Bonjeon suits a solo traveler or a pair who want one hot pork soup near Busan Station and can handle a first-come line. It is a poor fit if you avoid pork, need a reserved table, or have a train to catch soon after.
Everything here is about one restaurant, checked on Kakao Map (menu list updated July 2026), BusanNavi and recent October 2026 traveler posts as of October 19, 2026. Prices and hours differ between listings, so each figure below carries its source.
Quick answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Known for | Dwaeji gukbap (돼지국밥), pork and rice soup. The menu also lists sundae gukbap, offal soups and boiled pork (suyuk). |
| Restaurant covered | 본전돼지국밥, 3-8 Jungang-daero 214beon-gil, Choryang-dong, Dong-gu, Busan. I found no other Busan branch. |
| Price | Kakao Map lists the soup at ₩10,000 (July 2026). A travel listing and recent traveler posts report ₩11,000. |
| Hours | Kakao Map: 09:00 to 21:00 every day, last order 20:30. Other sources give an opening time of 08:40. |
| Closed day | None published on Kakao Map. Check before a special trip. |
| Reservation | None published. Two traveler posts describe a first-come line outside the door. |
| Waiting | Traveler posts report 15 to 60 minutes. That is a handful of visits, not a typical wait. |
| Eating alone | Kakao Map tags it for solo dining (혼밥). A posted notice reportedly says solo guests may share a table. |
| Parking | None. Kakao Map says to use the nearby Chinatown public lot. |
| Payment, English menu | Not published. Carry a backup payment method and a translation app. |
| Biggest caveat | It is a pork restaurant, and prices, hours and the queue can change. |
Is Bonjeon worth visiting?
It depends on what you want from the meal. This is a short-menu pork soup place, not a place for a long sit-down dinner.
A good fit if you:
- want a hot local meal close to Busan Station
- eat alone or in a pair
- eat pork and are comfortable with offal options being on the menu
- can wait outside at busy times
A weaker fit if you:
- avoid pork, or need halal or vegetarian food
- need a reserved table or a guaranteed seat time
- have a tight train connection
- want a spicy, creamy or very rich bowl (traveler posts describe the broth as clear and light)
The basis for calling it well known is limited. BusanNavi's dwaeji gukbap list has an entry describing it as a popular restaurant near Busan Station, dated October 18, 2025. Kakao Map also tags it for solo dining and shows user-ranking tags. I make no ranking against other Busan pork soup restaurants.
Which Bonjeon is this?
It is the restaurant at 3-8 Jungang-daero 214beon-gil in Choryang-dong, Dong-gu, Busan. Kakao Map shows it as a Korean restaurant in the gukbap category, and its status was listed as operating when I checked.
Other places share part of the name. A 본전돼지국밥 listing exists in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, and a different 본전순대식당 is in Gumi. They are unrelated businesses. Do not use their details for this one.
I found no sign of a second Busan branch. Search 본전돼지국밥 and check that the pin is in Dong-gu, near Busan Station, before you set off.
One caution on age claims. Several blogs call it a three-generation shop with 64 or 65 years of history. No source I could check confirms that, so this guide makes no claim about its age or founder.
Where Bonjeon is
| Korean name | 본전돼지국밥 |
| Road address | 부산 동구 중앙대로214번길 3-8 (1층) |
| Lot address | 초량동 1200-6 |
| Phone | +82-51-441-2946 |
The restaurant sits on a side lane off Jungang-daero, a short distance north of Busan Station. From the Kakao Map pins the two are about 150 m apart in a straight line, which is geography and not a walking time.
Kakao Map lists Choryang Station as the nearest subway station. Follow the map directions to the pin instead of relying on an exit number from a blog, because station exits and signage change.
Before you go
Hours and closed day
Kakao Map lists 09:00 to 21:00 every day, with last order at 20:30. A travel-booking listing and several October 2026 traveler posts give the same closing and last order but an opening time of 08:40.
An older mirror of the Naver Place page shows 08:30 to 21:30 on weekdays, which does not match anything newer. I could not open Naver Place itself, so treat opening time as a conflict and arrive after 09:00 to be safe.
No closed day, break time or holiday schedule is published on the Kakao Map listing. A weekday snippet I saw that showed an early weekday closing could not be matched to any source, so I do not use it.
Reservations and the queue
No reservation is published. Kakao Map shows booking as unavailable, and I found no table-ordering app, ticket machine or waiting list for it. Do not assume you can book.
Two recent traveler posts describe a first-come line outside the door. Reported waits were about 15 minutes on a Friday evening, about 40 minutes at a holiday-weekend lunch, and 30 to 60 minutes in one Kakao Map review. I give no typical wait, because three data points do not make one.
The space is small, with about 13 tables according to one traveler post. That helps explain why lines form when the lunch rush hits.
Eating alone
Kakao Map tags Bonjeon as a place for solo dining. Two traveler posts say many solo guests come, and one reports a notice at the restaurant saying solo guests may be seated with others depending on the situation.
Treat the shared-table rule as traveler-reported. If you are alone, say so at the door and expect to be placed wherever there is a seat.
Parking
There is no restaurant parking. Kakao Map says to use the nearby Chinatown public lot. Lot fees and capacity are not published here, so check them in your map app.
Seating and facilities
Kakao Map lists separate men's and women's restrooms inside. Traveler posts describe a small room and self-serve water from a purifier near the entrance, which I could not verify.
Wheelchair access, high chairs and private rooms are not published. A small room with a line outside may be hard with a stroller or a mobility aid.
Paying
No payment methods are published on the Kakao Map listing, and I found no card policy for foreign-issued cards. Carry cash as well as a card.
Takeout, delivery and minimum order
Kakao Map shows icons for takeout and delivery, but they come from an automated field and are not confirmed. No minimum-order rule was found. Ask staff if you need either.
Menu and prices
What to order
Order the dwaeji gukbap first. Add the boiled pork only if you are two or more, since the portions are sized for sharing and weights are not published.
The Kakao Map menu list was last updated in July 2026 and shows eight items. Other sources report higher prices for several of them, so the right-hand column shows what I found.
Listed prices
| Item | Korean | Kakao Map (July 2026) | Other reports | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwaeji gukbap | 돼지국밥 | ₩10,000 | ₩11,000 | Pork and rice soup |
| Sundae gukbap | 순대국밥 | ₩10,000 | Not checked | Contains sundae, a Korean blood sausage |
| Offal soup | 내장국밥 | ₩10,000 | Not checked | Pork organ meats in the soup |
| Mixed offal and meat soup | 내장,고기섞어국밥 | ₩10,000 | Not checked | Offal and sliced pork together |
| Suyuk baekban | 수육백반 | ₩13,000 | ₩14,000 | A set meal with boiled pork; traveler posts describe rice and a clear soup |
| Suyuk, small | 수육 (소) | ₩30,000 | ₩30,000 | Boiled pork plate to share |
| Suyuk, medium | 수육 (중) | ₩35,000 | ₩40,000 | Another listing shows a higher price |
| Suyuk, large | 수육 (대) | ₩40,000 | ₩50,000 | Another listing shows a higher price |
Prices change, and the listings do not agree. The printed menu or the board in the restaurant is the one to trust. Portion sizes and weights are not published.
An example order
As arithmetic from the Kakao Map prices only: two soups and one small suyuk come to ₩50,000. At the higher reported soup price, the same order is ₩52,000. Drinks and extras are not included.
What are sundae and offal options?
Sundae (순대) is a Korean sausage made with pig blood and other fillings. Offal (내장) means organ meats. If you want plain sliced pork in the soup, 돼지국밥 is the item to order.
What is dwaeji gukbap?
Dwaeji gukbap (돼지국밥) is pork and rice soup, a local food of Busan. VISITKOREA describes it as thinly sliced pork and rice added to a broth made by boiling pork bones for over six hours, and says it is said to have been made by refugees in Busan during the Korean War from the pork available at the time.
That is the general dish, not Bonjeon's recipe. Busan's city government has also described the traditional style as a milky-white, thick and rich stock, while some versions recently recommended by a restaurant guide are lighter and cleaner. Bonjeon's own method is not published.
For more on where dwaeji gukbap sits among Busan foods, see the Busan food guide.
The broth
Bonjeon publishes no recipe, bone type or boiling time. I cannot say what goes into the broth, so I do not describe it as a cooked-for-hours or secret-recipe soup.
What can be said is what recent traveler posts report. Several describe it as clear, light and clean, closer to a clear gomtang than to a milky bone broth. That is how it looks to those visitors, not a claim by the restaurant.
If you were expecting a thick, milky bowl, adjust your expectations. If you want a strong flavor, the table seasonings below are how most reports describe getting it.
Spice level
The soup is reported to be mild until you season it. Heat comes from the red seasoning paste, dadaegi (다대기), and from chili peppers among the side dishes, one of which a traveler found very hot.
Whether dadaegi comes on the table or already stirred into the bowl is not published. Traveler posts say it is served on the side, and several visitors did not add any. If you avoid spicy food, ask for the bowl without it.
How to eat it
This section mixes general practice with traveler reports, and the labels matter.
General dwaeji gukbap practice:
- Taste the broth first, then season it a little at a time.
- Add salted shrimp (saeujeot, 새우젓) or salt if you want it saltier. VISITKOREA lists salted shrimp or salt as the usual seasoning.
- Eat the rice with the soup. Some people mix it in, others keep it separate.
Reported at Bonjeon:
- The table carries dadaegi, salted shrimp, a dipping paste (ssamjang) and salt and pepper.
- Side dishes include a quickly dressed kimchi, seasoned chives, onion, chili peppers and garlic.
- The suyuk set meal comes with onion and a wasabi soy sauce.
The restaurant publishes no list of sides, so treat these as examples that can vary. Whether the rice comes mixed into the soup or in a separate bowl is not confirmed.
For foreign travelers
English menu and ordering
No source confirms an English menu or English-speaking staff, so treat English support as unknown. Ordering is simple: say the dish name and the number of people.
A first order for one person.
Polite돼지국밥 하나 주세요
dwae-ji-guk-bap ha-na ju-se-yo
One dwaeji gukbap, please.
Korean audio isn't available on this device or browser. Use the romanization above to say it.
Say this at the door if you arrive solo.
Polite혼자인데 괜찮아요?
hon-ja-in-de gwaen-chan-a-yo?
I'm alone. Is that okay?
Korean audio isn't available on this device or browser. Use the romanization above to say it.
Pork and halal
Bonjeon is a pork restaurant, and the soup is made with pork. TripKopia could not verify halal certification or a halal-friendly kitchen. For wider guidance, see the Muslim-friendly food guide.
Vegetarian and vegan
TripKopia could not verify a vegetarian or vegan option. Every item on the Kakao Map menu is pork or pork-based, and the broth is pork broth. Ordering only rice and sides is not a reliable plan, since the sides are not published.
Allergies
Salted shrimp (saeujeot) is reported on the table, which matters if you avoid shellfish. The sundae and offal items, the dipping paste and the sauces have no published ingredient lists, and no allergen chart was found.
Confirm your allergy with staff before ordering. I make no allergy-safe claim.
Planning around Busan Station
All distances here are straight-line geography, and I give no walk times.
Before a train
The restaurant is a short distance from the station, but a first-come line makes the timing unpredictable. Do not make it the last stop before a train. Take your departure time and boarding rules from the operator, and keep a margin you are comfortable losing.
For booking and pass rules, see the KTX booking guide. I give no minimum buffer, because a number from me would be invented.
With luggage
Do not count on the restaurant holding bags. One recent traveler post mentioned a luggage-holding setup near the entrance, but I could not verify it and the restaurant does not publish a policy. A small room with a line outside is a poor place for a large suitcase.
Sort out luggage first. The luggage storage guide covers the usual order of options.
After arriving
It can work as a first meal after you arrive in Busan by train, with a bag in a locker or at your hotel. If you plan to see the seafood market next, read the Jagalchi Market guide, and the Busan 2-day itinerary shows how a first day might be arranged.
Is it worth the wait?
If you want a hot, local pork soup near the station and can spare an uncertain amount of time, it is a reasonable choice. If you are short on time, need a table you can reserve, or avoid pork, skip it.
Who should go
- Solo travelers or pairs who eat pork
- Anyone arriving in Busan by train with time to spare and bags stored
- Visitors who want a clear, light pork broth, not a thick one
Who should skip it
- Travelers who avoid pork, or need halal, vegetarian or vegan food
- Anyone with a train soon after the meal
- Groups who need a reserved table
- Anyone who wants a thick, milky or spicy bowl by default
Common mistakes
- Going to a different 본전 restaurant. Listings with part of the name exist in Anseong and Gumi.
- Trusting an old price. A mirror page shows ₩8,000 for the soup, and recent reports show ₩11,000.
- Assuming it opens at 08:30. One mirror says so, and no current source agrees.
- Expecting to book. No reservation is published, and the line is first-come.
- Driving there. The restaurant has no parking.
- Assuming bags can stay inside. The restaurant publishes no luggage policy.
- Booking it right before a train. Queue time is unpredictable.
- Expecting a milky broth. Traveler posts describe it as clear and light.
- Pouring in all the dadaegi. Add it a little at a time.
- Ordering sundae or offal by accident. Say 돼지국밥 for plain pork.
- Overlooking the salted shrimp. It is reported on the table, which matters for shellfish allergies.
- Assuming it is halal. It is a pork restaurant.
- Repeating the age claims. The 64-year and third-generation stories are unverified.
- Relying on a blog's walk time or exit number. Use map directions.
Frequently asked questions
Which Bonjeon does this guide cover?
The 본전돼지국밥 at 3-8 Jungang-daero 214beon-gil, Choryang-dong, Dong-gu, Busan.
Is Bonjeon well known?
BusanNavi's dwaeji gukbap list describes it as a popular restaurant near Busan Station, and Kakao Map shows user-ranking tags. I make no ranking against other restaurants.
What does 돼지국밥 mean?
It is pork and rice soup. 돼지 means pig, and 국밥 means soup with rice.
What should I order?
The dwaeji gukbap is the plain pork soup. Add suyuk if you are sharing.
How much does Bonjeon cost?
Kakao Map lists ₩10,000 for the soups and ₩13,000 for the suyuk set meal. Other reports show ₩11,000 and ₩14,000, so check the menu board.
What are the opening hours?
Kakao Map lists 09:00 to 21:00 daily with last order at 20:30. Other sources give an opening time of 08:40.
Is it open every day?
Kakao Map shows no closed day, but I found no holiday information.
Does Bonjeon take reservations?
No reservation is published, and traveler posts describe a first-come line.
Is there usually a wait?
Traveler posts report 15 to 60 minutes. No official wait time is published.
Can I eat at Bonjeon alone?
Yes, Kakao Map tags it for solo dining. A notice reportedly says solo guests may share a table.
Is there parking?
No. Kakao Map suggests the nearby Chinatown public lot.
Is there an English menu?
Not confirmed by any source.
Can I pay by card?
Payment methods are not published. Carry cash as well.
Is it spicy?
Reports say the broth is mild until you add the red paste (dadaegi). One side-dish chili was reported to be very hot.
Is the broth milky?
Traveler posts describe it as clear and light. The restaurant publishes no recipe.
Is Bonjeon halal?
TripKopia could not verify halal certification. It is a pork restaurant.
Are there vegetarian options?
TripKopia could not verify any. The listed menu is pork or pork-based.
Does it contain shellfish?
Salted shrimp is reported on the table. Ingredients of other sauces are not published.
Can I leave luggage there?
The restaurant publishes no luggage policy. One traveler post mentioned a holding area, but it is unverified.
How far is it from Busan Station?
About 150 m in a straight line, from the Kakao Map pins. I give no walking time.
Should I eat here before a train?
Only with plenty of margin. A first-come line makes timing unpredictable.
Sources
- Kakao Map: Bonjeon Dwaeji Gukbap (place listing with hours, menu and facilities)official_service_site
- Kakao Map: Busan Station (place listing)official_service_site
- BusanNavi: Dwaeji gukbap restaurant list (Bonjeon Dwaeji Gukbap entry)Official tourism site
- VISITKOREA: Pork and Rice Soup (Dwaejigukbap)Official tourism site
- Busan Metropolitan City, Daily Busan: Michelin Guide Busan, Dwaeji gukbapOfficial government site
Information is compiled from official sources. Details such as prices, hours, and schedules can change. Confirm time-sensitive facts before you travel.
Prices, hours and the queue were checked on October 19, 2026 and can change without notice. Statements about the queue, solo seating, table condiments and the broth come from recent traveler posts, not from the restaurant.
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