Gluten-free tangsuyuk set at a Daegu Korean restaurant: Cafe Dongyi

A review of the signature Dongyi Han-sang Set at Cafe Dongyi.

Hey everyone :) Today I visited Cafe Dongyi, a well-known Chimsan-dong restaurant inside the Daegu Samsung Changjo Campus. I'd heard so many good reviews about this place that I'd been wanting to try it for a while, and I finally got the chance, haha.

Cafe Dongyi Chimsan Branch hours and parking

Cafe Dongyi Chimsan Branch is open 11:00 - 20:30, with a break time from 15:00 - 17:00 and last order at 20:00. Since it's inside Samsung Changjo Campus, there's plenty of parking, and you get 2 hours free if you eat there, so no need to worry about parking when you visit.

It's also not far from the Daegu Opera House, so it could be a nice stop before or after catching a show.

There are plenty of other Chimsan-dong restaurants nearby, but Cafe Dongyi seemed to have the most customers by far. I knew it was popular, but I didn't expect this many people even though it was still relatively early... haha.

Since it's such a popular Chimsan-dong restaurant, there can be a wait at both lunch and dinner — but they even set out cold heotgae tea (a Korean herbal tea) outside for waiting guests. Nice touch 😍

How long is the wait at 6:30 pm?

Cafe Dongyi Chimsan Branch has about 7 tables for four and 2 tables for two. I arrived just before 6:30 pm and got lucky — one seat was left, so I sat right down! People who came in after us had to wait in line.

Since ordering is done via table order, I brought along the menu the restaurant posted on Naver for reference. Take a look.

What we ordered and what it cost

• Signature 'Dongyi Han-sang Set' ₩36,900
• Doenjang jjigae → kimchi jjigae swap +₩1,000

Wherever I go, I love ordering set menus because I want to try a bit of everything, haha. So of course, I went with the set again this time, hehe.

Free refills: fried eggs, five-grain rice and barley gangjeong

Right after ordering, I went straight to make a fried egg. Loads of fresh eggs waiting there.

Fun fact: at Cafe Dongyi, the fried eggs, five-grain rice, and barley gangjeong are all unlimited refills.

Even though it was crowded, chatting away meant the food came out pretty quickly. There weren't a ton of side dishes, but the gochu-ji (pickled chili), fish cake stir-fry, and dried radish were all tasty.

The default stew is doenjang jjigae, but we swapped for kimchi jjigae. +₩1,000

A siraegi (dried radish greens) bibimbap came out too.

The jeyuk bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork) and Dongyi tangsuyuk (sweet-and-sour pork) arrived as well. There's a flame underneath, so everything stays warm until you finish.

I wanted to take a pretty shot of the whole spread, but the place was so, so packed that I had to snap it quickly, haha.

Mixed the fried egg right into the bibimbap. Our Sseongi made the fried egg, and as always, it came out perfectly runny 😍

How the jeyuk bokkeum, kimchi jjigae and gluten-free tangsuyuk tasted

Cafe Dongyi's jeyuk bokkeum was the best I've had in a while. Even eating a lot of it, it wasn't too salty, and the meat quality made it soft and tender. Good stuff.

The kimchi jjigae was packed with meat and tofu, and it was great too. I'd been craving kimchi jjigae for days, so this hit the spot. The seasoning was spot on here too.

I thought, why does the tangsuyuk look so unimpressive, but the taste was amazing. Before coming to Cafe Dongyi, I'd looked into a bunch of reviews, and people really raved about the tangsuyuk.

Get this — it's tangsuyuk fermented with nuruk (traditional fermentation starter), and it's completely gluten-free! Yet it's still genuinely crispy and so good. Honestly, it's way better than the tangsuyuk at most Chinese restaurants. I really mean that.

I totally understood why Cafe Dongyi is famous as a Chimsan-dong restaurant. I've tried several restaurants inside the Daegu Samsung Changjo Campus, and personally, this one is number one for me.

I ate so well and so happily, barely putting down my spoon.

Is Cafe Dongyi Chimsan Branch worth a return visit?

Overall, the food tasted great, the seasoning wasn't overwhelming, and you could really tell they use good ingredients. I'd genuinely recommend this as a Chimsan-dong restaurant. Since the Daegu Opera House is right nearby, it's also a great stop before or after an appointment or a show. And after eating, it's nice to take a walk around Daegu Samsung Changjo Campus too.

If you ever find yourself craving a good Korean meal in Chimsan-dong, remember this place! My return intent is absolutely 100%, hehe. Just a tip — the jeyuk bokkeum is really good, but make sure to order the tangsuyuk as a side. You'll regret it if you don't... haha.