Giyohan Haeundae: The Japanese Rice Bowl Spot Worth Seeking Out in Busan

Tucked inside the lobby level of Shilla Stay Haeundae, Giyohan is an independent restaurant – not a hotel dining room – specializing in kaisen-don, Japanese seafood rice bowls. What sets it apart from similar spots around Busan is the price. At comparable Japanese seafood restaurants, you’re typically looking at ₩30,000-₩40,000 per bowl as a starting point. Giyohan sits noticeably below that, which goes a long way toward explaining why it’s consistently busy.

The space itself is small and clean with a straightforward Japanese feel. The menu comes with photos, which makes ordering easy even if you’re not sure what you’re looking at. A warm oolong tea arrives as soon as you sit down.

Why I Keep Coming Back

Giyohan locations are rare in Seoul. So whenever I’m in Busan, at least one meal is going to be here. This Haeundae branch was actually where I had Giyohan for the first time – and since then I’ve tried most of what’s on the menu across several visits and branches. It holds up.

The Menu

Pretty much everything I’ve tried here has been good. The one exception for me personally was the eel – I find eel works better in a hitsumabushi preparation, so it’s not something I’d reorder here. That said, if you’re an eel fan, don’t let me put you off. Everything else has been consistently solid.

For a first visit, Aburido or Kanido are the safe bets – reasonable price, and they represent what Giyohan does well.

What Comes With Your Bowl

Ordering a single rice bowl gets you more than just rice and fish. The full set includes:

• 4 slices of tuna sashimi – served first, before your bowl
• Konjac noodles – a light side
• Custard pudding – for dessert
• Free rice refills
• Free seaweed (kim) refills

It comes out in stages rather than all at once, which gives the meal a structured, almost course-like feel. That pacing is one of the things that makes eating here feel considered rather than just functional.

The Ochazuke Finish – Don’t Skip This

When your bowl is almost empty, ask the server for ochazuke. They’ll pour hot broth – your choice of soy-based or fish broth – over what’s left in the bowl. It turns the end of the meal into something like a savory rice soup, warm and filling.

Here’s the move: save 2 of the 4 tuna slices from the opener. When the broth arrives, drop them in. The heat from the broth gently cooks the tuna as you eat, and when you add the dipping sauce that came with the sashimi into the broth as well, the flavor is genuinely excellent – rich and clean at the same time, like finishing a good meal with a bowl of something that ties everything together. It’s the kind of ending that makes the whole meal feel complete rather than just filling.

Most people don’t know to do this on a first visit. Now you do.

Practical Information

Address: Shilla Stay Haeundae 1F, 46 Haeundae-ro 570beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan
Getting there: Subway Line 2, Haeundae Station Exit 7 – about 15 minutes on foot. Around 5 minutes from Haeundae Beach.
Parking: Shilla Stay underground parking, 1 hour free – get your ticket validated at the restaurant before leaving.

• High chairs available
• No pets

Remote waitlist available via the Tabling app during peak hours.

The Verdict

If you want quality Japanese seafood rice bowls without paying the usual premium for them, Giyohan Haeundae is a strong recommendation. I’ve been to several branches and come back more than once – that’s probably the most honest thing I can say about it.

Just make sure you know about the ochazuke before you go. It takes what’s already a good meal and makes it genuinely memorable.

Staying nearby? See Shilla Stay Haeundae and our full Haeundae hotel guide.