Daegu Japanese bar for crab tomalley pasta: Gyodong Nakwon

I went back to Gyodong Nakwon (교동 낙원), one of my all-time favorite places that I’ve visited who knows how many times, with a friend this time! I had first dropped in because the atmosphere looked nice, and the food was so delicious—especially the crab tomalley pasta, whose taste I just couldn’t forget—that I ended up coming back again!

Gyodong Nakwon is where you can enjoy delicious bar food and drinks with an izakaya atmosphere that makes you feel as though you’ve traveled to Japan!

Gyodong Nakwon, a bar in Daegu’s Gyodong

It is on the first floor at 627 Gukchaebosang-ro in Jung-gu, Daegu. It is open from 18:00 to 02:00 on weekdays and from 17:00 to 02:00 on weekends. Parking is unavailable, so I recommend the nearby City Hall parking lot. Groups are welcome, too.

It’s a pretty spot with orange accents on the exterior that really catch your eye even from far away! It is also just a nine-minute walk from Jungangno Station, right in trendy Gyodong, so it’s in such a great location ◡̈

The dishes displayed out front seem to be the signature items: motsunabe, crab tomalley pasta, and salmon sashimi! I had tried the motsunabe and crab tomalley pasta before and ordered them again this time—they are seriously delicious! I can see why they are signature dishes. I am curious about the salmon sashimi, too. I definitely have to try it next time.

Inside Gyodong Nakwon feels like a trip to Japan

This is what the inside looks like. The interior had an authentic feel that made it seem as though we were in Japan! I came with the friend I had traveled to Japan with, and we kept saying how much it felt like we were back there. Haha.

Gyodong Nakwon menu and order

Here is Gyodong Nakwon’s menu. It is packed with dishes that just sound delicious.

• Crab tomalley pasta
• Motsunabe
• Beef brisket and mung bean sprouts
• Suntory highball

You can also see the sake menu. I have not had much sake before, but yuzu liquor... Personally, I was so curious about the Tsuruume Yuzu because it looked refreshing and delicious, too!! I thought I should try it next time.

What we ordered

First up were the tiny shrimp crackers—such a nostalgic flavor! They were perfect for keeping our mouths busy while waiting for the food.

Motsunabe with a warm, comforting broth

First came the motsunabe (Japanese offal hot pot). The piping-hot broth and the chewy yet tender beef intestine were so delicious. When we took a sip of the broth, my friend and I said it would be absolutely incredible to come in shivering from a cold winter day and drink this.

It also had lots of vegetables, which made it easy to enjoy. The seasoning and flavor of the broth were just right—one of those flavors that keeps you going back for more and makes the drinks go down so easily.

The crab tomalley pasta that brought me back

Next was the crab tomalley pasta! I had honestly never even heard of, much less tried, a dish called crab tomalley pasta before Gyodong Nakwon, and it is so, so delicious. It is not heavy or greasy; it has such a savory depth that makes you want to keep eating. It is truly a lifetime-best pasta!! I came back with my friend because I could not forget this flavor, and even my friend, who was trying it for the first time, was surprised and loved it. We seriously scraped the bowl clean.

And a sip of highball-!

Beef brisket and mung bean sprouts that reminded me of okonomiyaki

We were not ready to leave it there, so we ordered one more dish: beef brisket and mung bean sprouts! It somehow tasted similar to the okonomiyaki I had in Japan. Delicious again, of course. My friend and I even said this feels like a place you could come just for a meal—why is the bar food so good here..ㅠ Since every dish was so tasty, I got curious about every item on the menu and wanted to try them all! The drinks are great, too, and it is truly such a pleasant place to eat and drink!

When we paid after finishing everything, they even gave us these cute mini Chupa Chups. I do not know how many years it had been since I last had one, but it was so good,, hahahahaha. A per-fect ending! It was such a satisfying, happy time.

Someone I know recently had a casual company dinner here, too. It is great as a group bar in Daegu’s Gyodong, and I recommend Gyodong Nakwon if you are looking for a delicious, atmospheric place to drink in Dongseong-ro or Gyodong in Daegu!