Daegu eel and steak tendon lunch by Suseong Lake: Ongijeong

Why I picked Ongijeong Suseong Lake Branch for lunch

Ongijeong Suseong Lake Branch is a tendon-focused Japanese restaurant on the 1st floor of 9 Suseongmot 6-gil, Suseong-gu, Daegu. I was looking for a filling lunch spot near Suseong Lake and hadn't had tendon in a while, so I headed to Ongijeong.

Too much tempura can easily get greasy, but Ongijeong Suseong Lake Branch kept things light while still serving generous portions — one of the reasons it's become a go-to spot in Suseong-gu.

Address and opening hours

• Ongijeong Suseong Lake Branch
• 9 Suseongmot 6-gil, Suseong-gu, Daegu, South Korea
• Daily 11:00–21:30

Is there parking near Suseong Lake?

Ongijeong has dedicated parking spaces right in front of the restaurant. Parking is a surprisingly big factor when picking a place to eat near Suseong Lake, and this made visiting by car pretty convenient.

Around Suseong Lake, parking can get frustrating on weekends or during meal times when traffic piles up, so being able to park right in front of the restaurant was genuinely convenient. Since you can park and walk straight in, it also works well as a lunch meeting spot.

Inside Ongijeong: interior and seating

The wood-tone interior matched the restaurant's name and gave off a warm feeling, with green sofa seats adding a pop of color that felt like a retro Japanese-style diner. It was an unexpectedly charming, comfortable atmosphere, and the tables were spaced generously, making it look good for both dates and group gatherings.

The walls and decor also had a subtle Japanese feel, setting it apart from a plain, standard chain Japanese restaurant. Each table has a tablet for checking the menu and ordering, which was convenient, and there were high chairs too, making it easy to visit with family.

Ongijeong Suseong Lake Branch menu and prices

• Steak & raw salmon bowl tempura set — ₩20,000
• Mentaiko & avocado bowl tempura set — ₩16,000
• Pork jowl yakiniku bowl tempura set — ₩17,000
• Special salmon obanzai — ₩20,000
• Steak bowl obanzai — ₩20,000
• Tendon — ₩12,000
• Shrimp tendon — ₩13,000
• Steak bowl — ₩13,000
• Raw salmon bowl — ₩16,000
• Salmon jang tendon — ₩15,000
• Steak tendon — ₩15,000
• Spicy pork bowl — ₩9,500
• Beef belly & egg bowl — ₩9,500
• Sukiyaki nabe set — ₩16,000
• Spicy tempura kimchi nabe set — ₩16,000
• Tempura soba set — ₩16,000
• Bukkake cold udon — ₩13,000
• Shrimp tempura udon — ₩11,000

Eel & steak tendon: two bowls in one

We ordered the eel & steak tendon and the tendon set. There were so many menu options that we spent a while deciding, but since we came for tendon, I wanted the classic tendon, and also wanted something special, so we picked both. Even in photos, the tempura piled high over the bowl made it look really generous.

The eel & steak tendon is the best menu item, mainly because you get to eat eel and steak together. The eel in particular was much bigger than I expected. You could fully taste the eel's signature savory flavor, and with steak on top too, it felt like ordering one dish but getting two bowls in one.

Since it's tendon, it's mostly tempura, so eating eel alone might have felt a bit lacking, but the steak mixed in between changed up the flavor direction, so it never got repetitive.

What comes in the tendon set, plus the soft-boiled egg tempura

The tendon set came with tendon plus udon and chicken nanban, a full spread. I usually worry that too much tempura will get greasy, but Ongijeong Suseong Lake Branch had zero trace of that.

The outside was fried crisp, and you could really taste the ingredients inside, so I kept reaching for more piece by piece — the sweet pumpkin tempura especially, since the pumpkin itself was sweet and paired so well with the crunchy coating.

The egg tempura came out perfectly soft-boiled, so I broke the yolk and mixed it lightly with the rice — this combo really doubled the savory flavor and was so good... Rather than just eating tempura and rice on repeat, the yolk soaking into the rice made it go down easier and added even more richness.

I assumed the udon would just be a mini side portion at first, but it actually had a decent amount. Sipping the warm udon broth alongside the tendon felt like it reset your palate, and the balance was great — plus the noodles were generous enough that it felt hearty for a side dish.

The set also comes with chicken nanban, which wasn't just crispy on the outside — the inside stayed moist too, giving it a completely different feel from the tendon. If you love tendon, I'd fully recommend this set for a hearty, generous meal.

Worth it if you want tendon that isn't greasy

Ongijeong, a Japanese restaurant near Suseong Lake, served a hefty amount of tempura, but it stayed lighter than expected, which I loved. From shrimp, which works well as a main tempura, to sweet pumpkin, mushroom, perilla leaf and seaweed, the variety made the flavors rich too. It's a menu that leaves you fully satisfied, so if you're visiting Suseong Lake, I'd recommend giving it a try.

If you love tempura like me but find overly greasy tendon a bit much and prefer something lighter, or if you're near Suseong Lake looking for a Japanese restaurant with generous portions, Ongijeong is a solid choice for a filling lunch — you can eat well and then take a stroll around Suseong Lake afterward 🤭