10 japanese restaurants worth the trip across South Korea, editor-ranked. All cuisines in South Korea.
Mori ★ 4.7 · Busan
Haeundae · 21 Gunam-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan 48095
Mori is Busan's one-Michelin-star kaiseki room in Haeundae, run by Japan-trained chef Kim Wan-gyu and his Japanese wife, with a single seasonal course.
Tip: Book on Catchtable well ahead; the room is small and Monday is the weekly closing day.
Iwa ★ 4.3 · Busan
Haeundae · 13 Haeundaehaebyeon-ro 209beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan 48093
Iwa runs an aged-fish omakase counter behind Haeundae Beach in Busan, a Michelin Guide sushi room whose chef holds a patent on his ageing method.
Tip: Lunch omakase is the gentler entry at 80,000 won; corkage is allowed for a fee if you bring wine.
Unaju ★ 4.3 · Busan
Haeundae · 39 Cheongsapo-ro 67beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan 48116
Unaju grills eel twice over charcoal on a Cheongsapo hillside in Busan, a Michelin Guide hitsumabushi house drawing on a 1948 Nagoya restaurant's recipes.
Tip: Pair it with the Cheongsapo daritdol skywalk; the weekday lunch special at 28,000 won is the deal.
Shunsai Kubo ★ 4.3 · Busan
Buk-gu · 17 Yangdal-ro 4beon-gil, Buk-gu, Busan 46517
Shunsai Kubo brings Nagoya-style hitsumabushi to Hwamyeong in northern Busan, a Bib Gourmand eel house run by Japan-trained chef Lee Jae-wook.
Tip: The Hwamyeong public car park is covered by the shop; rooms for groups need booking ahead.
Tokyo Babsang ★ 4.3 · Busan
Gwangalli · 34-6 Namcheonbada-ro, Suyeong-gu, Busan 48304
Tokyo Babsang plates unaju and hitsumabushi at the calm end of Gwangalli in Busan, a Bib Gourmand eel kitchen that runs steadily all week with no rest day.
Tip: Use the Tabling remote queue before you walk over; the first hour of parking next door is covered.
Yakitori Onjung ★ 4.3 · Busan
Seomyeon and Jeonpo · 9-7 Dongcheon-ro 108beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan 47247
Yakitori Onjung grills Korean chicken over binchotan in Busan's Jeonpo nightlife blocks, a Bib Gourmand skewer bar with two course lengths and a lively hall.
Tip: Skewers run out on busy nights, so come for the first seating rather than the last.
Haemok ★ 4.3 · Busan
Haeundae · 8 Gunam-ro 24beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan 48094
Haemok grills eel behind a blue fence two streets from Haeundae Beach in Busan, a Bib Gourmand Japanese kitchen with queues that start before noon.
Tip: Join the waitlist app before you hit the beach; takeaway boxes skip most of the queue.
Zero Base ★ 4.3 · Busan
Gwangalli · 17 Millak-ro 33beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan 48285
Zero Base is a Michelin Guide listed Japanese counter in Busan's Millak-dong, where the course changes with whatever seafood lands that morning.
Tip: Dinner seatings only and the counter is short, so reserve ahead and arrive on time.
Matsuzaki ★ 4.2 · Busan
Gwangalli · 10 Suyeong-ro 582beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan 48297
Matsuzaki seats a handful of diners for kaiseki omakase near Gwangan Station in Busan, a Michelin Guide room set with fine tableware and quiet service.
Tip: Evening seatings run in two rounds through Catchtable; each diner orders at least one drink.
Yakitori Haegong ★ 4.2 · Busan
Gwangalli · 30-5 Millakbondong-ro 19beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan 48290
Yakitori Haegong runs a native-chicken skewer omakase in a pink Millak-dong building in Busan, a Michelin Guide bar where you watch the grill work.
Tip: Reserve the counter on Catchtable and park at Seohee Star Hills; the alley itself is tow-away.