Food Tour | Recommended Tour

Dining hot spots, Choryang Dwaeji Galbi and Bulbaek Alleys!

Enjoying meat in Choryang

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Choryang Dwaeji Galbi (Pork Ribs) and Bulbaek (Bulgogi Set Menu) Alleys are two of the food streets highly sought after by people of all ages.

The origin of the Choryang Dwaeji Galbi Alley can be traced back to the Korean War, wherein Busan was packed with countless refugees. Because Choryang-dong was located in the middle of the refugee settlement and the downtown area, it had gradually become crowded with cheap diners specializing in pork ribs.
It was in the 1950s that a market was formed around the area, following the increase in US assistance and the number of laborers at Busanhang Port. As these laborers settled down on mountainside roads near Choryang-dong, this market became widely known as Choryang Dwaeji Galbi Alley.

The reputation of this food alley filled with the smell of grilled pork lasted for more than 30 years. However, when the Busanhang Port became less busy with the adoption of automation and the decrease in the number of laborers in the 1990s, the market started to lose its customers and became stagnant. Since then, the main target of the Dwaeji Galbi Alley had been gradually changed to local residents with their families. Today, with the revitalization of domestic tourism, the alley has regained its popularity as Busan’s best-known gourmand alley.

After falling in love with the sweet smell of grilled pork ribs from one of the diners with more than 40 years of history, you should first try the side dishes, as these are always a good indicator of the chef’s cooking skills. The fresh salad will soothe your stomach, while the white kimchi is a must-have partner for the grilled pork ribs you’ve most likely ordered. As if that’s not enough, the clean and savory green onions julienned and seasoned with chili pepper powder and sesame oil will add an inviting, fresh appearance to your meal. Once you place the pork ribs on a charcoal grill, the sound and smell of barbecue will make your mouth water like there’s no tomorrow.

In its nearby area, you can find Choryang Bulbaek Alley, which is also known as Yuk (肉, meat) Alley—a place popular for having the best cheap diners. At first, this food alley went viral among taxi drivers, making people believe that local diners with a sign of Gisa Sikdang (literally meaning a “drivers’ diner”) tend to offer delicious food at cheap prices. Naturally, Choryang Bulbaek Alley in Busan also became extremely popular among taxi drivers as a place packed with local diners where people could enjoy delicious bulgogi and vegetable wraps at affordable prices.

Since becoming widely known as one of the best food alleys in Korea, it has become more popular among tourists.
A bowl of freshly cooked rice and delicious side dishes in perfect harmony with bulgogi marinated either with soy sauce or with red chili paste are the key factors to the decades-long success of Choryang Bulbaek Alley. Aside from the normal bulgogi, you can also enjoy a variety of dishes from duck bulgogi, soft tofu stew, and hot-pot bibimbap, to cheese bulbaek, a new dish that has captivated the taste buds of younger generations.

Although all the local diners on the food alley would insist that they are the pioneer, as the customer, this only means that you get to choose from a top-notch selection of food at highly affordable prices.

If you would like to try authentic meat dishes in Busan from the set menu with bulgogi, which is reminiscent of your mother’s cooking, to extra-savory grilled pork ribs, Choryang is the perfect place for your gastronomic adventure.

Overview

Traffic Information
The narrow alley right next to KEB Hana Bank near Exit 1 of Choryang Station on Busan Metro Line 1 is the starting point of the Choryang Dwaeji Galbi Alley. After a 5 min walk, you can find the food street and start eating!