Chinese food with a smoky flavor

Busan

Similar to Incheon, Busan’s Chinese food history began with the opening of its port. In 1884, the Qing Dynasty consulate was established in Choryang-dong, leading to the formation of a Chinese community. Today, this area is known as Busan Chinatown (Shanghai Street). During the Korean War, many Chinese immigrants from across the country fled to Busan. This created a "melting pot" effect where regional Chinese styles merged. Unlike the Gyeonggi/Incheon area which is heavily Shandong-influenced, Busan’s Chinese food incorporates various southern Chinese influences brought by overseas Chinese merchants (Hwagyo). If you order Gan-jjajang (black bean noodles with stir-fried sauce served separately) in Busan, it almost always comes with a fried egg on top. This is a trademark of Busan that is hard to find in the northern regions like Seoul or Incheon. The rich yolk balances the salty, smoky flavor of the sauce.