I’d driven past this place in Eonyang (언양) more times than I can count. The red sign, the crowd that never seemed to thin out. This time I finally pulled over and went in. Where it is and what to know first Donghaebanjeom (동해반점) sits right across from Eonyang Eupseong (언양읍성, the old town fortress), so it’s easy to spot from the road. The parking lot is bigger than I expected, which is a relief if you’re driving. I found a spot without much trouble even around mealtime. ...

I didn’t plan to write about this place. I just kept going back. Haejeoksusan (해적수산) sits on a wide, slightly awkward road in Imdong (임동), up in Buk-gu, Gwangju. It’s not the kind of spot you stumble onto. There’s basically nothing around it — and then this one bright sign, lit up at night like it’s daring you to find it. Haejeoksusan (해적수산) 1F, 14 Geumnam-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju (광주광역시 북구 금남로 14 1층) ...

If you look up galmaegisal (갈매기살, pork skirt meat) in Ulsan, Wonjeong Sigyuk Sikdang (원정식육식당) keeps coming up. The original branch sits in Okdong and apparently leans into that worn-in old-school vibe, with a wait most nights. We went to the newer Sinjeong branch instead. The sign lights up the whole corner once the sun goes down, which makes it easy to spot from a distance. It’s tucked behind Ulsan Industrial High School (울산공고), not far from the KBS Hall area or Samsan-dong (삼산동). ...

If you ever find yourself in Ulsan looking for a special dinner, there is one Japanese restaurant locals keep coming back to: Haebaragi (해바라기), tucked into a quiet street in Samsan-dong. The name means “sunflower” in Korean, and the place has a calm, grown-up energy that feels right for anniversaries, parents’ birthdays, or simply a slow evening out. This time I went for the 90,000 KRW omakase course, and I wanted to write down exactly what to expect. ...

Whenever I find myself in Ulsan, there’s one restaurant I keep going back to: Hamyangjip Main Branch (함양집 본점) in the Sinjeong-dong neighborhood. It started in 1924 as a small dining hall called Hamyanggwan, and four generations later it’s still serving what many locals consider the best hanwoo mulhoe (한우물회) in town. Mulhoe is usually associated with raw fish, but here it’s made with thinly sliced raw Korean beef (hanwoo) floating in an icy, tangy broth. It sounds unusual if you’ve never tried it, but trust me, it’s one of the most refreshing Korean dishes you can have in summer. ...

If you’re spending an evening in Ulsan and you want to know what real Korean Hanwoo beef tastes like over actual charcoal, Yeonchun Chamsut Seoksoegui (연춘참숯석쇠구이) is the spot locals keep coming back to. It’s a small, slightly old-school grill house in Samsan, Nam-gu — nothing fancy from the outside, very serious about the meat once you sit down. I finally went after years of hearing the name, and yes, the hype is fair. Here’s an honest look at the menu, the food, and a few things travellers should know before going. ...

Is our fate already decided? I bet you’ve asked yourself this at some point. Usually when things aren’t going your way. When you keep failing no matter how hard you try. When it feels like nothing ever changes. From a scientific standpoint, the future is unpredictable. We can talk about probabilities based on past data, but nobody actually knows what’s coming next. Some people rely on fortune tellers or horoscopes. Personally, I’d say don’t lean on fate. Just live your life on your own terms. This post is just me sorting out my thoughts on the whole destiny thing. ...

A bowl that keeps pulling me back There is a tiny noodle house tucked beside a quiet reservoir in Ulsan, and once you have tasted its spicy sujebi, you carry the memory of it around with you. The place is called Jeosuji Hyugesil — literally “the reservoir resting house” — and it has been a local legend in the Ulju area for years. What makes it unforgettable is the broth: deeply red, perfumed with sancho pepper (Korean prickly ash, a citrus-meets-spice flavour) and bangah leaves (Korean mint). Sujebi is the traditional hand-torn wheat-dough noodle floating inside, soft and pliable. The first spoonful feels a little strange. The last spoonful feels like something you want to taste again next week. ...

I spent one night at Tanibay Hotel Ulsan, the tall ocean-view tower that opened in November 2023 right across from Ilsan Beach in Dong-gu. I had been curious about it for a while, so I booked a Deluxe Double and went over to see for myself. Every single one of the 147 rooms faces the sea. That sounded like marketing copy until I checked in - the view really does follow you everywhere, from the bed to the bathtub to the balcony. ...