Daegu tuna restaurant: ₩100,000 course for two at Jongno Darang

What kind of restaurant is Jongno Darang in Daegu?

Jongno Darang (종로다랑) is a tuna course restaurant tucked into a Jongno alley in Daegu. I'd heard it was the talk of town for high-quality tuna courses, so I went, and since it was my first time eating tuna, I was so excited.

From the outside I didn't think it would be very big, but the inside is huge and so clean and neat. It looked great for an anniversary date or a group dinner on a special day.

What appetizers come with Jongno Darang's ₩100,000 bluefin course for two?

We ordered the bluefin tuna course for two at Jongno Darang, ₩100,000.

Right after ordering, the table was set with fruit salad, chawanmushi (Japanese steamed egg custard), herring roe tofu wraps, and steamed abalone with gewoo (abalone innards) sauce. The chawanmushi had that pudding-like softness with a gentle bonito flake aroma, and the herring roe wasn't salty at all, just pleasantly spicy, so I piled it generously on the tofu.

How was the steamed abalone with gewoo sauce?

The abalone in this course was seriously, seriously good. I dunked it generously in the innards (gewoo) sauce and took a bite: zero fishy taste, just a rich nutty flavor wrapping my whole mouth. It's the GOAT of all the abalone I've ever had.

Which cuts of bluefin tuna sashimi are served?

The main tuna sashimi at Jongno Darang had the special cut, ulttae (throat), in the center, with back meat, medium belly and fatty belly around it. The plate looked beautiful, and the staff kindly explained each cut and the order to eat them in.

The first one I tried, the ulttae, had a pleasantly crunchy, unique texture that was a lot of fun to chew. The back meat was clean and lean yet chewy, and somehow reminded me of raw beef.

Then the medium belly and fatty belly burst with rich, nutty fat, and I finally understood why people love tuna. It felt like the best navel cut of a big amberjack turned into cotton candy.

How to eat bluefin tuna sashimi for the best flavor

It's tasty lightly dipped in sesame oil sauce, but I really loved it wrapped in seaweed with white kimchi on top, or made into DIY sushi. It definitely had a more upscale flavor than other sashimi places around Jongno, Daegu.

What dishes come after the tuna sashimi?

As we were finishing the sashimi, chicken gomtang (clear chicken soup) and ankimo maki (monkfish liver roll) came out, and a bit later the tuna mul-hoe (cold raw fish soup). It was my first time having ankimo maki too. The first bite was really rich and nutty with a faint sea aroma, which felt so novel.

The tuna mul-hoe is a can't-go-wrong combo, but it was cool, tangy and sweet and so good, and I think tuna back meat came with it.

Grilled tuna head and conger eel tempura

Next came grilled tuna and conger eel tempura. The staff said the grilled tuna was the crown-of-the-head cut, and it tasted like grilled mackerel made cleaner and a little milder in seasoning.

The conger eel tempura was so huge when it came out that the corners of my mouth lifted a little, and the quality beats the conger eel tendon at most tempura rice bowl shops. Crispy outside, tender inside, and clean-tasting. So good.

Seafood ramen to finish the course

The Jongno Darang bluefin course ended with seafood ramen. It felt like Shin Ramyun with seafood added and an extra kick of spice, and it was a perfect finish. A nice, hot and spicy way to close.

Is Jongno Darang's ₩100,000 bluefin course for two worth it?

The bluefin course for two at Jongno Darang was so good that the ₩100,000 price was hard to believe, and every dish from start to finish was so polished that I want to come back for anniversaries and special days. If you're looking for a sashimi place or a drinking spot around Jongno, Daegu, I really recommend trying Jongno Darang for its well-packed bluefin course.

• Address: 1st floor, 46-1 Jongno, Jung-gu, Daegu (Jongno Darang)
• Hours: Daily 15:00 to 01:00 the next day
• Features: Spacious, tidy interior; a vibe that suits group dinners and anniversary dates