‘www.youtube.com/embed/3O-ja5yUA34’

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Busan’s Top Pork Soup Showdown: Unveiling the Locals’ Favorite Dwaeji Gukbap Spots

Hello food lovers! Today, we’re diving deep into Busan’s soul food: Dwaeji Gukbap (Pork Soup). Busan is practically synonymous with this hearty dish, and to truly experience Busan, you must try it. But with so many options, where do you even begin? Fear not, because we’re about to reveal the top spots as voted by Busan locals themselves!

The Ultimate Busan Dwaeji Gukbap Poll

Recently, a local Busan newspaper conducted a poll asking Busan natives to vote for their favorite Dwaeji Gukbap restaurants. A whopping 39 renowned Gukbap restaurants in Busan were nominated, leading to fierce competition. The results are in, and they’re quite telling! Let’s break down the top 3:

• 1st Place (51% of votes): Yangsan House (양산집), located in Jung-gu, Busan
• 2nd Place (27% of votes): Youngjin Dwaeji Gukbap (영진돼지국밥), a popular chain with many branches in Busan
• 3rd Place (8% of votes): Yangsang Pork Soup Haeundae Main Branch (양상도 돼지국밥 해운대 본점), located in Haeundae

Interestingly, none of these top 3 restaurants were previously featured in the popular “Baek Jong-won’s Top 3 Chef King” TV show. Intriguing, right?

My Personal Dwaeji Gukbap Journey: Yangsang House vs. Yangsang Pork Soup

Driven by curiosity, I decided to embark on my own Dwaeji Gukbap adventure, focusing on the 1st and 3rd place winners. My initial plan was to visit the top-ranked Yangsan House on New Year’s Day, but alas, it was closed. Attempting to pivot to 2nd place, Youngjin Dwaeji Gukbap, I discovered they were also closed! Fate led me to the 3rd ranked Yangsang Pork Soup Haeundae Main Branch. Honestly, I had low expectations, especially considering it was only ranked 3rd with a mere 8% of the vote. The price was also slightly higher, adding to my initial skepticism.

Unexpected Delight: Yangsang Pork Soup (3rd Place)

I ordered Surae Gukbap (수래국밥), a type of Dwaeji Gukbap, as I prefer a less fatty broth. And let me tell you, I was absolutely blown away! Seriously, without any exaggeration, it was possibly the best Dwaeji Gukbap I’ve ever had in my life. It was unlike any typical Dwaeji Gukbap I’d tasted before. The broth was surprisingly clear, not milky white like usual, with absolutely no porky odor. Yet, it was incredibly rich and flavorful, a truly clean and deeply satisfying pork broth. This experience completely changed my perspective on Busan Dwaeji Gukbap. I had planned to just try it once in Busan, but Yangsang Pork Soup made me question everything and ignited a burning curiosity.

The Quest for the Best: Yangsan House (1st Place)

If the 3rd place winner was this amazing, how incredible must the 1st place, Yangsan House, be with its overwhelming 51% of the vote? I had to find out. The next day, I braved the crowds at Yangsan House for lunch. It was packed, a sure sign of a popular 맛집 (delicious restaurant). After a 15-minute wait, I finally got my bowl of Dwaeji Gukbap at the champion spot. However, the experience was… different. Perhaps my expectations were too high after the incredible 3rd place experience, but Yangsan House tasted like a standard, decent Dwaeji Gukbap you could find anywhere in Korea. Don’t get me wrong, it was good, but it didn’t have that “wow” factor that screamed “맛집!” It tasted like a very common, mass-appeal Dwaeji Gukbap.

Conclusion: Personal Taste and the Unique Charm of Yangsang Pork Soup

While Yangsan House was undeniably a solid Dwaeji Gukbap, it lacked the distinctiveness I crave in a true 맛집. For me, a truly exceptional restaurant needs to be not just delicious, but also unique, offering something you can’t find anywhere else. Yangsan House, despite being voted #1 by Busan locals, felt surprisingly ordinary in comparison to other Dwaeji Gukbap places across Korea. It felt like a quintessential, classic Dwaeji Gukbap experience in Busan, but not necessarily extraordinary in terms of taste. The visual of Yangsan House’s Gukbap was also very typical and familiar.

On the other hand, Yangsang Pork Soup (3rd place) was a revelation. Its clear, almost Gomtang-like broth was unlike any Dwaeji Gukbap I’d encountered before. This unique style, whether common in Busan or not, was a first for me and incredibly memorable. So, for me, Yangsang Pork Soup, the 3rd place winner in the Busan locals’ poll, was the true Dwaeji Gukbap 맛집. It stood out from the crowd and offered a truly special and different taste experience.

Ultimately, taste is subjective. This is just my personal review and experience. But if you’re looking for a Dwaeji Gukbap experience that is a bit different and exceptionally delicious, I highly recommend trying Yangsang Pork Soup Haeundae Main Branch. You might be as surprised and delighted as I was!

Restaurant Information:

• Yangsan House (양산집): Jung-gu, Busan (Location mentioned in text)
• Yangsang Pork Soup Haeundae Main Branch (양상도 돼지국밥 해운대 본점): Haeundae, Busan (Location mentioned in text)
• General Rating: Based on a local Busan poll (Rankings mentioned in text)

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