Kimchi katsudon at a Gwanpyeong-dong Japanese restaurant: Choi Dining

Every time I visit Hyundai Premium Outlets in Gwanpyeong-dong, I struggle to figure out what to eat. After shopping hard, I get hungry and want a proper meal, so I searched around and found Choi Dining, about a 10-minute walk away. I left my car at the outlet and walked over.

What is Choi Dining Daejeon Gwanpyeong like inside?

Walking into Choi Dining Daejeon Gwanpyeong, the overall feel was clean and tidy. The interior has vivid tones, so it felt bright and lively. Each dish was plated beautifully too, catching my eye even before I took a bite. The menu is also varied, so it seems like a great spot to pick from a range of options whenever you're craving Japanese food.

What we ordered at Choi Dining that day

This time I ordered mazesoba (mixed noodle dish), kimchi katsudon, and aged kimchi yukhoe futomaki (raw beef tartare seaweed roll), and I also tried the lunch set with mazesoba and 2 pieces of salmon futomaki.

• Mazesoba + salmon futomaki (2 pieces) + salad
• Kimchi katsudon
• Aged kimchi yukhoe futomaki

Mazesoba: spicy noodles that taste better for the heat

This was my first time trying the spicy mazesoba at Choi Dining Daejeon Gwanpyeong, and I was surprised at how much better it was than expected. I usually order mazesoba whenever I go to a Japanese restaurant, and the spicy kick here was the highlight.

Mazesoba can sometimes feel a bit heavy because of its rich, savory flavor, but here the added spiciness cut through that, so it felt less greasy. It was spicy just enough, with plenty of umami — the kind of flavor that keeps you reaching for more.

Above all, it seemed like a flavor that would suit Korean palates well, so even people trying mazesoba for the first time could probably dive in comfortably. Personally, this was the dish that stuck with me the most out of everything I ate that day.

Salmon futomaki good enough to order a second round

The mazesoba set comes with 2 pieces of salmon futomaki, and I fell for it after just one bite. You have to eat it in one bite!!! The salmon in particular felt really fresh, and the ingredients inside the futomaki worked really well together.

The pieces were fairly large for a single bite, so I could taste several ingredients together, and the salmon's smooth flavor blended well with everything else — better than I expected.

I actually considered ordering one more salmon futomaki while eating it, haha. If you're a fan of futomaki, I think you'll be very satisfied here.

Kimchi katsudon with ripe tomato as the surprise kick

The kimchi katsudon (fried pork cutlet rice bowl) was also delicious. The well-fermented kimchi cut through the richness of the pork cutlet, and the overall flavors blended nicely. The cutlet itself was thick and generously sized.

What was especially surprising was the ripe tomato mixed in. At first I wasn't sure tomato would work with kimchi katsudon, but after trying it, the pairing worked surprisingly well.

The soft, slightly tangy taste of the ripe tomato kept the overall dish from feeling heavy. It was an unexpected combination, but it ended up being one of the more memorable dishes.

Aged kimchi yukhoe futomaki, generously sized

The aged kimchi yukhoe futomaki was substantial right from the size of it. Even a single piece was packed with filling, giving an immediate sense of generosity.

With aged kimchi and yukhoe (raw beef tartare) both inside, it had a distinctly different flavor from a typical futomaki. With so many ingredients packed in, a single bite let me taste a variety of flavors at once.

I also liked that the food came out clean and tidy overall. The plating was pretty too, which made it nice for photos as each dish arrived.

An easy 10-minute walk from Hyundai Premium Outlets

It's a fine distance to walk to whether you're shopping at Hyundai Outlets in Daejeon or have plans nearby, so it's a good place to keep in mind if you're looking for a Japanese restaurant in Gwanpyeong-dong.

With options ranging from familiar-yet-different dishes like mazesoba to futomaki and rice bowls, it also seems like a good spot to visit with a group and share several dishes.

Of everything I ate this time, the spicy mazesoba and salmon futomaki impressed me the most. If you're ever in the mood for clean, tidy Japanese food in Gwanpyeong-dong, give this place a try!! Highly recommend 👍👍