Daegu Korean restaurant for eggplant doenjang rice: Hyangtaek

Now that it’s early September, the hot weather has eased up a lot, and it really feels like autumn is on its way haha. I went on a date with my partner to Kim Kwang-seok Street for the first time in a while. While looking for a good place to eat around Kim Kwang-seok Street, we visited Hyangtaek Daebong Branch :)

Hyangtaek Daebong Branch hours and location

It’s open daily from 11:00 to 20:00, with last orders at 15:00 and 19:30. Break time is 15:30–17:00.

Hyangtaek Daebong Branch is about a one-minute walk from Exit 3 of Kyungpook National University Hospital Station. It’s tucked into an alley near Kim Kwang-seok Street and Bangcheon Market, so it was really easy to find!

A Korean restaurant with a lovely atmosphere in Daebong-dong

With its open kitchen, the whole place felt clean and modern. Even though it’s a Korean restaurant, it didn’t feel old-fashioned at all—it had that stylish, atmospheric feel that suits Daebong-dong so well :)

It would be great for a meal with friends, but the calm, neat atmosphere also makes it feel perfect for a date or a gathering to hand out wedding invitations!

Korean rice dishes, noodles, and sides

The menu is simply arranged into Korean-inspired rice dishes, noodles, and sides. It was easy to choose according to our tastes, and the dishes were a little more unusual than typical Korean restaurant fare, so I was curious about every single one 👀

Our Spanish mackerel gondre rice and eggplant doenjang rice

• Spanish mackerel gondre rice ₩14,000
• Eggplant doenjang rice ₩13,000
• Platter of grilled short rib patties ₩10,000

I ordered the Spanish mackerel gondre rice and eggplant doenjang rice. They were both neat but filling choices for a proper meal, and my partner and I kept raving about how much we liked this meal—it had been a while since we’d found one we enjoyed this much haha. I was also so curious about the herring roe bibim noodles, but we thought we’d be way too full if we ordered that too, so we gave up on it 😂

Every table at Hyangtaek has instructions for enjoying the food, so first-time visitors may want to take a look :) It really was delicious when we ate it the way they suggested 🥹

How should you eat the Spanish mackerel gondre rice?

The Spanish mackerel gondre rice looked amazing from the start! The distinctive fragrant aroma of gondre (Korean thistle greens) came through gently, and the combination with mild, nutty Spanish mackerel was better than I expected.

Look at those thick pieces of Spanish mackerelㅠㅠ They were incredibly tender and not fishy at all!!!

The mackerel was so tender that it mixed gently into the rice, and a little of the soy sauce served alongside added a savory umami note that made it go down so easily 🥹

It also went beautifully with the gopchang gim (crinkly roasted seaweed) and mixed salted seafood, just as the instructions said. Adding the gungchae (stem lettuce) made it even better with a crisp bite! I highly, highly recommend the combination with gungchae haha.

Eggplant doenjang rice with thick soybean paste and kelp vinegar

The eggplant doenjang rice looked so good too. Several nicely grilled pieces of eggplant were piled on top, with thick soybean paste, scallions, and fried crumbs underneath.

Since the dish is called eggplant doenjang rice, I was excited to see what kind of soybean paste would come with it. It was gangdoenjang, a thick soybean paste stew, packed with meat and various ingredients. It was nutty with a deep flavor, paired so well with the eggplant, and was completely my taste 🤤

Every bite had such a moist, soft texture, and I especially recommend adding a little of the kelp vinegar served alongside. It cuts through any richness, so you absolutely have to add it haha.

Eggplant doenjang rice + gopchang gim + mixed salted seafood was another perfect combination 🥹

A platter of tteokgalbi perfect for sharing

The platter of tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patties) went well with rice, but it was also great just picking up one patty at a time, so it was perfect as a side for two to share. The lightly sweet and salty seasoning had a subtle smoky char, which made it even more appetizing, and it was nicely juicy too 👍

Weekday receipt review event

At Hyangtaek Daebong Branch, you can receive a complimentary mushroom platter on weekdays when you write a Naver receipt review, so it would be really nice to join in and get it as a side haha.

A meal after a walk around Kim Kwang-seok Street

Overall, Hyangtaek Daebong Branch felt like every dish had been made with care. We enjoyed everything we ordered, and the Spanish mackerel in particular had no bones at all, making it easy to eat. Its mild yet moist texture went so well with the gondre rice for a clean, satisfying meal 😋

The eggplant doenjang rice had such a wonderful balance of soft eggplant and the house gangdoenjang. The kelp vinegar I added about halfway through brought a slight tang and made the meal even more appetizing, so this was the combination I liked most 🥹

It’s also in a great location to stop by for a delicious meal after taking a leisurely walk around Kim Kwang-seok Street, so if you’re nearby, I think it would be lovely to visit together. The atmosphere was calm and comfortable for an unhurried meal, and it would suit dates, wedding-invitation gatherings, or small get-togethers too! I was quite satisfied with Hyangtaek Daebong Branch because it offers clean, distinctive Korean dishes, so if you’re looking for an atmospheric Korean restaurant in Daebong-dong, I highly, highly recommend giving it a visit :)