Busan Trip: Edge993 and Gukje Market

I’m not an ARMY, but I went on a trip to Busan last Saturday, October 15, when many people were flocking to Busan because of BTS’s concert. I expected there to be a lot of people, but the places I went to were near Dalmaji-gil in Haeundae, a bit far from the concert venue, so I was able to enjoy a very pleasant and happy trip. Through this trip, I once again felt that Busan is definitely a great place to travel because you can see the sea and there are so many things to do and eat.

I went to a cafe called Edge933, where you can enjoy coffee while looking at the sea. The road was very rough, so it was a little hard for me as someone traveling on foot, but once I arrived at the entrance and confirmed that I could see the sea at a glance, I felt like I had come to the right place. You might think the Edge933 cafe is on the first floor of a somewhat unusual building, and it turns out that this place also operates a pension.

So although Edge933 is located on the first floor, it is even more popular because it also operates a rooftop on the 5th and 6th floors.

Even if it’s not necessarily a view of the sea, the Edge933 cafe itself is so beautifully decorated that I think you could take plenty of pretty photos inside as well. But the reason this place is good must be the ocean view. Because of that, the drink prices are not exactly cheap, but I suppose that’s the price of a seat where you can take in Haeundae’s beautiful view at a glance.

If you go to Busan, you can’t leave without seeing the sea. So after visiting Edge933, a cafe where you can enjoy Haeundae, I also went to Gukje Market, one of the traditional markets that comes to mind when people think of Busan. I’ve been to Busan several times, but this was my first time visiting Gukje Market. It seems like a place worth visiting at least once.

One of the foods you’re supposed to try in Busan is noodle made with ummukgasari.

I didn’t know what ummukgasari would be like, so I tried one served in soy milk. I really liked the texture of the ummukgasari. It was soft yet chewy, and so delicious. It was an appealing food.

And then there was, of course, bibim dangmyeon, which was unfamiliar to me. Of course, dangmyeon is used as a topping in many dishes, but I had never seen noodles being the main part of a dish like this except in japchae, so I gave it a try. And since I had heard so many times that you shouldn’t go to Busan without trying bibim dangmyeon, I tasted it—but hmm... I think I’ll just stick to eating dangmyeon in japchae. The seasoning wasn’t bad, but... it felt a bit lacking, I guess. It seemed more like a snack to ease hunger while looking around the market than a filling meal.

As soon as I saw the appearance, I just couldn’t pass it by. I was worried it might not taste good since it wasn’t watermelon season, but seeing mini watermelon, apple watermelon, being freshly blended made me unable to resist. Since they used a whole watermelon, the price was 10,000 won, and it came out as exactly two glasses.

You might think 10,000 won is expensive, but usually two glasses of watermelon juice cost around that much, so it wasn’t expensive at all. And because they blended the watermelon right in front of me, it felt fresher and tasted even better.

I had bibim dangmyeon and ummukgasari in soy milk, but you can’t resist the temptation of street food at the market. If you come to Nampo-dong, you can’t pass by Nampo Jjondeugi. It tasted completely different from the usual jjondeugi sold in stores.

Lastly, of course, you have to enjoy a plate of sashimi and grilled shellfish while looking at the sea. I think this is the kind of dinner menu that really makes you feel like you’re on a trip to Busan. The clouds in the sunset sky somehow look like an eagle. Such a beautiful view, even up to the sky!!

And that’s how the Busan trip came to an end.