BTS in Busan: Where ARMY Should Eat Before and After the Show

For overseas fans flying into South Korea for BTS's upcoming concert in Busan, the show is only part of the trip. Busan is a city built on regional food that you cannot easily find anywhere else in the country, and a few smart meal stops before or after the concert can make the whole visit feel bigger.

A good place to start is Dongnae Milmyeon. The restaurant became a fan landmark after RM visited, and one corner of the dining room is set up with BTS photos and a small standee, drawing fans who want a photo to mark the stop. Milmyeon itself is one of Busan's signature dishes. It is a cold noodle dish known for its chilled broth and chewy noodles, and it is an easy pick on a hot summer day in the city. Each shop puts its own spin on the broth and toppings, so trying a few places is part of the fun.

There is also a spot tied to early memories of Jimin, who is from Busan. Manna Bunsik, a small snack bar inside Seodong Miro Market, is known as a place Jimin visited often as a child. The signature dish is gyeran mandu, a local twist on dumplings made with egg and vegetables. It is cheap, filling, and feels distinctly like the neighborhood it comes from. For BTS fans, the appeal is also personal: it is a glimpse of where Jimin grew up.

No trip to Busan is complete without dwaeji gukbap, the pork-and-rice soup the city is famous for. One spot getting a lot of attention right now is Seoga Dwaeji Gukbap, recommended by chef Yoon Nam-noh after his appearance on the Netflix cooking competition "Culinary Class Wars." It sits about 10 minutes by car from Haeundae Beach, which makes it an easy stop after a day along the water. You do not have to chase one specific shop, though. Strong versions of dwaeji gukbap are everywhere in Busan, and it works well as a meal after walking through BTS-related spots or music video filming locations.

Lee Jae-mo Pizza is another stop locals point tourists toward. It is one of those places where the line stretches down the sidewalk on a normal afternoon. The pizza is loaded with thick cheese and heavy toppings, and you get to pick whether the stuffed crust comes filled with sausage or cheese. Order the half-and-half option and you get both, alternating around the edge. The kimchi fried rice on the menu is also popular. If the wait is too long, takeout is an option. On a mild day, grabbing a box and eating at a nearby park while looking out over the city is its own kind of Busan moment.

For fans coming in for the concert, retracing a little of BTS's footprint through the city's food is part of what makes the trip stick. The show will be the headline memory. The meals around it are how Busan becomes part of the story too.