Listen up, my fellow hungry travelers. If you think dropping $200 on a fancy 10-piece Omakase is a flex, you are doing Asia wrong. Welcome to Busan, where we wear stretchy pants, eat until we question our life choices, and pay a fraction of the price.
If you want to eat tuna the way local Busan office workers and hardcore foodies do, you need to march your tired tourist legs to Lee Jung-tae Bon Chamchi (이정태 본참치) in Jungang-dong.
The Vibe: Certified Tuna Mafia
When you walk in, the first thing you see is an entire wall plastered with awards, certificates, and “Master Chef” plaques belonging to Owner-Chef Lee Jung-tae. The man is basically the final boss of Korean culinary arts.
The place is massive, packed with private rooms and a bustling counter, but don’t let the size fool you. If you show up on a whim without a reservation (use the CatchTable app or call), you will be standing on the street crying while watching other people eat. It is that popular.
The Lunch Hustle (Budget Friendly Food Coma)
Let’s say you roll in for lunch. For about 26,000 KRW (under 20 bucks!), you get the Lunch Tuna Set. But this isn’t just a few slices of fish. This is a relentless assault of food. They hit you with salads, mushroom sweet-and-sour pork (tangsu), udon, sushi, and a pot of raw soy milk that literally curdles into fresh soft tofu right on your table. Oh, and then the actual high-quality tuna arrives. Just when you think it’s over, they slap down a sizzling stone pot of fish roe rice (Al-bab) or sea squirt rice, and spicy fish stew.
The Dinner Show: Endless Refills & Tuna Tears
Got a bit more cash? Come for dinner. The “Special” (57k KRW) or “Gold” (69k KRW) courses are where things get wild. Why? Because the tuna is unlimited.
They keep bringing out gorgeous, thick cuts of premium tuna (belly, neck, you name it) until you physically surrender. And the side quests are insane:
- The Head Show: The chef literally rolls up to your table with a giant tuna head and carves out the cheek and eye meat right in front of you. Brutal? Maybe. Delicious? Absolutely.
- Tuna Tears Shot: Yes, you read that right. They give you a shot glass of “Tuna Tears” mixed with sweet pomegranate juice. Chug it. It’s good for your soul.
- Aged Kimchi & Tuna Bone Stew: Just when the rich, fatty tuna starts feeling a bit heavy, they drop a steaming bowl of ancient, deeply fermented kimchi braised with giant tuna bones. It will instantly reset your stomach so you can eat more.
Survival Tips
- Do NOT wear tight jeans. I am serious. The food literally does not stop.
- Book ahead. Weekdays are filled with corporate dinners, weekends are packed with families.
- Pace yourself. Do not fill up on the ricotta cheese salad and the perfectly fried shrimp before the 3rd plate of tuna arrives.
If you want to feel like a VIP without emptying your travel fund, this is the holy grail of Busan. Go get that tuna.
Restaurant Name 이정태 본참치 (Lee Jung-tae Bon Chamchi)
Address 1F, 9, Jungang-daero 81beon-gil, Jung-gu, Busan (부산광역시 중구 중앙대로81번길 9 1층)
Operating Hours Mon – Sat: 11:30 AM – 10:30 PM (Break Time: 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM)
Closed Every Sunday
Contact 051-463-3737 (or 0507-1446-3737) / Reservations available via CatchTable app.
How to Get There (Public Transit) Take Busan Subway Line 1 to Jungang Station. Take Exit 13, and it’s barely a 1-minute walk into the alleyway.
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