Empty Stool Sitter · 10 stories

Empty Stool, Daejeon and Sejong Bars

Writes about restaurants and bars across Daejeon and Sejong, one visit at a time. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars

Tree-view pasta restaurant in Dunsan-dong: steak pappardelle, Plate

Plate Dunsan Branch is a fresh pasta restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building next to Galleria Time World in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. The writer added the ₩4,000 set and ordered a steak cream pasta with pappardelle and a spicy buldak (fiery chicken) leg-quarter rosé pasta, and was pleased with the tender steak made from aged meat and the window seats looking out on trees. For a Dunsan-dong date with a classier, more stylish feel than Plate's Eunhaeng Branch, Plate Dunsan Branch is a good fit.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon weekday burger lunch with soda refills: Downtown Burger

Downtown Burger Galleria Timeworld is a handmade burger restaurant in the B2 food court of Galleria Timeworld in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. On a weekday lunch the writer had an avocado burger set and the Downtowner burger, and liked the rich beefy patty, the soda refills with the set cup and the two kinds of self-serve pickles. With the free parking tickets from the Galleria app, Downtown Burger Galleria Timeworld is an easy, affordable handmade burger lunch in Dunsan-dong.

Written May 31, 2026Sponsored

PlaceWonju, GangwonRestaurants

Wonju octopus restaurant near Munmak IC: road-trip jjusam with kids

Singi Arrowroot Naengmyeon & Jjukkumi is a webfoot octopus and naengmyeon (cold noodle) Korean restaurant in Wonju, Gangwon, about 1 minute from Munmak IC. On a long drive with kids, the writer stopped at Singi Arrowroot Naengmyeon & Jjukkumi instead of a highway rest stop and ordered jjusam (spicy octopus with pork belly) for 2, flying fish roe rice balls, sundae gukbap (Korean blood sausage soup) and galbi mandu (rib dumplings); the complimentary muk-sabal (acorn jelly in icy broth) and the surprisingly rich sundae gukbap stood out most. The writer didn't get to try the naengmyeon, but every dish, from the kids' menu to the adults' plates, made for a satisfying family meal.

Written Oct 11, 2026Sponsored

PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon BBQ: special-sauce cold pork belly with naengmyeon, Sangdaedon

Sangdaedon (Marco branch) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Sangdae-dong, Yuseong, Daejeon, serving cold pork belly, makchang (grilled pork large intestine) and sundae (Korean blood sausage). Two adults and two kids had Mixed Set A and bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) on a weekday evening and were happy with the special cold pork belly sauce, the makchang sauce, staff who offered help before being asked, and the keycap claw machine in the kids' room. Sangdaedon is worth a return visit, both for family meals with kids and for company dinners.

Written Jul 21, 2026Sponsored

PlaceJung-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon fusion Korean restaurant: new menu for a family of six, Usul

Usul is a fusion Korean restaurant in Daeheung-dong, Daejeon, near Jungangno Station and the Sungsimdang main store. Right after Usul's full menu renewal, four adults and two children ordered every main dish except the two fried ones, tasting Chodang soft tofu gomtang (beef bone soup), gochujang yukhoe (raw beef) with yubu rolls, basil doenjang cream sujebi (hand-torn noodle soup) and Chodang corn shrimp potato pancake, then used 3 hours of free parking to catch a play nearby. Familiar Korean dishes with cream and basil twists make Usul a clearly different spot for a family meal.

Written Jul 24, 2026Sponsored

PlaceNonsan, ChungnamRestaurants

Nonsan Korean set meal with Mom, seed jeotgal: Sonamu Hanjeongsik

Sonamu Hanjeongsik is a Korean set-meal (hanjeongsik) restaurant on Nonsan-daero in Nonsan, Chungnam, near Nonsan City Hall and the Nonsan Citizens' Stadium. The writer booked a private room for a weekday dinner with their mother and ordered the Gukhwa set (30,000 won per person) for two, especially enjoying local touches like Ganggyeong seed jeotgal (salted seafood) and Nonsan strawberry juice, the tender 24-hour sous-vide braised short ribs and the chewy glutinous rice bukkumi (pan-fried rice cake). Verdict: Sonamu Hanjeongsik won top marks from Mom and is a great Nonsan restaurant for taking your parents.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonBars

Staff-pick matcha draft beer at Yongju, a Galma-dong Chinese bar

Yongju is a Chinese bar in Galma-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, with interiors that feel like a trip to China. On a Tuesday evening, the writer ordered the nurungji gwabaro (sweet-and-sour crispy pork with scorched rice) and rosé mala xiang guo (spicy stir-fry pot) set, then tried the matcha draft beer labeled 'staff pick' on Yongju's menu. The matcha came through clearly, though the original draft beer was more to the writer's taste. Yongju is a Galma-dong bar worth a visit for its atmosphere and its fun-to-read menu.

Written Aug 6, 2026Sponsored

PlaceGongju, ChungnamRestaurants

Gongju katsu restaurant for loin katsu and karaage curry: Myeonsikdang

Myeonsikdang Gongju University Branch is a donkatsu (pork cutlet) and noodle restaurant on Gongjudaehak-ro in Gongju, Chungnam. Over a weekend lunch we shared three dishes: chogye naeng soba (chilled chicken soba), pork loin katsu and a karaage curry rice bowl. The katsu came with spicy and mild sauces plus salt, wasabi and cumin. With a spacious, comfortable dining room and plenty of solo seats, Myeonsikdang Gongju University Branch is a good-value meal near Kongju National University.

Written Aug 8, 2026Sponsored

PlaceSejongRestaurants

Sejong Thai restaurant with underground parking: Mekong Thai Lake Park

Mekong Thai Sejong Lake Park Branch is a Thai restaurant on Doum8-ro near Sejong Lake Park and the National Children's Museum. On a weekend lunch visit with a child, the order was tom yum noodle soup and pineapple fried rice, and the underground parking, high partitions between tables, baby chairs and tablet ordering all made the meal easy with a family. At Mekong Thai, the spicy tom yum noodle soup paired especially well with the sweet pineapple fried rice.

Written Aug 19, 2026Sponsored

PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Yuseong cast-iron lid pork belly grill for 3 on a Sunday: Jeonju House

Jeonju House is a Korean home-style restaurant on Oncheon-ro in Yuseong, Daejeon. On a Sunday at 1pm the writer parked on the roadside, ordered three servings of cast-iron lid pork belly (sotdduggeong samgyeopsal) with three bowls of rice, and finished with fried rice; the side dishes and vegetables were generous and the kimchi grilled beside the meat was the highlight. Jeonju House works well for a family meal, though the cast-iron lid gets hot enough to burn small hands.

Written Aug 16, 2026Sponsored

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