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3 Hangover Delicacies that Hit the Spot

Written and Photographed by Travel Writer Kim Dogeun

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Autumn is deepening. What comes to mind when the cold wind starts to blow? How about hot hangover soup to hit the spot? Every city in the country has its hangover special, and Busan is no exception with several famous hangover delicacies. So why don’t we find out about the Busan hangover delicacies hitting the spot today?

Busan’s Hangover Soup, Jaecheopguk/Marsh Clam Soup

‘Please buy Jaecheopguk/Marsh Clam Soup.’ Some women who have been waking up at the break of dawn in Busan since the early 80s. They are the “Jaecheopguk,” meaning Marsh Clam Soup, women who sold the soup while walking down the alleys off Sanbok Road with a bucket of it on their heads. The soup is a local food in Busan, where people cook and enjoy jaecheop, which found around the estuary of the Nakdonggang River.

Marsh Clam Soup is a white dish made by adding chives to Jaecheop, which has a sweet and savory taste. Since it is only seasoned with salt, you can enjoy the taste of the ingredients. If you eat chives with the soup, you will be amazed at the light flavor of jaecheop blended with the scent of chives. You can add even more flavor to the Jaecheopguk by serving it with Godeungeojorim, meaning Braised Mackerel.. If you want a light hangover soup that hits the spot, try Marsh Clam Soup, one of Busan’s famous hangover delicacies.

In the past, there was no food as common as Jaecheopguk due to the availability of Jaecheop around the Nakdonggang River, but now Jaecheopguk restaurants have sprung up in Samnak-dong, Busan to keep the traditional taste alive. If you have a chance to go to Samnak-dong, try some delicious Marsh Clam Soup and stroll through ‘Samnak Jaecheop Street’ near Samnakcheon Stream.

A Hangover Soup that Embraces the Sea, Daegutang/Codfish Soup

The Busan International Film Festival, Korea's representative film festival, attracts many filmmakers and movie lovers to Busan. There is a famous seafood delicacy that filmmakers and fans enjoy the morning after enjoying the Busan nightlife. Locals call it “Daegutang” meaning Codfish Soup. Cod, so-called because of its large mouth, has a light not-too-fishy taste and is known as a delicacy, especially in winter.

Cod has long been famous as a fish with nothing to throw away. When you eat hot Daegutang made from the firm flesh of cod and radish, the light taste of the sea lingers in your mouth and settles your stomach. After the soup hits the spot, if you wrap the chewy cod meat and simmered radish in seaweed and dip it in soy sauce, the taste is also excellent.

Being a port city, Busan is home to many Codfish Soup restaurants. If you don't have a specific restaurant to go to, try one of those located around Dalmajigogae Pass. It is a great place to try out the hearty Codfish Soup and walk along the scenic trails afterward, making your trip even more enjoyable.

The Definitive Hangover Soup, Kongnamul Haejangguk/Bean Sprout Hangover Soup

No matter what anyone says, the definitive hangover soup is “Kongnamul Haejangguk,” meaning Bean Sprout Hangover Soup,. Who hasn’t tried to soothe their stomach with light bean sprout soup after a night spent drinking? Bean sprouts are known as the best hangover food because they contain aspartic acid that protects the liver and arginine that helps relieve hangovers.

Cure your hangover with soup served in a boiling earthenware pot. Bean Sprout Hangover Soup has a spicy taste that really hits the spot. There are many different types depending on what you put in with the bean sprouts. Those who enjoy a light flavor thathits the spot look for Kongnamul Haejangguk, with which you can enjoy eggs mixed with bean sprouts. “Hwangtae Haejangguk,” meaning Dried Pollack Hangover Soup, is a perfect choice if you want a more spicy and refreshing taste.

There are many famous Hangover Soup restaurants in Gwangalli, the closest beach to downtown, and many unique spaces to visit in each alleyway. It is a place of white sandy beaches, blue sea, and various shops that make it enjoyable just to look around. So, after enjoying the beautiful beach to your heart's content, why don’t you wrap up your day with hearty Bean Sprout Hangover Soup?
In the season when the cold wind blows, let's add extra fun to your Busan trip with a variety of hangover delicacies that hit the spot.