Suwon Station kalguksu with a weekday evening wait: Daseon Kalguksu

This is my review of Daseon Kalguksu Main Branch, a local kalguksu spot near Suwon Station haha.

I really love kalguksu, and here the chewy bibim kalguksu, the pajeon, and the suyuk were all so perfectly delicious that I ate until I was stuffed!! Let me write up a satisfying review!!

Where is Daseon Kalguksu Main Branch, and what are its hours?

Daseon Kalguksu Main Branch is at 48 Hyanggyo-ro, 1st floor, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, and it's open daily from 10:30 to 22:00. Break time is 15:30 - 17:00.

For location, come out of Suwon Station Exit 8 and keep walking straight — the cozy Daseon Kalguksu shop sits right at the very end of Rodeo Street!

Is there a wait at Daseon Kalguksu on a weekday evening?

There was actually a wait at Daseon Kalguksu Main Branch even on a weekday evening. The exterior has that classic local-favorite feel, and once you step inside, a clean and pleasant interior welcomes you.

I went in with high expectations since it's been on shows like 'Amazing Saturday,' but I never imagined there'd be a wait — and yet there was, on a weekday evening. I thought, so this really is the word-of-mouth spot every Suwon local knows haha.

Daseon Kalguksu menu: what to order together

Daseon Kalguksu's menu ranges from their signature kal-nakji (kalguksu with octopus) to basic kalguksu, jang kalguksu, mandu kalguksu, bibim kalguksu, mandu (dumplings), suyuk bossam, and stir-fried octopus.. 😋

Honestly, after reading a few reviews, the noodles looked so chewy and the mandu, bossam, and stir-fried octopus all looked delicious, so I was like how am I supposed to pick just one menu ㅠㅡㅠ After agonizing over it, here's what I ordered~!

• Bibim kalguksu, double portion: ₩12,000
• Suyuk plate: ₩15,000
• Seafood pancake: ₩18,000

Order time, let's go~~~!

After ordering, the kimchi, salted shrimp, and soy sauce came out first

The free barley rice with radish salad at Daseon Kalguksu

And then the complimentary barley rice topped with radish salad. I don't really love radish salad, but I mixed it up and took a bite and it just kept going down, haha. The nutty sesame oil paired with the radish salad was a real hidden gem~~! Plenty enough to get your appetite going 😉

Ahh~ once my appetite got going, the table was beautifully set. The visuals are seriously amazing haha.

Seafood pancake for 18,000 won: how big is the portion?

Daseon Kalguksu Main Branch's haemul pajeon comes out beautifully arranged in a basket, and the portion is generous. Crispy outside, still moist inside.

The portion was so big I thought there was no way I'd finish it, but ha, it was so delicious that I ended up polishing it all off, stuffed or not ㅜㅋㅋ.

There was plenty of squid in it too, so the texture was really great .. ♥

Double-portion bibim kalguksu: how spicy is it?

The bibim kalguksu at Daseon Kalguksu Main Branch was mild enough for even a spice wimp like me to enjoy. It was a hot day, so I originally planned to get kal-nakji but switched last-minute to bibim kalguksu ha.

First off, the noodles were so wonderfully chewy, and the sauce was just spicy enough that even I could enjoy it well! It wasn't spicy in the sense of being painful, but you could still taste the kick — a well-balanced, delicious sauce 😎.

Since it's a bibim (mixed) kalguksu you mix yourself, I gave it a good stir and it was so glossy I wanted to dig in right away. The crunchy lettuce mixed in made the texture even better!!

Suyuk plate for 15,000 won: what the boiled pork was like

And here's the suyuk plate!! Since the portion isn't huge, it was a great choice for those of us who wanted to try a bit of everything. First impression: pure soft, tender goodness ..!

Can you feel that tenderness! ㅋㅋㅋㅋ One bite and it's soft with no gamey smell at all, melting right in your mouth ha. It's great with the chives served alongside, and if you top it with kimchi it's pure heaven ..😍

Is Daseon Kalguksu Main Branch worth the trip near Suwon Station?

I ate so well I left completely stuffed. Feels like I found a real gem near Suwon Station!! The staff were so friendly too, making for a great meal all around!!

Since I love kalguksu and pajeon dishes like this, I've been to a lot of kalguksu restaurants, and it's genuinely rare for every single dish to be delicious. But at Daseon Kalguksu Main Branch, the spicy-sauced bibim kalguksu, the melt-in-your-mouth suyuk, and the crisp-yet-moist pajeon were all perfectly good — amazing, I think .. ❤

Next time I want to try the kal-nakji and mandu I missed, and after that come back for the stir-fried octopus with pajeon combo. Daseon Kalguksu near Suwon Station!! If you haven't been yet, you absolutely have to go!! Highly recommend 👍