Jagalchi Fish Market
Busan
Copyright: Suchart Boonyavech/Shutterstock.comJagalchi Fish Market
This legendary market will blow the mind of anyone who happens to have even a passing interest in seafood. The sheer variety of sea creatures sold here must be seen to be believed. If the Korean favourites such as crab and eel get stale, try the 'kalguksu' noodles with clams or 'bajirak' as well as basically anything that can be extracted from the deep waters washing over Busan. One speciality that Jagalchi does particularly well is 'hoe' (pronounced /wɛ/), which is raw fish cut into thin slithers almost like sashimi. Dip it in sauce and wrap it up in a lettuce leaf for a flavour punch in a crunchy casing.
Useful Information
- Address: 52 Jagalchihaean-ro, Nampo-dong, Jung-gu, Busan
- Phone: +82 51 245 2594
- More Info: jagalchimarket.bisco.or.kr
- Opening House: Daily 5am–10pm
Dining
A substantial acquaintance with Busan's culinary offerings can easily take weeks, but if you only have a few days, try and work in a meal at the Jagalchi Fish Market, a traditional Korean barbecue session, and some street food. Fishcakes ('eomuk' or 'odeng') is a popular choice that holds somewhat of a cult status in Busan and is followed closely by 'hotteok', a stuffed fried pancake sold at multiple stalls across town. If you're feeling especially adventurous, try 'sannakji', an octopus dish immortalised by the movie 'Oldboy' which consists of chopped-up tentacles that still squirm and stick to the plate (and possibly even the insides of your mouth) as you eat them.