Open Seat · 5 stories

Empty Stool, Daegu/Gyeongbuk and Busan/Gyeongnam Bars, Cafes and Restaurants

Writes about bars, cafes and restaurants in Daegu/Gyeongbuk and Busan/Gyeongnam, mostly the ones near a bus stop she happened to get off at. · Writes about: Bars · Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceSuseong, DaeguRestaurants

Suseongmot tendon restaurant: extra shrimp tempura lunch, Ongijeong

Ongijeong Suseong Lake Branch (온기정 수성못점) is a Japanese restaurant serving tendon (tempura rice bowl) and donburi near Suseongmot in Suseong-gu, Daegu. On a rainy day, the writer and her boyfriend had lunch at Ongijeong: the basic tendon with extra shrimp tempura and the steak & raw salmon donburi tempura set, with tempura that was very crisp and not greasy. Having loved Ongijeong's tendon since its downtown branch days, the writer felt it tasted even better at Suseongmot.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

2.28 Park, Daegu noodle shop for Chobok and kimchi refills: Donggok

Donggok Jemyeon Daegu Dongseong-ro Main Branch (동곡제면) is a Korean kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) restaurant with Hanwoo beef bone broth, across from 2.28 Park in Jung-gu, Daegu. On Chobok, the first of summer's three hottest days, the writer had the summer dishes chogye bibim kalguksu (sweet-and-sour chilled chicken noodles), seoritae kongguksu (black soybean noodle soup) and a plate of gabrisal suyuk (boiled pork), and loved the pork with geotjeori (fresh kimchi) so much they asked for a geotjeori refill. With friendly service down to the yogurt dessert, Donggok Jemyeon is a 100% return visit.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Korean restaurant near Dongdaegu Station for Friday dinner: Hyangtaek

Hyangtaek Main Branch is a Korean rice restaurant tucked down an alley near Dongdaegu Station in Dong-gu, Daegu, with solo seats, tables for 2 and 4, and baby chairs. At 7 pm on a Friday, two friends walked into Hyangtaek with no wait and shared one samchi gondeure-bap (Spanish mackerel with thistle rice) and one yukhoe bibimbap (raw beef bibimbap). The thick mackerel and not-too-salty house soy sauce paired well with the slightly bolder yukhoe bibimbap. Hyangtaek is a clean, mild rice restaurant by Dongdaegu Station that is worth visiting often.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuseong, DaeguRestaurants

Hanwoo BBQ date in Suseong, Daegu: leftover salchisal to go at Jangpro

Jangpro Hanwoo Galbitsal (장프로한우갈빗살) is a charcoal-grill restaurant serving native Korean hanwoo beef on Deuran-gil in Suseong, Daegu. The writer and her boyfriend ate 1++ grade hanwoo galbitsal (rib finger meat) and sirloin plus hanwoo galbi doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), then added salchisal (chuck flap) even though they were already full, couldn't grill it all and took the leftover meat home. With native hanwoo sirloin makgui at 11,900 won per 100g, Jangpro Hanwoo Galbitsal is a good-value hanwoo spot the writer will definitely revisit.

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJinju, GyeongnamRestaurants

Jinju naengmyeon restaurant with gallery-like ceramics: Songgiwon

Songgiwon Jinju Naengmyeon Direct Store is a Jinju naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodle) restaurant on Cheonsu-ro in Jinju, Gyeongnam, where ceramics and lighting are displayed throughout the dining room like a small art gallery. Arriving right at opening, the writer ordered two bowls of Songgiwon 1997 (mixed naengmyeon) and ujeon, a Korean beef yukjeon, and received a free drink through the receipt review event. Prices run a little high for naengmyeon, but the Jeju buckwheat noodles and freshly grilled yukjeon make Songgiwon a solid summer date course in Jinju.

Written Aug 13, 2026Sponsored
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