Daegu raw beef restaurant for first-timers: mungtigi & soju, Bonghwa

Guam-dong mungtigi that converts people who can't eat raw beef

When you think of great restaurants in Guam-dong, Daegu, you think of mungtigi (thick-cut raw beef). It's also the dish people from other regions make a point of trying when they visit Daegu. I went to Bonghwa Saenggogi, a mungtigi spot where fresh beef slaughtered that day is dipped in a secret sauce, and even people who can't eat raw beef end up eating it.

I originally couldn't eat raw beef or yukhoe (beef tartare), but after trying the mungtigi at Bonghwa Saenggogi I was hooked, and now I can't live without it.

Bonghwa Saenggogi Bonjeom hours and parking

• Hours: Mon–Sat 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
• Closed: every Sunday
• Parking: free, parking lot available
• Address: 62 Guam-ro 60-gil, Buk-gu, Daegu (Bonghwa Saenggogi Bonjeom)

What does Bonghwa Saenggogi Bonjeom look like outside?

Bonghwa Saenggogi Bonjeom is the old-timer of the Chilgok eating alley in Daegu. It's well known as a Guam-dong favorite, has been designated a model restaurant, and has even earned a Blue Ribbon.

The elegant hanok (traditional Korean house) exterior already tells you this is a Guam-dong go-to. The big parking lot is right in front, so it's easy to come by car.

Inside Bonghwa Saenggogi Bonjeom and its private rooms

The restaurant blends tradition and modernity in a modern style. Latticed hanok doors and antique lighting create a warm atmosphere.

There are private rooms, and each one has its own drinks fridge, which makes this Guam-dong spot perfect for an evening drink.

It also has large rooms, so it's great for family gatherings, group meals, company dinners and year-end parties.

Bonghwa Saenggogi Bonjeom menu and prices

Single dishes

• Yukhoe + sannakji tangtangi (chopped raw octopus) from ₩65,000
• Chadol sashimi half-and-half ₩65,000
• Raw beef ₩55,000 / ₩60,000
• Odeuregi (beef diaphragm) ₩50,000
• Hanwoo yukhoe from ₩45,000

Courses

• A course: small ₩65,000 / large ₩89,000 – raw beef, yukhoe
• B course: small ₩85,000 / large ₩99,000 – small raw beef, charcoal-grilled chadol and odeuregi
• C course (4 people): ₩150,000 – raw beef, yukhoe, hanwoo yukjeon (beef pan-fried in batter), odeuregi

Sides

• Hanwoo yukjeon ₩30,000
• Yukhoe bibimbap / fish cake hot pot ₩15,000
• Bonghwa Saenggogi spinal marrow ₩10,000
• Doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) / baechu-jeon (cabbage pancake) ₩5,000
• Yukhoe gimbap (seaweed rice roll) ₩5,000

Drinks

• Soft drinks ₩2,000
• Soju / beer ₩5,000
• Chungha ₩6,000
• Baekseju ₩10,000
• Bokbunja ₩15,000
• Hwayo ₩25,000
• Ilpum Jinro ₩30,000

What I ordered at Bonghwa Saenggogi Bonjeom this day was the A course and soju.

What comes in the basic spread at Bonghwa Saenggogi?

The whole table is set quickly as soon as you order. The basic side dishes just keep coming, so this Guam-dong spot keeps surprising you.

The first thing I eat whenever I come to Bonghwa Saenggogi is the long-simmered miyeok-guk (seaweed soup). It soothes grown-ups' empty stomachs, and kids can have it with rice for dinner, so it's my favorite basic dish.

The tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) sizzling in an earthenware pot is practically a main anju (drinking snack). The well-cooked rice cakes and fish cake soak up the spicy sauce and taste even better. With all these side dishes, I emptied a bottle of soju before the mungtigi even arrived.

The baechu-jeon isn't just crispy, it's super crispy! It comes out freshly fried, so it tastes much better if you eat it right away.

How do the 1++ mungtigi and yukhoe at Bonghwa Saenggogi taste?

The 1++ mungtigi arrives glowing red! Glossy and shiny, you can tell how chewy it is just by looking.

Dip the mungtigi in the sauce, wrap it in cabbage, wrap it in seaweed... every combo is different and I could keep eating forever!

The yukhoe made from aged 1++ hanwoo (Korean beef) needs no explanation! It's so tender it melts the moment it hits your mouth. It's coated in sesame oil and sprinkled with Korean-grown sesame seeds, so it looks amazing too.

Even without dipping it in sauce, it's chewy and has no gamey smell at all. I can see why it's famous as a mungtigi place. Every bite spreads a nutty flavor, and with the sauce it's addictive.

They say the sauce at Bonghwa Saenggogi is also made with Korean Bonghwa chili peppers, so the savory depth is top-notch. Eating good food with people I love makes me happy.

Honest review of Bonghwa Saenggogi Bonjeom

• I had a great dinner and drinks at Bonghwa Saenggogi Bonjeom, the old-timer of the Guam-dong eating alley in Daegu.
• The mungtigi, said to be made from 1++ grade hanwoo raised on Sobaeksan in Yeongju, Gyeongbuk Bonghwa, is really chewy.
• The basic spread rivals a hanjeongsik (Korean table d'hôte) and leaves you full.
• Every private room has a big drinks fridge, so choosing this Guam-dong spot for a gathering will earn you compliments.
• Next time I want to try the chadol sashimi too.