King shrimp curry set for two in Chimsan-dong, Daegu: Cafe Dongyi

DAEGU, KOREA — Cafe Dongyi Chimsan Branch: a Chimsan-dong Korean restaurant recommendation for a good-value set meal

My boyfriend loves grilled pork stir-fry (jeyuk-bokkeum) so much that whenever we go out to eat, we often look for a place that has it on the menu. This time too, while searching for somewhere my pork-obsessed boyfriend would love, I found a restaurant serving hearty Korean set meals — Cafe Dongyi in Chimsan-dong!

It's already a chain with 8 branches, so the taste has more or less been proven :) Looking at the menu, they had a wide range of Korean dishes that go well with rice, from grilled pork to bulgogi, stews, and stir-fried baby octopus, so I wanted to introduce it to anyone looking for a good restaurant in Chimsan-dong.

• Weekday hours 11:00–20:30 / break 15:00–17:00 / last order 20:00
• Weekend hours 11:00–21:00 / break 15:00–16:30 / last order 20:30
• Location 51 Hoam-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu

Where is Cafe Dongyi Chimsan Branch, and is there parking?

Cafe Dongyi Chimsan Branch is located on the 1st floor of Dormitory Building E at the Samsung Changjo Campus. If you're near Samsung Changjo Campus looking for a solid meal, it's worth remembering the location.

It wasn't hard to find, and there's parking in the building, which made it easy to visit by car. Registering your car gets you 2 hours free, which was great since we didn't have to worry about parking fees while eating :)

Naver reservation perk: 2 free pieces of fried king shrimp

You can make a Naver reservation before visiting Cafe Dongyi Chimsan Branch, and there was a special perk for those who do. Two pieces of fried king shrimp worth ₩6,900, free!! If you reserve ahead, you get to enjoy a tasty side dish too, so I'd recommend booking if you're planning to visit :)

Inside Cafe Dongyi Chimsan Branch: a Korean set-meal spot in Chimsan-dong

Inside, the overall wood-toned interior with soft lighting gave off a warm, homey feel. These days a lot of restaurants are dressed up to look pretty, but this place, true to its name, felt like somewhere you'd come just to have a comfortable meal — and I actually liked that better :)

Self-serve bar and remote queueing with the Tabling app

There's also a self-serve bar, stocked with fried eggs, rice, barley crisps (boritang-gwaja), and seaweed, all available for unlimited refills. Being able to eat as much fried egg and seaweed as you want at a rice restaurant was such a nice touch!

And true to a popular spot with waits, once there are 2 or more parties waiting, you can join a remote line via the Tabling app. Getting in the remote queue ahead of time means you don't have to just stand around waiting at the restaurant, which is convenient :)

What's on the menu at Cafe Dongyi Chimsan Branch

The menu is basically built around single-portion set meals, featuring grilled bulgogi, grilled pork stir-fry, tofu doenjang stew, kimchi stew, beef brisket doenjang stew, stir-fried baby octopus, curry, sweet-and-sour pork (tangsuyuk), and more, all served as full table settings.

Rather than just one dish, you get a hearty combination of side dishes and rice together, which suited what I was looking for in a Chimsan-dong Korean restaurant. There were also various side menu options like kimchi pancake and fried mandu, great to pair with the main dish.

Honest review of eating here as a couple

The biggest highlight of Cafe Dongyi Chimsan Branch is definitely the unlimited fried egg, barley crisps, and seaweed alongside the set meal. Eating these while waiting for our order meant no irritation at all, and since everything is neatly arranged for single servings, I think it'd be comfortable for solo diners too :)

That day we ordered the fried king shrimp curry set, the grilled pork stir-fry set, and sweet-and-sour pork (tangsuyuk) — supposedly trying all three of Cafe Dongyi's most popular dishes: pork stir-fry, tangsuyuk, and doenjang stew :)

Flame-grilled pork stir-fry set

My pork-obsessed boyfriend liked it the moment he saw the menu, and sure enough, chopsticks went straight for the pork. Being grilled over an open flame, there's a subtle smoky aroma, and it tasted great with rice! Pork stir-fry really needs to be eaten with freshly cooked rice, and grabbing rice and seaweed from the self-serve bar made for one hearty meal!

Tangsuyuk and doenjang stew

Tangsuyuk was also included, and even though it's mainly a rice restaurant, it apparently has a reputation for crispy tangsuyuk too :) Snacking on crispy tangsuyuk between bites and finishing with warm doenjang stew made for a truly perfect meal..★

Fried king shrimp curry set

I already really love curry, and the fried king shrimp came out so crispy and freshly fried it was heavenly..! Rather than ordering just one dish, being able to sample a bit of several popular menu items made for a very satisfying visit as a couple! Best of all, the prices aren't intimidating while the portions are generous, so it seemed like a great fit for anyone who values good value for money :)

Is Cafe Dongyi Chimsan Branch worth it for a meal in Chimsan-dong?

Visiting this time, I could see why they've expanded to multiple branches just from the menu lineup. With a clean set-meal presentation and a hearty combination of pork stir-fry, tangsuyuk, and stew, it was a solid choice for lunch or dinner.

It works well whether you're eating solo, as a couple, or with a group, so if you're looking for a good restaurant in Chimsan-dong, it's worth a visit. Especially recommended if you love grilled pork stir-fry!