Busan Food Hunt – Best 3 Places to Binge Snack

Are you a foodie? Have you been constantly searching for new snacks and food to taste during your trip? If so, this is definitely the article you should not miss during your exploration around South Korea. Busan, the 2^nd largest city in South Korea is often known for its coastal views, temples and mountains. The strategic geographical condition has also made it into becoming a multicultural metropolis with diverse and unique food culture. Hence, more and more visitors visit the city to satisfy their own curiosity and have a taste of the delicious food here in Busan. That is why, I would like to introduce this best 3 places to binge snack that I have discovered during my Busan Food Hunt trip. Get your empty stomach ready and Bon Voyage!

Jagalchi Market

Being the largest fish market in South Korea, Jagalchi market attracts enormous amount of tourists each year. This market is one of the landmark in Busan as it is a favorite place to both locals and tourists. The vendors in the market sell incredibly fresh seafood as well as dried seafood products.

The market has two sections, one indoor and one outdoor. Those who loves seafood could secure a chance to have a taste of Hue(Korean seafood sashimi) or other traditional Korean seafood dishes at the indoor section. I did not get to visit the indoor section but it is famous for selling live seafood and serving delicious and authentic Korean seafood dishes. Furthermore, the indoor section is also relatively cleaner and smells less fishy. It has as many as 7 floors which includes raw fish market, restaurants, buffet restaurant, convention hall(wedding hall), sky terrace and even guesthouse for visitors to explore.

The outdoor section sells mostly fresh seafood and has a few restaurants along the way. There are relatively more locals at the outdoor section looking for some fresh seafood to be brought home and cooked. It is fun watching the local’s bargaining process with the market vendors and also grab the chance to discover some interesting edible sea species that you might have never seen before. This is the place where you can absolutely experience the real Korean folk culture. It does not matter if you eat or do not eat seafood, it will doubtlessly be a great experience to visit Jagalchi Market in Busan.  

Business Hours: 05:00 ~ 22:00 Daily (Closed on 1^st & 3^rd Tuesdays of the month)

Adress: 부산광역시 중구 자갈치해안로 52 (남포동4가) | 52, Jagalchihaean-ro, Jung-gu, Busan

How to get there:

At Jagalchi Station (exit 10), walk straight pass the first street (on the right), and turn right into the second street, head straight for 150m to arrive at Jagalchi Market. The walking takes about 5 minutes.

BIFF Square

If you love watching movies, you will most probably have heard about the Busan International Film Festival(BIFF). BIFF Square is the main venue for the yearly held Busan International Film Festival. The district was given this name in the year of 1996. The stage is located at the end of the extending alley between Daeyong Cinema and MEGABOX Busan Theater.

However, the place is not only famous for the festival but has also become more popular over the years as it is also a cultural street with vendors selling mostly delicious Korean street food. The street become more lively as night fall, and is a popular food paradise among street food lovers. Especially this stall selling Ssiat Hotteok(Korean sweet pancake), which always has a long waiting line, sells the best hotteok I have ever tasted so far.

As a bonus point, BIFF Square complex is just 5 minutes walk away from Jagalchi Market! However, my Busan Food Hunt adventure did not just stop here. Let me introduce you the next stop.

Admission Fee: Free to visit

Business Hour: Different for each stall, but best to visit around evening

Address: 부산광역시 중구 자갈치해안로 52 (남포동4가) | 52, Jagalchihaean-ro, Jung-gu, Busan 

How to get there:

• Walk from Jagalchi Market
• Get down at Jagalchi Station（Exit 7), walk straight passing 1^st road(on the left) and turn left at the 2^nd road to reach BIFF Square. The walking takes about 3 minutes.

KKangtong Night Market

Also known as Bupyeong KKangtong Market, KKangtong Market is an infamous night market located about 550m away from BIFF square. Which is about 10 minutes walking distance. “KKangtong” literally means “empty can”, the market earned this funny name from its interesting past history. During the old times, this market is the main international goods supplier for the nation, where it sells many varieties of canned food imported from the United States. Due to the vast property and many rare goods that are hard to be found anywhere else, the market is also called “Gukje(International) Market”.

In the recent time, KKangtong Market sells mostly fruits and vegetables, some dried food, as well as kitchen goods to the locals during the day, just like a normal neighbourhood market. It will then transform into night food market selling many kinds of street food at night starting from 7:30pm.

One of the most unforgettable food I get to taste from this market during my visit was this Grilled Fresh Abalone, which the stall constantly has waiting line in front of it.

Aside from that, there are many other scrumptious looking food selling at the night market, it was just that I was too full to have any more food.

So, do not eat too much at the previous two destinations as more are yet to be discovered here! This place will surely further adorn your food hunt adventure here in Busan!

Business Hour: 19:30 ~ 23:30

Address: 39 Bupyeong 1-gil, Bupyeong-dong, Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea

Read more: TRIP TO BUSAN