Daegu Korean restaurant for two rice bowls: Hyangtaek Daebong Branch

Hyangtaek Daebong Branch: Atmosphere and practical information

The address is 1F, 17 Dalgubeol-daero 440-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a break from 3:30 to 5 p.m. It is closed for Chuseok on September 25. There are high chairs, parking for two cars in front, and nearby paid parking.

Aprons, spoons, chopsticks, paper cups, and tissues are all tucked adorably beside the open kitchen, alongside little eggplant characters.

The open kitchen gave me a reassuringly hygienic feeling! My eyes kept drifting to the cauldron, as though rice might pop right out of it, haha.

Sunlight comes through the full-height windows, so the interior feels open rather than stuffy. It is a neat Korean restaurant, but also warm and atmospheric.

Recommended for

• Anyone who enjoys neatly prepared Korean food
• Anyone looking for a clean, casual place for a meal in Daebong-dong
• Anyone looking for somewhere to dine with their parents
• Couples wanting a date at an atmospheric Korean restaurant
• If eggplant has not left you with good memories, this is a great beginner-friendly place to try it!

I also saw lots of people dining with their parents that day. It was so lovely to see ☺️

Ordering eggplant doenjang rice and chamnamul squid rice

Last time, I had Spanish mackerel gondre rice and yukhoe bibimbap! I remembered them being so delicious that I came back to Hyangtaek, but this time I decided to order something different. One of the signature dishes was soy-sauce-and-doenjang rice ⁉️ I had no idea what it would taste like, so I hesitated for a moment....

But surely there must be a reason it is a signature dish?? That was my thought, so I went for it!

• Eggplant doenjang rice ₩13,000
• Chamnamul squid rice ₩13,000

A Naver review event was underway.

Neat little side dishes.

Our dishes arrived 😋 They said to tear up the eggplant doenjang rice and mix it all together❗️

A rice bowl where grilled eggplant meets doenjang

Honestly, I was a little hesitant when I first heard the name eggplant doenjang rice, haha. I worried that doenjang (fermented soybean paste) might have that strong funky, salty flavor,,,,,, but once I tried it, it was completely different from what I expected. Did eggplant and doenjang always go this well together⁉️⁉️

The subtle sweetness of grilled eggplant blended naturally with the mild doenjang flavor. The eggplant was finely scored so the seasoning seeped into every little gap, and scooped up with rice, it was incredibly soft......

I thought the soft, slightly squishy texture unique to eggplant might be divisive, but grilling it this way made it much easier to enjoy than expected. A child who does not usually like eggplant tried it, said it was delicious, and kept eating. Then they wrapped it in gim (roasted seaweed), said it was even better that way, and asked me to take a photo, haha. It seems like a great restaurant to visit with kids. Whether it is Spanish mackerel gondre rice or eggplant doenjang rice, it is such a wholesome meal that this mom feels grateful, haha.

And there was vinegar served alongside it! They told us to add it if the dish started to feel rich. At first I wondered whether I needed it because I was enjoying it so much, but after eating over half, I added just a little and it felt like my palate was reset‼️‼️ It lightly cut the richness, and the tanginess actually made me want the next spoonful, hahaha. Such a delicious restaurant—I love it 🥹

Fragrant, spicy-sour chamnamul squid rice

🦑 Chamnamul squid rice. This had a completely different feel from the eggplant doenjang rice: first came the distinctive fragrant aroma of chamnamul (Korean parsley), then the squid and spicy-sour seasoning joined in and really woke up the appetite... Once you come here, your appetite just bursts open, haha.

The spice, chamnamul's fragrance, and savory depth came through one after another, making it the kind of dish you keep eating 👍🏻 Ordering one mild dish and one spicy dish made them perfect to alternate between. So rather than choosing only one of the two, if you are visiting as a pair, I really recommend ordering different styles. Just one bite of yours~~~~~ haha

For neat Korean food near Kim Kwang-seok Street

It is close to Kim Kwang-seok Street, Kyungpook National University Hospital Station, and Bangcheon Market, so it is easy to get to. Table turnover felt fairly quick, though actual waits can vary by the time you visit. Luckily, a table opened up right away for me, so in I zipped~ haha. They are also diligently bringing out new dishes. Next time, I will come back to try something else, haha.

The eggplant doenjang rice—proof that eggplant can be this delicious—is what stayed with me most. If you are looking for gently seasoned, neat, atmospheric Korean food in Daebong-dong, Daegu, give it a visit 🏃🏃♀️🏃♂️