A backpacker's solo trip through Nampo-dong, Busan: Local gems and all the little details from wandering the alleys!

As soon as I finished work on Friday, I grabbed my backpack and hopped on a train bound for Busan. I was looking for somewhere easy to visit for a quick weekend getaway, and my feet naturally led me to the familiar streets of Nampo-dong. Honestly, there's nothing better for clearing your head than wandering through these lively market alleys on foot.

By the time I arrived at the entrance of Bupyeong Kkangtong Market, the sun was starting to set, and the area was already glowing with warm, orange lights. Even in the crisp late autumn air, the cozy smells and vibrant energy filling the market alleys felt like they were instantly melting away all the work stress I'd accumulated throughout the week.

Walking slowly through the narrow alleys stretching out under the arcade roof, I found myself totally lost in the charming sights that only a traditional market can offer. Weaving my way through the rows of shops and the bustling crowds, I decided it was time to officially kick off my weekend food tour!

My first stop was 18-beon Wandang-jip, a legendary local spot that has held down the same spot for over 70 years. It's located in a basement near Nampodong BIFF Square, and since it's only about a 5-minute walk from Nampo Station, it's super easy to get to if you're traveling on foot.

The signature Wandang dish is 9,500 won, but honestly, if you're an adult guy, this alone won't be nearly enough to fill you up. So, I ordered the set menu that comes with two seaweed rice rolls and three fried tofu rice rolls, and only then did I finally feel properly full.

What looks like noodles in the broth is actually crunchy bean sprouts, so if you're craving actual noodles, you'll need to order the Wandang-myeon instead of just the Wandang. The Wandang skins are incredibly thin—only 0.3mm!—and they melt in your mouth instantly. They were blanched for just about 15 seconds, so they weren't clumpy and felt really clean and light.

I heard the recipe is actually quite tricky because if you boil the broth for too long, it can turn bitter, but wow—the flavor was incredibly deep and refreshing. It went down so smoothly that it was the perfect light first meal, and you could really feel that heavy, authentic vibe only an old-school local spot can provide. It was such a satisfying choice!

After filling up lightly on Wandang, I headed back into the deep night of the Bupyeong Night Market alleys. Seeing the long lines stretching out under the colorful parasols, I could truly feel the energy and liveliness that makes this a representative night market of Busan. Just walking through there gave me such a strange sense of excitement!

I ended up stopping in my tracks when a savory aroma caught my attention—it was right in front of the famous Seunggi Chapssal Ssiat Hotteok. I grabbed one of those crispy-on-the-outside, sweet-on-the-inside seed hotteoks for 2,500 won, and every bite with those popping nuts added such a little burst of joy to my trip.

Next, I headed over to another night market legend, Kkangdwaehu Night Market. Since it was peak time on a weekend evening, I couldn't even get through via phone order. I ended up waiting in line at the shop for over 30 minutes, but I finally managed to grab a takeout order of the half-and-half pork rib fried chicken menu.

I brought it back to my accommodation and tried the fried pork ribs with a cold can of beer, and the texture was way softer than regular fried chicken. However, it was pretty oily, so if you're eating it on its own, you'll get tired of it quickly. You definitely need to pair it with that 1,000 won corn salad to keep things fresh until the very last bite. 🍺

One downside for solo travelers is that there's no small size for the half-and-half menu, so you're forced to order at least a medium. I ended up having to pack the leftovers to take home, which felt like a bit of a bummer in terms of portion size and price for a solo traveler like me who values cost-effectiveness.

The next morning, as soon as I opened my eyes, I rushed back to that lively market alley to finally try Igane Tteokbokki, which I missed out on yesterday. It’s been featured on several shows like Baek Jong-won's Top 3 Chef, so the line was absolutely massive, but thanks to the aunties' lightning-fast hands, I got my turn sooner than I expected!

There aren't any tables to sit down and eat comfortably inside; instead, the system is to grab your food and stand in a narrow space behind the shop to eat. You also have to use a ladle to serve yourself fish cake broth into paper cups, which felt a little bit of a hassle and inconvenient for a solo traveler on foot. 😮‍💨

Even if you visit alone, you can order a single-person set consisting of 3 tteokbokki pieces and 2 fried snacks for just 5,000 won, so the value was actually quite reasonable. I could pick out the fried snacks myself—like squid or chili peppers—and I absolutely loved how incredibly crispy the batter was since they were freshly fried.

But honestly, maybe because my expectations were so high, I felt a bit bloated afterward because that greasy feeling lingered in my mouth for quite a while. Plus, since they use thick rice cakes, the sauce didn't soak all the way to the center, so it felt a little bland as I chewed, which was a bit of a letdown for me personally.

To settle my stomach and get some steps in after a heavy meal, I headed out to find Yeoju Pottery (Busan 2nd Branch), a little gem hidden away in a corner alley. From the very entrance of the narrow alleyway, colorful ceramic dishes were stacked high, giving me that cozy, nostalgic feeling of being on a treasure hunt.

Since new stock arrives every 2 to 3 weeks rather than every day, you definitely need to check their Instagram announcements before heading out so you don't make a wasted trip. Also, taking photos inside the shop is strictly prohibited, so you'll have to quietly admire and pick out your favorites with just your eyes.

From tiny trinkets for just 1,000 won to a huge variety of everyday tableware, browsing here was so much fun. One pro tip, though: before you pay, make sure to check the items thoroughly, as there might be some flawed pieces with uneven glazing or mismatched sets mixed in.

After finishing up my dish shopping, I stumbled upon this super cute dessert shop on my way out. I grabbed some sweet treats to snack on while taking a little break. While flashy and trendy tourist spots are great, the real charm of traveling through Nampo-dong is wandering through these little alleys and discovering these tiny gems.

Instead of hitting up all the famous landmarks, this Busan trip was all about walking through narrow traditional market alleys on foot to truly soak in the local flavors and vibes. Even though there were moments when I got tired of waiting in lines or things didn't quite hit the spot, those are just part of the fun that you can only experience when traveling solo.

I'm wrapping up this short journey in Nampo-dong, where I escaped my hectic daily life with just a backpack for the weekend. I'm already feeling a little flutter of excitement thinking about which hidden small town in Gyeongsang-do I'll wander into next weekend to write a new story.