Dwaeji Gukbap (Pork Soup Rice) — Busan's Signature Dish
Everything you need to know about dwaeji gukbap: the pork soup rice that put Busan on the culinary map.
Table of Contents
What Is Dwaeji Gukbap?
Dwaeji-gukbap (돼지국밥) is a hearty pork soup rice dish originating from Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city. It features a rich, milky pork bone broth served with sliced pork, rice, and an array of condiments.
Unlike other Korean soups, dwaeji gukbap is characterized by its deeply savory, milky-white broth that comes from boiling pork bones for hours until they release all their collagen and flavor.
The Busan Connection
Busan is the undisputed capital of dwaeji gukbap. The city’s Jagalchi Market area and Seomyeon district are packed with restaurants that have been serving this dish for generations. In fact, many Koreans make weekend trips to Busan specifically to eat dwaeji gukbap.
The dish originated in the years after the Korean War, when pork was more affordable than beef. Resourceful cooks in Busan developed the technique of boiling pork bones for hours to create a satisfying, nutritious meal from humble ingredients.
How It’s Served
A typical bowl of dwaeji gukbap comes with:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Broth | Milky-white pork bone broth, simmered 6+ hours |
| Meat | Slices of pork shoulder or belly, tender and juicy |
| Rice | Steamed white rice, either in the soup or on the side |
| Condiments | Ssireum-jang (spicy fermented soybean paste), chopped scallions, salted shrimp (saeujeot), gochugaru (red pepper flakes) |
| Sides | Kimchi, kkakdugi (radish kimchi), and often a raw garlic clove or two |
How to Eat Dwaeji Gukbap
- Start with the broth — taste the unseasoned broth first to appreciate its depth
- Add condiments — mix in ssireum-jang, scallions, and garlic to your taste
- Dip the meat — the sliced pork is often dipped in saeujeot (salted shrimp)
- Mix it all together — or eat rice on the side, whichever you prefer
Where to Eat the Best Dwaeji Gukbap
In Busan
| Restaurant | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Ssangki Dwaeji Gukbap | Seomyeon | Two-story landmark, open 24 hours |
| Miryang Sundae Dwaeji Gukbap | Jagalchi | Legendary since 1958 |
| Gaerowang Gukbap | Seomyeon | Famous for spicy broth |
Outside Korea
See our City Guides for dwaeji gukbap recommendations in Los Angeles, New York, Seoul, and more.