Daemyeong Station Korean set meal: shoulder-cut curry, Cafe Dongi

I finally set up a lunch date with a friend who has been studying blogging and marketing strategy as hard as I have. We wanted to swap worries and tips about running a Smart Store and writing blog posts, so a good meal was a must that day.

Cafe Dongi (카페동이) is a restaurant I absolutely love and visit often, and when I heard there was a branch near Daemyeong Station, I dragged my friend along to the Daemyeong Station branch this time.

It turned out to be a perfect choice for both of us, since we love neat, hearty Korean food. Here is my honest, first-hand visit report.

Cafe Dongi Daemyeong Station Branch: hours and parking

The branch is open daily 11:00-21:00, with a break from 15:00 to 16:30. Last orders are at 14:30 and 20:30.

• Opening hours: daily 11:00-21:00
• Break time: 15:00-16:30
• Last order: 14:30 / 20:30

The exterior is neatly done in clean white, so it stood out easily from a distance. One disappointment, though: parking. The restaurant sits on a residential side street with no dedicated lot, so I circled the area a few times looking for a spot, which was a bit of a struggle.

You basically have to read the situation and park wherever you see an empty spot in the alleys nearby, so please keep that in mind if you visit. Parking was a little tough, but since this is a restaurant I like so much, I walked in happily anyway.

A roomy, bright hall and an energetic young staff

The inside was much bigger and more comfortable than it looks from outside. I gasped as soon as I stepped in. The natural light makes the whole place feel bright, which I really liked. Wide wooden tables are spaced out generously, so it was a wonderful spot to sit across from my friend and talk blogging.

What impressed me most was that everyone working in the kitchen and hall was young and full of energy. Seeing them cook passionately over woks in the open kitchen and serve so kindly gave off a really positive, bright vibe. The service bar on one side was also spotless, without a speck of dust. Since I'm learning Korean cooking carefully myself, even my eyes found the hygiene perfect, which made me trust the place more.

Brazier jeyuk set and shoulder-cut Japanese curry, a perfect pair

We each picked to our own taste. My friend chose the 1-person brazier char-grilled pork set (jeyuk, spicy stir-fried pork), known for its spicy fire aroma, and I ordered my all-time favorite here, the shoulder-cut Japanese curry set.

My friend's char-grilled jeyuk set comes on a mini brazier so it stays warm to the last bite. Fresh vegetables sat on a mountain of stir-fried pork, so it was overwhelming just to look at. The meat had a deep smoky flavor and tender grain, ideal with rice. It came with savory doenjang stew (soybean paste stew), neat side dishes and cool omija tea (five-flavor berry tea), all arranged on a tidy single tray, and I really felt treated.

The shoulder-cut Japanese curry set I ordered was excellent too. The curry is simmered deep and rich with a hearty flavor, and generous tender shoulder meat sits in it. Mixed into rice, the savory taste fills your mouth. Crispy garlic flakes sprinkled on top add texture, so I never got tired of it and scraped the bowl clean. The cool seaweed soup that came with it was perfectly seasoned and went really well with the curry.

A fresh lemonade to finish things off

My other must-have with a meal here is the fresh lemonade. Its fizzy zing and real-lemon tartness rinse your mouth clean between bites.

One each is a must, so my friend and I happily ordered two lemonades and drank them ice-cold. I usually love coffee, but this tangy lemonade is a match made in heaven with Cafe Dongi's Korean food. Add the fried egg I made myself at the service bar, and it was a truly perfect, filling lunch.

Would I go back to Cafe Dongi Daemyeong Station Branch?

The spacious, clean hall, the young and kind staff, and the neat single-tray food that fully met my expectations were enough to make me forget the parking trouble. Everything satisfied me. My friend and I left full and cheerful, ready for the rest of the afternoon.

If you're craving a clean, proper meal, or looking for a place to eat near Apsan or Seobu Bus Terminal, give it a visit. I'd suggest parking your car somewhere safe and walking over.