The 5 Michelin-recognized Restaurants Only Busan Locals Truly Recommend｜Mori · Palette · Fiotto · 100.1 Pyongyang Naengmyeon · Jeongjitgan
If you’re searching for the best Busan Michelin restaurants 2025, this guide was created by a Busan local who personally visited every restaurant on the list. Every place below reflects where real locals actually eat—beyond tourist spots and beyond typical online recommendations.
When you live in Busan long enough, there comes a moment when newly hyped restaurants matter less and you begin craving something different:
“Where are Busan locals really eating right now?”
Whenever someone visits me from another city, the first thing they ask is:
“Where’s the best place to eat in Busan these days?”
“And not the tourist spots—where do actual locals go?”
So this time, I decided to do things differently.
Instead of relying on social media reviews, paid ads, or the Michelin list,
I chose five restaurants I personally visited, walked to, waited at, ate at, and felt with my own senses.
A quiet weekday evening with the sound of Haeundae’s waves,
the subtle excitement climbing Dalmaji Hill,
the breezy alleys of Gwangalli,
and the warm air inside a true local rice-soup restaurant in Saha—
I walked across different “textures” of Busan to bring you these stories.
✨ Quick Overview — 5 Busan Michelin Restaurants 2025
1. Mori – Modern Kaiseki in Haeundae
Delicate dishes highlighting the “texture” of Busan’s seafood.
Perfect for anniversaries, proposals, or taking your parents out.
2. Palette – A Dalmaji Hill Course Meal Inspired by the Sea
Contemporary dining where the ocean view outside and the tones on the plate feel connected.
Excellent wine pairing.
3. Fiotto – Ingredient-Driven Italian Dining
Courses built from home-grown produce. Fresh pasta + Jirisan pork are outstanding.
“A new standard for Italian cuisine in Busan.”
4. 100.1 Pyongyang Naengmyeon – Gwangalli’s Rising Star
Clean broth, tidy noodles. Add Je-yuk (boiled pork) for perfect balance.
Ideal place for a light, refreshing meal near Gwangalli Beach.
5. Jeongjitgan – Michelin Bib Gourmand Pork Soup
Clean, milky broth with zero gaminess.
Their mixed pork soup and pork jowl platter are the highlights.
“There’s a reason Busan locals wait in line here.”
1️⃣ Mori — A “Busan-style Kaiseki” in Haeundae
✔ First Impression: A space that becomes quiet the moment you enter
Located on the 2nd floor of Paledecz near Haeundae Beach, Mori is a small restaurant where the moment you walk in, the noise seems to drop by half.
Though the tables aren’t far apart, the entire space feels neat and composed.
It’s run by the chef and his Japanese wife, which explains the focused, serene atmosphere.
Even on a weekday evening, all tables were fully booked and guests naturally spoke in quieter tones.
If you want a peaceful, meditative dining experience, the ambiance alone is worth it.
🥢 Course & Price
Mori offers a single kaiseki course (around 210,000 KRW).
The menu changes seasonally, but my course followed this structure:
- Seasonal amuse
- Sashimi & warm seafood dish
- Seasonal fish dish
- Vegetable-focused mid-course
- Rice, soup, and pickles
- Dessert
Rather than extravagant, the course highlights subtle, refined seafood flavors unique to Busan.
My favorite was the fish course: perfectly crisp skin, moist flesh—
the kind of dish that makes you mutter, “Ah… this is what kaiseki in Haeundae should taste like.”
🚶♂️ Location
Address: 2F Paledecz, 24 Haeundaehaebyeon-ro 298beon-gil, Haeundae
Subway: 10–12 min walk from Haeundae Station
Parking: Paledecz parking (weekends often full)
Perfect spot for a beach stroll before or after dinner.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mvRh4WR253oZEEN38
🕒 Reservations
Realistically, visiting without a reservation is almost impossible.
Fridays and Saturdays are booked out weeks in advance.
Even during my meal, the phone kept ringing with reservation requests.
🍣 Flavor Notes
- Extremely fresh seafood
- Minimal seasoning so natural flavors stand out
- Warm broth dishes with subtle depth
- Final rice + soup course feels like gentle home-style comfort
If you want the most “Busan-feeling” fine dining experience in Haeundae, Mori is the standard.
2️⃣ Palette — Contemporary Dining That “Cooks with the Sea” at Dalmaji Hill
✔ First Impression: The ocean view continues onto the plates
Located quietly on Dalmaji Hill, Palette’s third-floor space opens up to a soft ocean view between Haeundae and Cheongsapo.
Inside, it feels more like a calm gallery café than a typical fine dining restaurant—white, airy, and minimal so the plates become the focus.
Visitors ranged from couples on dates to middle-aged guests celebrating something.
🥂 Menu & Price
Seasonal contemporary course:
- Lunch course: ~80,000 KRW
- Dinner course: ~200,000 KRW
- Wine pairing: 70,000–100,000 KRW
My dinner course included:
- Seafood starter
- Fish course
- Meat main (lamb that day)
- Two desserts
- Petit four
The lamb was especially tender with no strong odor—approachable even for first-time lamb eaters.
🍽 Flavor Notes
Palette’s strength is balance—
no aggressive saltiness, acidity, or heaviness.
Layers build gently, making wine pairing especially pleasant.
The fish course stood out:
- Texture intact
- Sauce not oily
- Perfectly controlled doneness
Dalmaji Hill often feels premium because of the location, but Palette feels premium because of the food itself.
🚗 Access
Address: 3F, 154 Dalmaji-gil 65beon-gil, Haeundae
Taxi recommended due to the hill
Parking limited; weekends often full
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3xgsnerGTwTvbBuz9
🕒 Reservations
Window seats disappear quickly—request them early.
Lunch has great natural lighting for photos; dinner has a calmer, luxurious vibe.
3️⃣ Fiotto — Ingredient-Centered Italian Dining on Dalmaji Hill
✔ First Impression: “This isn’t just Italian food.”
Fiotto sits mid-slope on Dalmaji Hill and feels like being invited into someone’s warm, plant-filled home.
Run by a chef couple, the service is gentle, minimal, and just enough to make the course comfortable.
🥘 Course Style: “Almost homegrown”
Almost all vegetables and fruits are grown by the chef’s parents—
so even before the meal began, I expected something special.
My course included:
- Seasonal vegetable amuse
- Seafood starter
- Fresh pasta (mine was cuttlefish + saffron style)
- Main: Jirisan pork or beef
- Dessert and coffee
The fresh pasta was unforgettable—springy, light, deeply flavored without heaviness.
🍽 Flavor Notes
Fiotto is all about ingredients:
- Vegetables full of aroma
- Fresh pasta with lively texture
- Light yet deep sauces
- Clean-flavored Jirisan pork with zero greasiness
Even after several courses, the meal felt comfortable and balanced.
This is “Italian cuisine made with honesty and excellent ingredients.”
🚗 Access
Address: 2F, 219 Dalmaji-gil 117beon-gil, Haeundae
Taxi recommended
Parking tight on weekends
https://maps.app.goo.gl/pPd9T58gG1znGjvX8
🕒 Reservations
Small seating capacity → fully reservation-based.
Weekend dinners fill up fast; book 2 weeks before for safety.
4️⃣ 100.1 Pyongyang Naengmyeon — A Rising Star in Gwangalli
✔ First Impression: Clean, modern, minimal
Looks more like a stylish neighborhood café than a noodle shop.
Even on a weekday afternoon, several groups were waiting.
🥣 Menu & Prices
- Pyongyang Naengmyeon: 13,000 KRW
- Bibim Naengmyeon: 13,000 KRW
- Northern-style dumplings: 10,000 KRW
- Je-yuk (pork): 14,000 / 25,000 KRW
- Bulgogi plate: 22,000 KRW
- Eobok-jangban (large stew): 45,000 KRW
I ordered naengmyeon + half-portion pork.
🍜 Flavor Notes
- Broth is clean with soft beef aroma
- No sharp sweetness or acidity
- Noodles have firm but not overly tough texture
- Pork is not greasy; pairs perfectly with the broth
A great place for a refreshing, light meal near the beach.
🕒 Waiting Tips
- Arrive 20 minutes before opening to avoid lines
- 12–1 PM = heavy waiting
- Gwangalli weekend parking can be tough
🚶♂️ Access
Address: 29 Namcheonbadaro 10beon-gil, Suyeong-gu
10-minute walk from Geumnyeonsan or Namcheon Station
Walking distance to Gwangalli Beach
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qpRkF8LdYHPPZbPR7
5️⃣ Jeongjitgan — Michelin Bib Gourmand Pork Soup Loved by Busan Locals
✔ First Impression: “Can a pork-soup place really look this clean?”
Bright lights, roomy seating, bar tables—
it feels modern, not like a typical gukbap shop.
When I arrived at 1:30 PM, there were still 5 teams waiting.
🍲 Menu & Prices
- Pork Gukbap: 9,500 KRW
- Intestine or Sundae Gukbap: 10,000 KRW
- Mixed Gukbap: 10,500 KRW
- Mandu Gukbap: 10,500 KRW
- Pork jowl set meal: 14,000 KRW
- Pork jowl platter: 34,500 / 48,500 KRW
Mixed gukbap is especially popular.
🍽 Flavor Notes
The broth is:
- Milky but clean
- No strong smell
- Balanced density
- Comforting from the first spoon
The pork jowl is tender, clean-tasting, and flavorful even without dipping sauce.
Even as someone who has eaten a lot of gukbap in Busan, I thought:
“This absolutely deserves Michelin recognition.”
🚶♂️ Access
Address: 6 Bibong-ro, Saha-gu
5 minutes from Sinpyeong Station
Parking available
This area is far from tourist spots, so the crowd is almost entirely locals.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SEXGbho5UZ6iLxRd7
🕒 Waiting Tips
- 12–1 PM = peak waiting
- After 2 PM is easier
- Weekends = almost always some waiting
- Turnover is fast due to the nature of gukbap
Experiencing the Real Taste of Busan – Busan Michelin Restaurants 2025
Busan’s flavor isn’t just “good seafood” or “famous gukbap.”
It hides in different forms:
In the refined calm of Haeundae,
in the quiet windows of Dalmaji Hill,
in the breeze of Gwangalli,
and in the warm broth near Sinpyeong Station.
Walking through these five places reminded me:
“What makes Busan feel like Busan is the harmony between its people and its food.”
Fine dining shaped carefully by a chef’s hands,
and slow-cooked gukbap with deep flavor—
both carry the heart of someone behind the dish.
Next post, I’ll share restaurants #6–10,
ranging from BBQ to butchery courses, bao buns, vegan dining, and traditional desserts.
Among today’s five,
which one do you want to try first?
Let me know in the comments—I’ll keep it in mind for my next visit. 😊
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