the pasta dishes and especially the pizzas are very tasty and reasonably priced (iirc about W8000 per pizza). Directions: At the front gate of PNU, turn your back to PNU and walk one block downhill (east) on the main traffic street back toward the subway station. At the next intersection cross the street, turn right (I believe there is a Paris Baguette on the corner where you turn right), and walk south. Among the storefronts on your left, you'll pass my favorite sushi place at PNU, called The Sushi. Komodo is a bit further, about halfway down the block, also on your left, up on the second floor. Telephone: 581-9995. Enjoy.

I just want to second what WB said. The Sushi is pretty damn good, despite its name. My favorite in the area. Basically one block in front of PNU (blue neon), it not only has great sushi in a nice presentation but also a good chicken salad and a spicy seafood/udong noodle dish on a kind of fajita skillet.

Yes, I tried one there, I couldnt remember the name, but it was right on the corner of Shanghai street....on the second floor, very Chinese looking, with a big big sign...

I was not impressed by the food there, I am just never impressed by any sweet Chinese food ( except sweet-sour fish/rib etc)

The opinions above are very personal, so, keep going and eating if you agree with them... dont care too much

I'm going to take a wild guess here but I'm willing to bet the name of the Italian place is supposed to be Commodore as in the Comodore Hotel located near Nampodong which is Koreanized into 꼬모도 and then re-Anglicized back into Komodo.

Tyster, It sounds like your guess is right on. Also Commodore is a popular name for hotels and other things too, so perhaps this is why the restaurant chose this name.

How does one get to O'Briens in Jangsan?

Come out subway exit 3, walk straight. You will come to the corner with a KB bank... Obriens is in the same building as the KB Bank, 3rd floor.

There are a dozen routes you can take for someone who doesnt' know the area well, I would recommend the following. Take exit 3 from Busan Dae station. Go straight up the road in front of you, slightly up hill the one full of shops and restaurants. When you get to the main road at the top turn right, you will immediately come to a crossroads with a Busan bank across the road and a Burger King opposite. Cross the road to the Burger King and continue on that road, you will pass a few chicken restaurants and Moo Monk bar and you will get to what is known locally as a the White House, a big white building. Cross the road here and continue up the smaller road, you should see Soul Trane on your right, another block Crossroads on your right. You will come to another fairly busy road, cross it and keep going up straight. The old No Naim is on your right.

How's that? I don't live in the area, so may have overly complicated things!

Went to MabuHay( the philippine restaurant) in Shanghai Street last night with a friend. (the restaurant Weikuboy mentioned before).

We ordered chicken and fried noodle and garlie rice... ( I am sorry I cant remember the names)

The food was home-made style, not fancy,but very delicious (and oily), I was surprised it tastes like real Chinese food (wish it was spicier though ), I think they put MSG in all dishes, but which I dont mind...

The restaurant is small and when we stepped into it, some philippino girls were making spring rolls, they welcomed us to another small room where the customers seem to be served, but it was not well lightened, there were another 2 ppl sitting by another table already, but when we sat down, the girl started to sing Karaoke for (obvious) her customer, a mid-aged Asian guy.

The dinning experience was pleasant in a special way, we ate while the girl singing, her voice is soft and her english is good....and, the philippino waitress girl were hot...

We paid 25,000 (Chicken 10, noodle 6, garlie rice 6, coke 3), I think it a little bit pricy.

P.S. if you only eat meat without bones, dont order chicken...

Curious as to what constitutes "American-Style Chinese" in Busan, I went to Rak'n Wok. I was frankly surprised to find it is a very nice, very upscale place, with stylish black decor and filled with good-looking Korean couples and young families. I could just as easily have been in San Francisco or New York on a hot Friday or Saturday night.

It has been my experience that Americans are given a bit of leeway when it comes to dress codes around the world, and I am sure they would have let me in wearing shorts and sandals; but it was such a nice-looking place that it bothered me, even if it didn't bother them. Also, I only had $20 on me; whereas the 'beef with broccoli' (for example) was $30.

The menu, which we perused in their lobby, had some of the dishes you'd expect (kung pao chicken, Mongolian beef), plus some nice surprises (mapo tofu), but none of the things we happened to be craving at the time (shrimp with lobster sauce, braised stuffed tofu, Hong Kong-style crispy seafood noodles). Main dishes were $20 to $30; rice and noodles around $15; soup and appetizers under $10. There was even a pretty good wine list, though I didn't happen to notice any rieslings or gewurztraminers, which match especially well with Asian foods.

I am suddenly under the impression that American-Style Chinese food, far from the sugary sauces in dreary flyover strip malls alluded to by our Mr. Tyster, means something very stylish and I dare say sophisticated to many young Koreans in Busan. In any event, I will certainly keep Rak'n Wok in mind for special occasions. (T: 051 554-8000).

I recently returned to Commodore, and it was just as good as I remembered it. Pizzas range from under W5000 for simple mozarella to W9000 for four-cheese (quattro formaggio); and pasta and risotto dishes are in or near that same price range. Delicious food in a very nice room; but I was wrong when I said there is a Paris Baguette on the corner where you turn right off the main street that runs down from PNU's main gate. There's actually an LG Telecom on that corner. (In fact, there is a Paris Baguette on the opposite corner, kitty-korner from the LG Telecom; and I'm sorry if my directions confused anyone.)

Chef Chen (American-style Chinese restaurant) is real, and it is fabulous.

It was a little hard to find, but with the following directions it will be easy for you. If you think of the area in front of PNU as a square or rectangle, with the PNU subway station at the bottom center of the square, and PNU (the school) running along the top, then Chef Chen is at the top right-hand corner of the square. From the subway station, find your way to the main gate at PNU. Stand with your back to the University, facing downhill (east), looking down the main traffic street back toward the subway station. Turn left (north), and walk two full blocks. Chef Chen is on the right-side corner (the U wall ends on the left corner), 2nd floor, with black decor and lots of orange lanterns. Their address is 징전2동 419-31, T: 582-8588.

The restaurant itself is very nice, not big but not small; comfortable, clean and modern; with an open kitchen. The menu was filled with old favorites (kung pao chicken, Mongolian beef) but was not overwhelming. Prices were not cheap, but in light of the high quality were fair and reasonable: $5 (W5000) for fried rice and noodle dishes; $12-14 for chicken, beef, pork, and seafood dishes. What we had was simply outstanding (fresh ingredients, deliciously prepared); and I can't wait to go back.

I'd really like to know what Chinesewoman thinks of this restaurant and this kind of food. Tyster, too. Business on the night we were there was light; whereas, a place like this should be full with people waiting. Folks, especially my fellow Valley Girls and Boys of North Busan, I implore you to check out Chef Chen and if you agree with me to thereafter do your best to help support this worthy place.

Ewwww, Weiku, it is my honor to be invited here...Thanks for all the recommendations you made about restaurants and cafes, and your way to guide the direction is awesome, BTW.
I would like to try this Chef Chen soon.

It seems you are making some serious food exploration now,good stuff.
Best regards

CW

Actually, Mr. Chen now has three restaurants in Pusan. I wandered in to his latest near Kyungsung-Dae and there he was! I took pictures of him, his restaurant, and the menu, but couldn't get them posted to the forum before I had to leave for the USA.. I'll get them posted when school starts.

I took a Korean family there the very next night. They like Chinese, and really liked his food. They couldn't believe his prices!

To find CHEN CHEN (not Chef Chen), Take the subway to Kyungsung-Pookyoung.. walk out the "McDonalds" exit and walk away from Kyungsung University towards Pookyoung University. About three streets down (across from where the PookYoungDae grounds start across the street) you will find his restaurant on the corner, second floor. Outside, the restaurant windows are festooned with red lanterns.

He said that he will NEVER be closed.. open for lunch and untill 10 ish, I believe.

Here is a link to the main post

http://www.koreabridge.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6494

This is Chen Chen in Kyungsyung I visited last night (Pictures taken by my Olympus XXXX.), the food is just good as previously reviewed (not even close to Hunan food though) and the price is amazing ~!!!!
I think the LOW price wont always be low like this once they get more people visit them. ( you can see the old price was covered by the new interim label)
So, go there as soon as you can~!!






I edited the post just to add: the crispy duck you see here is LEFTOVER after the meal was finished.