Along the main streets of Haeundae, Busan, you'll find a local eatery as bustling with patrons as the streets with a large courtyard serving up flavourful barbecue.

While Busan is filled with local delicacies that we must all try while there, if you're especially craving meaty KBBQ grilled over scorching charcoal, Obanjang is just the local spot you're looking for.

Information

Address: 부산 해운대구 구남로24번길 20
20 Gunam-ro 24beon-gil, U-dong, Haeundae, Busan

Hours: 11:00-06:00

Public Transit: Haeundae Station Exit 5

Menu

Obanjang serves delicious beef and pork barbecue along with side dishes that are packed with flavours.

Our Visit

We visited the restaurant a little past 11 on a weekday to enjoy their delicious meat while avoiding the large crowd of customers it usually sees.

There were a couple of customers in the restaurant already, waiting for their food to be served.

The restaurant looks like a classic local barbecue joint with steel tables with a hole in the middle for the charcoal to go in and round chairs that also function as storage for bags and jackets.

Putting your bags and jackets away before grilling helps them from catching on the strong smell of the food, a unique and useful system that is widely implemented among restaurants in Korea.

The overall vibe of the restaurant makes us feel like we're right in a scene from a Korean drama where the main characters are about to enjoy their food with soju on the side.

Boneless Short Ribs
13,000 won per portion

The meat is cooked over a special pot with separate cooking areas for the egg and vegetables.

The juiciness of the beef short ribs devoured with many of the side dishes is just what we all need before or after a fun-filled day at the beach.

Right when the pan is put over charcoal, the meat and egg will start cooking. If you're a fan of grilled kimchi, cook some in the pot as well.

Many locals also enjoy their barbecue with the crunchiness of cooked bean sprouts.

A great bite of Korean barbecue lies in the way the wrap is perfected.

Grab a lettuc leaf, put your sizzling meat and top it off with various banchan and sauces.

Cold Noodle Soup
4,000 won

One dish you have to pair your meat with is cold noodles!

It tasted a bit different from the generic naengmyeon (cold noodle) you usually order on the side at Korean barbecue restaurants.

The noodle's chewiness was perfect in texture and the flavour of the ice cold soup was savoury and deep.

Rice With Egg
1,000 won

Many Asian kids growing up whipped up this go-to meal.

Pop the egg yolk and mix it with rice, grab a big piece of the meat and a slice of kimchi to complete a bite full of flavours.

Before you leave, see if you can find the autograph of your favourite Korean celebrity!

Autographs of actors from top to bottom:

Go Soo, Kim Woo-bin, Kim Soo-hyun, Park Seo-joon, Gong Yoo, Jung Woo-sung

Yoo Yeon-seok from Hospital Playlist (top left)

Ma Dong-seok from Train To Busan

We were fully replenished and ready to continue our day in Haeundae after the meat-packed meal at Obanjang.

As we were leaving, we saw a couple of stray cats that seemed friendly with the owners of the store, what a way to end our experience at this local restaurant.

How To Get There

Walk straight from Haeundae Station exit 5.

When you see GS25, turn right.

You'll see the restaurant on your right after a couple of blocks.