Rear Stool Regular · 28 stories

A Back Counter in Daecheong

Writes about small restaurants and eateries around the Daejeon and Chungcheong area. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés

PlaceCheonan, ChungnamRestaurants

Mild gopchang dumpling hot pot near Sono Bell, Cheonan: Omi Omi

Omi Omi Handmade Dumpling Hot Pot & Kudzu Naengmyeon Sono Bell Main Branch is a dumpling hot pot and kudzu cold noodle restaurant near Independence Hall and Sono Bell Cheonan in Cheonan, Chungnam. The writer ordered the mild gopchang (beef intestine) dumpling hot pot and had packed handmade dumplings filled with bracken and mushrooms, gopchang with no gamey smell, a broth with perilla seed powder, self-serve sujebi (hand-torn dough soup) and a free mini naengmyeon. The writer calls Omi Omi's handmade dumplings the "dumpling of my life" and recommends Omi Omi for family meals.

Written Apr 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Yuseong octopus restaurant, bulgogi hotpot, pizza to go: Boksakkot

Boksakkot Pineun Jip (복사꽃피는집) is a family restaurant in Sutonggol, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, specializing in jjukkumi (spicy webfoot octopus) and hotpots. A group of four ordered 2 servings of jjukkumi and 1 serving of beef bulgogi hotpot, and enjoyed the arugula pizza that comes with orders of 2 or more servings, the salad bar and an after-meal café drink; the leftover pizza went home in a takeout box delivered by a serving robot. Ordering spicy jjukkumi alongside the mild bulgogi hotpot makes Boksakkot Pineun Jip a Sutonggol family spot that pleases parents and kids alike.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Wolpyeong-dong, Daejeon sundae gukbap: ₩10,000 refill bar, Ssangdung

Ssangdung Suyuk Gukbap Wolpyeong Seonsa Branch is a gukbap (rice soup) restaurant in Wolpyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, near the Seonsa prehistoric site and the Daejeon Government Complex. A bowl costs ₩10,000 and includes an unlimited self-serve bar of sundae (Korean blood sausage), liver, lung, kimchi pancake, fried eggs and thin noodles. The writer ordered native sundae, sundae gukbap with the spicy paste scooped out, and spicy gukbap, then took the leftover native sundae home. Ssangdung is a strong pick for a good-value lunch or hangover meal for Daejeon Government Complex office workers who want both value and flavor.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon burger joint: 3-burger takeout taste test, Downtown Burger

Downtown Burger Galleria Timeworld (다운타우너 갤러리아 타임월드점) is a handmade burger shop in the B2 food hall of the Galleria Timeworld main building in Seo-gu, Daejeon. The writer loved the Downtown Burger avocado burger while working in Seoul. The writer took a day off to get three burgers to go: the Downtown Burger, the Crispy Chicken Burger and the Bulgogi Smash Burger. There is a wait after ordering, but the department store food hall is clean and easy to visit solo, and the writer rates Downtown Burger as tastier than Shake Shack or Five Guys.

Written May 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Sundaeguk spot in Gorim-dong, Yongin worth the wait: Yetnal

Yetnal Gyeongseong Sundaeguk Gorim Branch (옛날경성순대국 고림본점) is a sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant in Gorim-dong, Cheoin-gu, Yongin. A writer who eats sundaeguk once a week waited in line, ordered the regular and spicy sundaeguk sets, and found free self-serve barley gangjeong (puffed barley snacks), sikhye (sweet rice drink), wireless chargers and hair ties provided for guests. The verdict: the broth at Yetnal Gyeongseong Sundaeguk is good enough to explain the line.

Written May 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceIcheon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Icheon beef BBQ grilled rare and well-done: ₩89,000 platter, Jowatso

Jowatso (Jowatso Janghowon Gamgok Main Branch) is a charcoal-grilled beef BBQ restaurant in Janghowon-eup, Icheon, Gyeonggi. The writer and her husband visited at 4 p.m., ordered the ₩89,000 Jowatso signature platter of several cuts (no table setting fee), grilled it rare and well-done to their own tastes, and finished with free seonji-guk (ox blood soup) and bibim and mul naengmyeon (cold noodles) topped with Korean pear. Verdict: for plenty of good-quality beef at a great price, the Jowatso signature platter is the answer.

Written May 6, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonCafés

Daejeon bakery café: crisp salt bread & strong americano at Reelbakers

Reelbakers is a bakery café on Munjeong-ro in Tanbang-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, also known as a stop on Dunsan-dong bakery tours. At Reelbakers the writer ordered salt bread, a Tango smoothie and an iced americano, and loved how the buttery salt bread, crisp outside and soft inside, paired with an americano about as strong as 3 shots. If you like salt bread and strong coffee, Reelbakers is a Tanbang-dong bakery café worth a stop.

Written May 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon inari shop: no-wait takeout after break time, Kitsune Yubu

Kitsune Yubu Daejeon Dunsan is a Japanese-style inari sushi (rice in sweet fried tofu pouches) shop near City Hall in Dunsan-dong, Daejeon, next to Compose Coffee. Arriving around 4:30 p.m., right after the break time ended, the blogger ordered bulgogi, yukhoe (seasoned raw beef), raw salmon and spicy grilled pork (bul-jeyuk) inari sushi to go with no wait, and each piece costs in the ₩2,000–₩3,000 range. With generous toppings at low prices, Kitsune Yubu is a satisfying takeout spot in Dunsan-dong for inari sushi fans and anyone after unusual toppings.

Written May 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonCafés

Egg tart shop in Seo-gu, Daejeon: reserved box of 4 at Planet Egg Tart

Planet Egg Tart (플래닛에그타르트) is a takeout egg tart shop on Galmayeok-ro in Seo-gu, Daejeon, selling Hong Kong-style and Portuguese-style egg tarts in flavors such as cinnamon, blueberry, raspberry and cream cheese. On a day Planet Egg Tart sold out, the writer picked up a box of 4 reserved in advance, added a lemonade, and loved the crisp pastry and the filling that was neither eggy nor overly sweet. Planet Egg Tart often closes early, so reserve ahead; it's a worthy stop on a Daejeon bakery tour.

Written May 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJongno, SeoulRestaurants

Weekend lunch sushi in Gwanghwamun, B set & futomaki: Elephant Sushi

Elephant Sushi Gwanghwamun (코끼리초밥 광화문점) is a sushi restaurant in a basement in the office district near Gwanghwamun Station in Jongno, Seoul. On a weekend lunch visit with a child, the writer walked in without a wait, ordered the B set, and chose futomaki for the child when the pork cutlet sold out; the generously filled futomaki and a freshly fried croquette given for writing a review were both satisfying. The Elephant Sushi B set is a Gwanghwamun sushi lunch with excellent value, variety and flavor.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGeumjeong, BusanRestaurants

Gopchang BBQ near Guseo Station, Busan: ₩49,000 set at Jeongwon

Jeongwon Makchang Busan Main Branch (정원막창 부산본점) is a Daegu-style makchang and gopchang (grilled intestines) BBQ restaurant near Guseo Station in Geumjeong, Busan. The writer ordered the Jeongwon Set of gopchang, makchang and pork belly for ₩49,000. The meat arrived pre-grilled and easy to eat right away, and the self-bar with unlimited tteokbokki and mussel soup was a highlight. For trying several cuts at good value, the Jeongwon Set at Jeongwon Makchang Busan Main Branch is a smart choice.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Songjeong, Busan antique cutlet spot: Hanwoo cutlet at Deli Donkatsu

Deli Donkatsu is an old-school Western-style (gyeongyangsik) pork cutlet restaurant with an antique interior near Songjeong Beach in Haeundae, Busan. Visiting at opening time with a child, the writer ordered the mixed cutlet plate of Hanwoo (Korean beef) cutlet, pork cutlet and fish cutlet, with soup and morning buns setting up a proper old-school course feel. Of the three, Deli Donkatsu's melt-in-your-mouth Hanwoo cutlet was the standout.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored