Daejeon Chinese restaurant for peppery kaoyu: Bantiannyao

I visited Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch (반티엔야오 카오위 대전점) in Dunsan-dong. You may have heard of kaoyu in Chinese cuisine, and I was so happy to see it arrive in Daejeon. If you love hot pot or mala tang, you really can’t help but like this dish, so I think you should give it a try. As someone who has eaten kaoyu in China, let’s get into my honest review.

Where is Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch, and what is it like?

Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch is near the Galleria Department Store in Dunsan-dong, so it was easy to get to. I visited on a weekday evening and made a reservation beforehand. Bantiannyao is a kaoyu franchise with 1,300 locations worldwide, and there are several branches in Korea too, including Konkuk University and Myeong-dong. At the moment, the only branches outside the capital area are in Daejeon and Jeju, so I really loved being able to eat it in Daejeon.

As you would expect from a great new spot, the restaurant felt pleasant and fresh. Its modern, trendy interior also made it feel like a nice place to visit with family. The soft lighting created a lovely mood. Since the dishes are baked in an oven before coming out, there was no fishy smell at all, and the photos of the different kaoyu varieties already had me excited about choosing a flavor. It was cleaner and more upscale than the kaoyu places I visited in China.

There are inner seats in private rooms too, if you want a more private meal. The tables were spaced far apart, which made conversation comfortable, and each table has an induction burner so you can enjoy the kaoyu neatly.

Ordering Qinghuajiao kaoyu and add-ons

One advantage is that there are so many kaoyu varieties to order according to your taste. Some people can’t handle mala flavor or spicy food, so in that case I think the garlic or suancai (pickled mustard greens) kaoyu would be a good choice. I ordered the best-selling Qinghuajiao kaoyu, plus vegetable add-ons and soy skin! I also added the ₩2,000-per-person self-service bar so we could have steamed rice, soft drinks, and the sauce bar.

• Qinghuajiao kaoyu ₩43,000
• Vegetable & mushroom assorted add-on ₩8,000
• Soy skin ₩3,000
• Self-service bar ₩2,000

This time I ordered the bestseller, but next time I want to try the new mala garlic flavor 🧄 Even when I ate kaoyu in China, mala garlic was the most popular choice among Koreans.

What is at the unlimited self-service bar?

Hot pot places don’t usually have rice paper, but Bantiannyao’s self-service bar does! It seemed like it would be delicious dipped in the kaoyu broth and eaten with fish. There was steamed rice too, so I brought some over. It goes so well with kaoyu that I really recommend having rice with it 🍚

There were snacks and a sauce bar as well. There were so many sauces, plus recommended sauce combinations, so it was easy to make one while looking at the guide. I went with a companion who can’t handle spicy food well, so I made the Gamdong Garlic Sauce for them and Banti’s Secret Sauce for myself. If you love mala, remember the secret sauce 🌶️

There were all kinds of fizzy drinks, including zero-sugar options, and a variety of ice cream bars. For an extra ₩2,500, draft beer is unlimited too, so those interested should try it. Ta-da. You can tell just by looking that this sauce is full of mala vibes, right? I added chili oil to the basic combination and mixed it to my liking, and it was even better. Now, let’s go eat kaoyu! It also felt convenient that it arrives fully cooked and only needs a brief boil 🥘

How did the Qinghuajiao kaoyu taste?

I chose Ningbo fish, and since this menu contains chili peppers, I chose the regular spice level. There were so many options that choosing was fun! It is freshwater fish, but it was prepared so well that there was barely any muddiness. I think two people can eat very full with one kaoyu plus the vegetable add-on 🐟

[Vegetable & mushroom assorted add-on: oyster mushrooms, lotus root, wood ear mushrooms, napa cabbage, celtuce stems, quail eggs, fish balls, bok choy] The vegetable add-on isn’t essential, but I recommend it because vegetables make it even more delicious! For three people, I think it would be good to order one kaoyu with several add-ons. Like at hot pot and mala tang places, the add-on selection was very diverse.

We added soy skin too, and after gently simmering the fish, the seasoning had soaked in beautifully. I also loved that the flesh was thick and did not fall apart easily 🤤

Once the sand timer runs out, a staff member comes over to help prepare the fish. In China I just ate it myself, but having it prepared for us made it so much easier and nicer. Qinghuajiao is defined by the sharp, citrusy aroma of Sichuan pepper and a slight tongue-tingling sensation. It was appealing that it tingled a little even though the color was not red. It was a perfect rice companion without any heaviness.

There were quite a few noodle add-ons too, including wide glass noodles, corn noodles, flat glass noodles, and knife-cut noodles, and I tried the wide glass noodles. Noodles—what more is there to say? I love them... Still, the vegetable add-on was the tastiest for me. The well-seasoned cabbage, mushrooms, and bok choy were all so delicious that, if I had to pick one, I would recommend the vegetables 🥬

Finish the meal with ice cream from the self-service bar! The dish had a slight tingle, and cooling it down with ice cream made it even better. Kaoyu can also be ordered for takeout with the same flavor as dining in, so keep that in mind 🍦

Why I recommend it for a family gathering in Dunsan-dong

It is centrally located in Dunsan-dong, so it is easy to get to, and I loved the upscale interior, which is why I recommend it. Kaoyu is an unusual dish to try, but it has a flavor Koreans are sure to enjoy, so I think I will visit from time to time too! With its varied sauce bar and ice cream, it is more than suitable for family gatherings, so I recommend visiting Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch 🤍