Couple's Korean lunch in Jung-gu, Daegu: bibimbap and squid rice bowl

There are days when a clean, simple meal sounds better than something strongly seasoned, right? That day I especially wanted Korean food — but not a totally ordinary menu, something a little special. So I found this place! Hyangtaek Daegu Jongno Branch, a branch of a Korean restaurant that started near Gyodong Market in Daegu.

A space with quiet, traditional Korean beauty

I was searching for Daegu Jongno restaurants to try when I found this one, and while the food mattered, the atmosphere of the space was really my style. The interior captures a calm, traditional Korean beauty, so I felt relaxed and at ease the moment I walked in.

It's not flashy decor so much as a traditional Korean mood reinterpreted with a modern sensibility, I'd say? Even the dining area itself felt like part of that overall atmosphere, so it seemed like a fine spot for a date over Korean food too.

Hyangtaek Daegu Jongno Branch location and hours

66-1 Jongno 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Daegu Hours: daily 11:00 – 20:00 Break time 15:30 – 17:00 Last order 15:00, 19:30

If you have an appointment near Jongno or are looking for a lunch spot near Jungang-ro, it's easy to reach! Just note that on-site parking isn't available, so if you're driving, I'd recommend checking nearby parking lots in advance. The restaurant offers takeout and Wi-Fi, but pets aren't allowed, so keep that in mind before visiting.

Hyangtaek's menu and prices

Looking over the menu, the lineup felt a bit different from typical Korean restaurant fare.

• Signature mackerel gondre rice ₩14,000
• Signature eggplant doenjang rice bowl ₩13,000
• Yukhoe bibimbap ₩14,000
• Chamnamul squid rice bowl ₩13,000
• Herring roe bibim noodles ₩13,000
• Grilled short rib platter ₩10,000
• Grilled deodeok (bellflower root) and mushrooms ₩9,000
• Grilled mushroom platter ₩6,000

From mackerel gondre rice to eggplant doenjang rice bowl, you could feel Hyangtaek's own character just from the menu names. They use familiar Korean ingredients but combine them in slightly unusual ways, which made choosing fun. My husband and I visited as a couple and ordered chamnamul squid rice bowl and yukhoe bibimbap, but there are side dishes too, so if you're visiting with a group, ordering one main each plus some sides to share would work well! They also had Hanmac draft beer — small glass ₩3,500, large glass ₩5,000.

What stood out at Hyangtaek

Hyangtaek says it pursues a clean, fresh Korean food culture using ingredients grown and raised on our own soil. Rice, vegetables, meat, and fish — providing healthy ingredients and rich flavor is said to be the restaurant's direction.

Eating it myself, the freshness of the ingredients was what stuck with me most. Seasoning usually determines the flavor of Korean food, but when the ingredients themselves are fresh, the taste you experience is definitely different. At Hyangtaek, the natural texture and flavor of the ingredients came through relatively well, and everything felt clean overall.

Rather than seasoning things strongly to grab your palate right away, it was closer to Korean food that lets the ingredients speak for themselves. So I could eat comfortably the whole time without feeling weighed down.

Hyangtaek uses Sindongjin rice

Looking over the menu, I noticed a note about the rice too.

It said Hyangtaek uses Sindongjin rice. Sindongjin rice grains are said to be about 1.3 times larger than regular rice, with more stickiness and shine, and a soft, nutty flavor. In the end, rice quality matters a lot in Korean food, doesn't it? Especially for rice-bowl or bibimbap-style dishes where the rice is central, overall satisfaction really does change depending on the rice's texture. Given how many rice-bowl and bibimbap dishes are on Hyangtaek's menu, paying attention to the rice felt like a fitting detail.

The portions were just right

One thing I liked while eating was that the portions were just right. Not so much that eating became a burden, but not so little that you'd feel empty afterward either. It was a clean, satisfying single meal, and also a good amount if you add a side dish.

These days, a big portion alone isn't enough to satisfy me — I also pay attention to the ingredients and menu composition. In that sense, Hyangtaek felt balanced, with fresh ingredients, a reasonable portion, and a tidy menu lineup. If you're looking for a restaurant near Banwoldang or a Korean restaurant near Jungang-ro, it seems like a good, unburdensome meal choice.

Who I'd recommend this to

If you want a clean Korean meal near Jongno in Daegu, or want something a bit different from an ordinary set-meal restaurant, this should suit you well. Dishes like mackerel gondre rice or eggplant doenjang rice bowl are hard to find elsewhere, which made choosing fun too. (Next time I'm definitely getting the eggplant doenjang rice bowl.)

I'd also recommend it to anyone who values fresh ingredients or prefers Korean food that isn't heavily seasoned. Above all, I really liked the atmosphere of the space, so it seemed like a good spot to visit with a friend or on a date. Since it's a space with quiet, traditional Korean beauty, it was also nice for quietly chatting over a meal.

Overall thoughts on Hyangtaek Daegu Jongno Branch

Visiting Hyangtaek Daegu Jongno Branch through a good opportunity — at first I was most curious about the unusual menu, but after finishing the meal, the freshness of the ingredients and the space stuck with me more. Clean Korean food made with fresh ingredients, and portions that were just right for a single, unburdensome meal — both were pluses.

Above all, thanks to the interior that captures a calm, traditional Korean feel, it was a more memorable space than a place where you just eat and leave. If you're looking for a restaurant near Daegu Jongno, or a Korean restaurant with good atmosphere in Jung-gu, Daegu, Hyangtaek Daegu Jongno Branch is worth a visit. It's also close to Jungangno Station, so it's easy to reach by public transportation — I think I'll come back to mind whenever I have a lunch or dinner appointment around Jongno.

A tidy meal made with fresh ingredients, plus a calm atmosphere — that's Hyangtaek. A restaurant in Jung-gu, Daegu I'd recommend when you want both good food and good atmosphere.