Recent haul from the Russian shops near Busan station...

Taco Senora, Haeundae

So, previously I reviewed the lackluster mexican menu of Fuzzy Navel, not that it even needs a mention - it's even in the damn Lonely Planet. Here is an even better and cheaper option for mexican food in Haeundae - Taco Senora. Its well known in Busan, popular with allsorts, and only a few blocks away from Fuzzy Navel in Haeundae.

Marked by a serious overuse of post-it notes (that can only be matched by this), this little setup makes even your apartment look outsized. But that small room quickly somehow contains huge tacos! Such are the mysterious powers of the Taco Senora.

The solid little menu is all mexican: burritos, tacos, quesadillas, fajitos and nachos. And there is no skimping with the filling either.

This friendly, one-woman operation is everything you need and so much more than you expected to find when looking for Mexican food in Korea.

Prices: See right... not bad, are they?

English Menu: Yes

 

Directions: From Haeundae station walk past Sfunz and take a right. Continue down that street until you see this Beauty Zone. Opposite Beauty Zone is a little alleyway. Go down that alleyway - you won't see Senora until you're very close to it. Here is some alternate directions with a map.

 

All this reading when you could be eating delicious tacos! Get on the subway over to Haeundae, check it out, and enjoy some great mexican food to go with the start of the Busan summer.

You'll be kicking yourself if you've been waiting with the crowd for your burrito at Fuzzy Navel (though mind you, Senora fills up fast as well...)

I hear it goes down well with a beer...

Kamustahan Filipino Restaurant, Busan Station area

Venturing into the seedy area around Texas street is not our favourite pastime, but we managed to find perhaps the only non-sleazy place around, Kamustahan, a friendly Filipino place.

We had the Chicken Adobo as recommended by the staff, which was absolutely delicious. It was cooked to perfection with a mouthwatering sauce.

However, I have to say that this place is pretty overpriced. Dishes are modest in size; the chicken was quite scrawny for 10,000 won; and 4,000 for the small bottles of local beer is pushing it in anyone's book. Hopefully we will discover a more reasonably priced alternative
soon enough, but for now, this is it.

Prices: Mains 10,000won, Beers: 4,000 won 

Some English is spoken by some of the staff.

Vegetarian option: Sorry, I didn't see anything on the menu without meat except white rice.

Directions: Just behind Texas Street (Choryang Shopping Area for Foreigners), near Busan Station.

The Weekly Chosun interviewed 3 foreigners with chopstick skills in Seoul recently.

Welcome Pho, PNU

PNU is by and far the epicentre of foreign food in Busan. Basically, if you want some non-Korean fare, this is where you will find it, be it Burgers, Kebabs, Indian Curry, you name it.

So its no surprise that PNU is also a great place to enjoy some Vietnamese style dishes. Welcome Pho is a very stylish and clean restaurant with a great view for people watching. The service is good and prices reasonable.

Most important, of course, is the food - and it is quite good. The spring rolls are perfect and come with a delicious peanut sauce. The pho is not quite up to the standard found in Vietnam itself, but is authentic enough to evoke memories of the gasoline stench from the motorcycle-filled streets of Ho Chi Min City; the sound of boats putt-putting down the Mekong delta, the colours of silk and vegetables in the crowded market...

As usual with Vietnamese food, you'll find more than enough here to sate your appetite. The usual assortment of sauces, spices and sprouts are provided for you to season your own meal. The only real downside to this place is there is no lime to flavour the dishes with, only lemon. For the moment, lime remains out of reach in Korea - even in Vietnamese cusine. Also, some Vietnamese beers would be nice - 333 or Saigon - but Korean beer is a pretty similar style anyway. In any case, they serve Vietnamese style coffee, the perfect accompaniment to a relaxing afternoon.

Prices: Pho/Fried Rice: 6,000+
English Menu: Yes
Vegetarian options: Yes
Directions: It's next door to Kebabistan, on the corner, 2nd floor.