When I first moved to Busan for work over 10 years ago, I wasn’t exactly a fan of pork soup (dwaeji-gukbap). At that time, I would only join my colleagues when they suggested having it as a hangover cure. Since I wasn’t a Busan native, the unique taste of dwaeji-gukbap didn’t appeal to me right away.
The distinctive smell of the pork broth and the practice of adding fresh chives to the soup felt unfamiliar and hard to get used to. However, as the years went by and I visited various pork soup restaurants reputed to be “the best,” my taste gradually adapted. Over time, I found myself craving it when I hadn’t had it for a while. Now, there are even a few places I go out of my way to visit just to enjoy a bowl of dwaeji-gukbap.
Recently, while spending a few months in Seoul for work, I found myself longing for dwaeji-gukbap. To fill the void, I tried eating sundae-gukbap (Korean blood sausage soup), which is somewhat similar. However, despite its similarity, sundae-gukbap always left me feeling like something was missing.
For someone like me, who is quite sensitive to smells and picky about cleanliness, here are the two pork soup restaurants I personally recommend:
1. Subyeon Choe Gukbap (Subyeon Best Pork Soup)
If I were to run my own restaurant, I don’t think I’d dare to put “Best” in its name unless I was absolutely confident about the taste, service, and cleanliness. This restaurant truly lives up to its bold name.
Even with rising prices after COVID-19, their standard pork soup is priced at around 10,000 KRW, which isn’t cheap. However, whenever a friend visits Busan and wants to try authentic dwaeji-gukbap, I always recommend Subyeon Choe Gukbap.
Their specialty is the tender pork jowl (hangjeongsal), which is slightly pricier but worth it for visitors who want the best. Alternatively, their standard options like pork soup, sundae-soup, or innards soup are also excellent choices.
I’ve tried visiting a few of their branch locations, but as with most restaurants, the original location always stands out.
👉 Naver Map Link: Subyeon Choe Gukbap (Minlak Branch)
2. Anmok
Since I live near Namcheon-dong, I recently discovered this place and, in my opinion, it serves the best dwaeji-gukbap I’ve ever had. However, it does seem to deviate slightly from the traditional style that Busan locals might nostalgically prefer.
What I love about Anmok is the open kitchen, the clean and elegant presentation, and the absence of the typical pork smell (at least in my opinion). The broth is clean, flavorful, and pairs perfectly with their tender pork.
Recently, I noticed long lines forming during meal times and found out they had been featured in the Michelin Guide. While their standard pork soup also costs 10,000 KRW, which isn’t cheap, it’s a unique take on dwaeji-gukbap that’s hard to find elsewhere—even in Busan or Seoul. If you’re looking for something special, you won’t regret trying this place.
👉 Naver Map Link: Anmok