(Photo courtesy of haps Magazine Korea)
When summer arrives in Korea, people don’t just change their wardrobes. They change what they eat.
As temperatures climb and humidity settles in, certain dishes start appearing on menus everywhere. Some are designed to cool you down, while others are meant to give you enough energy to survive another sticky afternoon.
If you’re spending the summer in Busan, here are five seasonal favorites that locals return to year after year.
There is probably no food more closely associated with a Korean summer than naengmyeon. Long, chewy buckwheat noodles are served in an icy broth with sliced pear, cucumber, boiled egg, and beef.
The first sip of the cold broth is what keeps people coming back. On a 30’C day, it can feel like instant relief.
For a good bowl in Busan, head to Millakdong’s Choryang Milmyeon or try one of the many longtime naengmyeon restaurants around Seomyeon. While Busan is more famous for milmyeon, many places serve both.
Speaking of milmyeon, this is the dish many Busan locals choose over naengmyeon.
Created by North Korean refugees during the Korean War, milmyeon uses wheat noodles instead of buckwheat and is usually served in a cold beef broth or with a spicy sauce. It is slightly sweeter than naengmyeon and has become one of Busan’s signature foods.
Popular spots include Choryang Milmyeon near Busan Station and Gaya Milmyeon in Busanjin-gu, both of which regularly attract long lines during the summer months.
At first glance, eating boiling hot chicken soup during the hottest part of the year makes no sense.
Yet every summer, Koreans pack samgyetang restaurants on the three traditional “boknal” days, which are considered the hottest days of the season. The soup contains a whole young chicken stuffed with rice, garlic, jujubes, and ginseng.
The idea is simple: restore the energy you’ve lost from the heat.
If you’re looking for a reliable option in Busan, Dongnae Samgyetang has been serving the dish for decades and remains a favorite among locals.
Being a coastal city, Busan is one of the best places in Korea to try mulhoe.
Fresh slices of raw fish are mixed with vegetables and served in a cold, spicy broth. It is refreshing, slightly sweet, slightly spicy, and perfect after a day at the beach.
You’ll find excellent mulhoe restaurants around Songjeong, Cheongsapo, and the Jagalchi Market area. Many seafood restaurants near the coast add crushed ice directly into the broth during the summer.
Every Korean summer food list needs a dessert, and patbingsu is the obvious choice.
Originally made with shaved ice, sweet red beans, and rice cakes, today’s versions come topped with everything from fresh mangoes and strawberries to cheesecake and matcha cream.
Busan has no shortage of options. Sulbing remains a popular choice, while many independent cafés in Jeonpo, Haeundae, and Gwangan create their own seasonal versions featuring local fruit.
Summer in Korea can be intense, but it also brings some of the country’s most enjoyable seasonal foods. Whether you’re cooling off with a bowl of milmyeon in Busan or sharing a giant patbingsu with friends after dinner, these are the dishes that define summer for many Koreans.
