Kids' bulgogi set at a Gyeongsan Korean restaurant: Cafe Dongi

Cafe Dongi: a kid-friendly Korean restaurant at Yeungnam University in Gyeongsan

One place I really want to recommend for a kid-friendly Korean meal near Yeungnam University in Gyeongsan is Cafe Dongi Yeungnam University Art Center Branch. There are plenty of good Korean restaurants around campus, but being right in front of a university, it's actually hard to think of many places that work well with a kid in tow.

Cafe Dongi Yeungnam University Art Center Branch is located inside Yeungnam University itself, so parking support is available, the space is spacious and comfortable, and there's even a dedicated kids' set — all of which made it easy to visit with my child. Since the Cheonma Art Center also holds children's performances now and then, it's a fantastic Gyeongsan Korean restaurant near Yeungnam University for a meal before or after a show.

Cafe Dongi location, hours and 4 hours of free parking

• Address: 280 Daehak-ro, Yeungnam University Cheonma Art Center Main Hall 2F, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
• Hours: 10:30–20:30
• Break time: 15:00–16:30
• Open year-round

The entrance to Cafe Dongi Yeungnam University Art Center Branch is tucked behind the Starbucks in the Cheonma Art Center. The first time I went for lunch with coworkers, we actually wandered around a bit trying to find the entrance haha. Parking is paid since it's on campus, but if you register your parking after your meal, you get 4 hours free, so there's no need to worry about parking fees.

Inside Cafe Dongi: a roomy space that works with kids

Cafe Dongi Yeungnam University Art Center Branch has high chairs ready and an elevator you can use, which made getting around with my kid much easier. The building itself is huge, and even though they don't use the whole 2nd floor, the space still feels really spacious.

It's great for students grabbing a meal, but there's also a private room, which made it a solid Gyeongsan restaurant near Yeungnam University for a family outing or a meal with parents.

Cafe Dongi sounds like a café by name, but it's actually a place serving all kinds of Korean rice sets.

A robot brings your order to the table after you order, which my kid found really fun :)

What we ordered: solo-brazier pork and baby octopus sets

• Solo-brazier grilled jeyuk bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork) set: ₩12,900
• Solo-brazier baby octopus set: ₩16,900
• Little Explorer bulgogi set: ₩4,900
• Juicy pan-fried dumplings: ₩4,900

I liked that Cafe Dongi has a separate kids' menu, so the adults can pick between the spicy pork or the baby octopus depending on their taste.

Both the pork and the octopus come out on individual braziers, so you can keep eating them hot throughout the meal.

Each set is served neatly as an individual tray, which felt hygienic, and it's also convenient for coworkers eating lunch together since everyone just eats their own food with nothing to share.

There are about three side dishes, and the octopus set even comes with a mayo dipping sauce~

The pork had a subtle charcoal-grilled aroma and a slightly sweet sauce that went really well with rice, and it wasn't overly spicy, so it was easy to eat without any pressure.

The baby octopus pieces were bigger and plumper than I expected, so you really get that chewy texture. Cabbage and onion are mixed in too, and the sauce is a bit richer and spicier than the pork, which naturally makes you crave rice.

Grabbing some gim (seaweed) from the self-bar, dipping it in mayo sauce, and wrapping up cabbage and octopus together was absolutely delicious.

The doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) that comes with it has a bit of a sharp kick, more like cheonggukjang (fermented soybean paste stew), and it paired perfectly with both the pork and octopus. It's loaded with big chunks of tofu too, so mixing in a spoonful of rice completes the true Korean soul food spread.

What comes with the 4,900 won kids' bulgogi set?

Every time we go to Cafe Dongi with our kid, there's one menu item we never skip: the kids' bulgogi set. It's ₩4,900 and comes with rice, soup, beef bulgogi, cherry tomatoes, and even a kids' juice.

It's a portion that doesn't feel overwhelming even for a kid like mine who doesn't eat a lot, and beef bulgogi is a dish my kid is already used to, so it's easy to feed alongside rice. When we eat out, we usually end up ordering pork cutlet for the kids' menu, but since it's fried, I don't really want to give it to her that often... So this kids' menu at this Yeungnam University Korean restaurant really hits the spot for me. And on top of that, ₩4,900 including juice? Whichever Cafe Dongi branch I visit, I'm always impressed by the price and composition of this kids' set.

The side order: juicy pan-fried dumplings, 4,900 won

My kid loves dumplings, so I ordered the juicy pan-fried dumplings as a side, and they're huge! The dumpling skin has real thickness, and the meat filling is packed with juice — a great side to add on.

For dessert, there was cool tea and boricha-gangjeong (crispy barley snacks) at the self-bar. The barley snacks were so crunchy and delicious, I went back for a refill. Where's the self-bar, you ask?

What's on Cafe Dongi's self-bar

Cafe Dongi Yeungnam University Art Center Branch has the self-bar set up right near the entrance.

There's five-grain rice, fried eggs, gopchang-gim (seasoned seaweed), and more — all good pairings for rice — and you can just go grab more if you need it, however you like.

It's nice to make a fried egg and share it with your kid too. When eating out with a child, having familiar foods like rice, gim, and eggs around is somehow really reassuring.

Verdict: is Cafe Dongi worth it for a family Korean meal?

There are plenty of good restaurants around a university, but it can still be hard to find somewhere that actually works for a kid near Yeungnam University in Gyeongsan. At Cafe Dongi Yeungnam University Art Center Branch, adults can eat well with the grilled pork or baby octopus set, while kids can be sorted with the ₩4,900 kids' bulgogi set — great for a family visit. If you're looking for a place to enjoy Korean food comfortably with your kid, Cafe Dongi Yeungnam University Art Center Branch is worth remembering :)