Suseong Korean restaurant for a mackerel lunch: Geumdeungeo

My friend and I went to Deulan-gil near Suseong Lake for lunch. I had heard wood-fired grilled mackerel was popular lately, so we made a 2 p.m. reservation and visited Geumdeungeo Deulanguil Main Branch (금등어 들안길 본점). Known around Deulan-gil for wood-fired mackerel aged in nuruk salt, we arrived with high expectations.

Geumdeungeo Deulanguil Main Branch location and parking

Geumdeungeo Deulanguil Main Branch is on the second floor at 57 Deulan-ro, Suseong-gu, Daegu.

You can use the dedicated parking area on the building's first floor or the tower parking. Once you spot the restaurant, do not miss the yellow sign for the parking entrance—turn right and head in.

I missed the entrance at first and had to circle around once, haha. But after passing the barrier, the dedicated lot and parking tower appeared, and a parking attendant guided us, so parking was easy enough.

If the lot is full, you can use nearby parking, such as Dusan-dong Administrative Welfare Center parking lot (93 m away) or Sang-dong Public Parking Lot (386 m away).

What are the dining room and ordering system like?

Take the elevator to the second floor and it leads straight into the restaurant.

You order first at the counter by the entrance, then are shown to your table. Additional orders can be placed through the tablet at the table.

Because we had reserved ahead, we could sit down right away without waiting. I thought it would be quiet at 2 p.m., but customers kept coming in even after we were seated, which really made it feel like a well-known Suseong Lake restaurant.

The whole restaurant was neat and bright, with high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that kept it from feeling closed in. There were tables for four and six, group seating, and private rooms, and the generous spacing made it comfortable to eat without feeling crowded by the next table. Clean wood-toned tables and natural light through the windows made it feel especially cozy.

It looked like a good all-round choice for family meals, company dinners, or gatherings. We came as a pair, but I thought it would be nice for bringing parents or hosting guests, too. High chairs were available as well, so it looked convenient for diners with children~

Self-bar side dishes and a look at the wood-fired oven

At the self-bar, you can help yourself to seasonal side dishes. It felt as though we were being properly treated to a tidy, full Korean meal, and I was glad we had come.

You could also buy side dishes you liked separately, and it was fun to watch the mackerel being grilled in the oven opposite the self-bar. I took a photo too; seeing it turn golden in front of the fire made it look even more appetizing.

Instead of an employee bringing our food on a tray, a serving robot followed along. Once it had set every dish down, it quickly backed away, lol.

Two portions of wood-fired mackerel and cockle salad

We ordered two portions of wood-fired grilled mackerel and added cockle salad. The basic setting came with several side dishes, soybean-paste soup, and steamed rice, and we could bring more of whichever side dishes we wanted from the self-bar, so it almost felt as if we were at a Korean set-meal restaurant.

The seasonal side dishes—japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), salad, green-onion kimchi, seasoned bellflower root, lotus-root salad, and stir-fried anchovies—were all neatly prepared. The soybean-paste soup was savory and full of umami too, so one bowl of rice was not enough. Come prepared to overeat, haha.

The grilled mackerel was cooked in a 450°C wood-fired oven, so it was crisp outside and moist inside. I liked the thoughtful touch of placing it on an induction burner so it stayed warm to the end.

Perhaps because it had been aged in nuruk salt, it was clean and mild without any fishy smell. The seasoning was not strong, and a light dip in the accompanying nuruk salt brought out a subtle umami flavor. Even the bones were crisp, so it was easy to eat for someone like me who is not very good at picking fish apart.

The added cockle salad had a sweet-and-tangy dressing that went beautifully with rice, and it was just right for two people to share. Above all, each side dish was so neatly prepared that, trying everything in different ways, the rice went down effortlessly. Two portions of wood-fired mackerel plus cockle salad was plenty for two, and with the self-bar side dishes, we finished a bowl of rice in no time and left full.

The flavors were not overly intense, just comforting and filling. I can see why so many people keep coming to Geumdeungeo Deulanguil Main Branch as a Suseong Lake favorite for a home-style meal.

After the meal, there were ice cups, Starbucks whole-bean coffee, and various other drinks ready, so we could pour ourselves a cool drink and finish things off neatly with a little dessert moment.

We went for a casual lunch, but next time I think it would be lovely to bring my parents for an unhurried meal. It would also make a nice course to take a walk around nearby Suseong Lake after eating. If you are looking for a neat, satisfying lunch near Suseong Lake, keep Geumdeungeo Deulanguil Main Branch in mind.

Menu and dining information

• Steamed rice and soybean-paste soup are included
• The above applies when ordering additional items
• One menu item per person is required

Restaurant information

• Address: 2F, 57 Deulan-ro, Suseong-gu, Daegu, South Korea (대구 수성구 들안로 57 2층)
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:20; Sundays until 20:40
• Break time: Daily 15:30–17:00
• Last order: 20:40; Sundays 20:00
• Parking: Dedicated first-floor parking and tower parking; parking attendant available