480 Jwadongsunhwan-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
₩₩ ・ Fugu / Pufferfish
Located on a boulevard near Jungdong Intersection in the Haeundae District, Torafuguga stands out with its quaint wooden exterior and a small aquarium with live torafuku (tiger puffer) at the front. The eatery has no sign except for a small calligraphy of its name penned by the owner-chef Jung Seung-hun himself. Yet, these visual elements are enough to let you know that it’s a specialist puffer fish restaurant. Here, the chef’s precise hand movements bring out the variegated flavors of tiger puffer and deliver them, nonstop, to customers at the tables. Torafuguga’s Japanese-style puffer fish course features a wide array of faithful dishes that are parboiled, served raw in slices, fried, made into a soup, or crafted into a porridge. There are many restaurants that handle puffer fish, but few show commitment to presenting it in authentic Japanese style. In light of this, the chef’s earnestness in preparing and serving puffer fish testifies to his passion for culinary art.