Nook Cup Sitter · 25 stories

Daegu Nook Cup

I write about restaurants and cafés I visit around Daegu and Gyeongbuk. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Shopping

PlaceNam-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Ulsan milmyeon restaurant, post-swim large bibim & mul bowls: Samsam

Samsam Milmyeon Main Branch (삼삼밀면 본점) is a milmyeon (wheat cold noodle) restaurant with 25 years of history in Dal-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan, near Ulsan Intercity Bus Terminal. After swimming, the writer ordered a large mul milmyeon, a large bibim milmyeon and dumplings, and the Hanu cow-bone broth and the sweet-and-tangy bibim milmyeon, served already mixed, stood out most. Samsam Milmyeon Main Branch is a definite return visit for lunch near the terminal on an Ulsan trip.

Written Apr 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukCafés

Gyeongju café near Bulguksa with lemon pound cake: Cafe Road 100

Cafe Road 100 is a large two-floor bakery café at 100 Bobul-ro in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, about 5 minutes by car from Bulguksa Temple. After seeing the double cherry blossoms at Bulguksa, we had a white roll, lemon pound cake and Americanos at a 2nd-floor window seat at Cafe Road 100, looking out over Gyeongju through floor-to-ceiling windows. With a big parking lot, plenty of window seats and soft bakes, Cafe Road 100 made a satisfying stop on a spring trip to Bulguksa.

Written Apr 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukRestaurants

Korean lunch in Gyeongju before Tongiljeon's ginkgo road: gondre rice

Hyangtaek Byeolmiwon (향택별미원) is a hanok Korean restaurant on Summeori-gil near Bomun in Gyeongju. Before a weekend of autumn leaf viewing, the writer and her husband had lunch there: Spanish mackerel gondre rice (rice with Korean thistle greens) and a beef bulgogi rice bowl. The 4–5 groups ahead cleared quickly, and the boneless mackerel and gondre rice won over her husband, who had never tried gondre rice before. With the Tongiljeon ginkgo-lined road an easy next stop, Hyangtaek Byeolmiwon is a solid pick for a Gyeongju date or family meal.

Written Nov 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Dong-gu, Ulsan Chinese restaurant packed at 5pm: jjamppong & dontang

Ulsan Daewangam Dol Jjamppong (울산대왕암돌짬뽕) is a Chinese restaurant serving stone-plate jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) in Ilsanji, Dong-gu, Ulsan, near Daewangam Park. The writer arrived right at the 5pm weekend dinner opening and Ulsan Daewangam Dol Jjamppong was already full; the order was rice-crust stone jjamppong, mini handmade dontang (pork cutlet in sweet-and-sour sauce) and handmade macaron menbosha (shrimp toast). The seafood-packed jjamppong and the crispy rice crust were great, but if you order just one thing, make it the thick mini handmade dontang.

Written Apr 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanCafés

Ulsan bakery café: chocolate baguette with raspberry jam, Emily Bakery

Emily Bakery is a bakery café on the 2nd floor of a building on Wangsaeng-ro in Nam-gu, Ulsan (Samsan and Dal-dong area, near Nam-gu Office), with the brunch café Emily Ulsan on the 1st floor. The writer visited in the morning and sat by the sunlit floor-to-ceiling windows with a triple chocolate baguette and a Jeju matcha madeleine, plus a flat white and an americano, and especially recommends the chocolate baguette with raspberry jam. For bread lovers who want to relax in a sunny space, Emily Bakery is a definite place to return to.

Written Apr 29, 2026Sponsored
PlacePohang, GyeongbukRestaurants

Pohang bulgogi lunch before Gyeongju: Podangcho Hanwoo Bulgogi

Podangcho Hanwoo Bulgogi (포항초 한우 불고기) is a Korean restaurant in I-dong, Nam-gu, Pohang, specializing in fresh, unmarinated 1++ hanwoo (Korean beef) bulgogi. Before a trip to Gyeongju, the writer had Podangcho Hanwoo Bulgogi's bulgogi piled with Pohang spinach (pohangcho), mushrooms and glass noodles, plus nurungji (scorched rice) pot rice and namul side dishes in traditional brassware, and found it better than expected. Podangcho Hanwoo Bulgogi is a good fit for a family meal with parents or a formal lunch gathering.

Written May 3, 2026Sponsored
PlacePohang, GyeongbukRestaurants

Pohang Yangdeok-dong soup restaurant: yukgaejang hotpot at Yukdaejang

Yukdaejang Pohang Yangdeok (육대장 포항양덕점) is a yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) and gukbap (rice soup) restaurant at 185 Sindeok-ro in Yangdeok-dong, Buk-gu, Pohang. After a weekday evening workout, the writer ordered the yukgaejang hotpot with extra glass noodles and a side of yukjeon (pan-fried beef slices); the hotpot portion was generous, and the yukjeon and side dishes were tasty too. Verdict: Yukdaejang Pohang Yangdeok is a go-to Yangdeok-dong soup spot for a solo meal, dinner with a drink or a morning hangover soup.

Written Apr 27, 2026Sponsored
PlacePohang, GyeongbukRestaurants

Pohang sushi lunch on a rainy Saturday with extra salmon: Domo Sushi

Domo Sushi (도모스시) is a sushi restaurant in Idong, Nam-gu, Pohang, where every seat is in a private room. On a rainy Saturday lunch just after the peak, the writer and her husband ordered the Domo assorted sushi (18,000 won per person), plus 2 pieces of raw salmon sushi and beef brisket udon, and enjoyed complimentary sides including yukhoe (Korean beef tartare), tataki, croquettes and corn salad alongside sushi topped with thick slices of fish. For private rooms, a generous side spread and thick-cut sushi, Domo Sushi in Idong, Pohang is a great fit.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlacePohang, GyeongbukRestaurants

Duho-dong mulhoe spot in Pohang, squid for non-raw-fish eaters: Ppwang

Ppwang Mulhoe (퐝물회) is an ocean-view mulhoe (cold raw fish soup) restaurant on the roadside by Yeongildae Beach in Pohang. On a third visit, the writer skipped the signature Ppwang mulhoe and ordered a double portion of flounder mulhoe and squid mulhoe for the first time, and a friend who can't eat raw fish still enjoyed the squid mulhoe. With the sea view, a self-bar with tteokbokki and squid radish soup, and generous portions of fish, Ppwang Mulhoe is a great place to take visitors to Pohang.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGijang, BusanRestaurants

Gijang outlet restaurant, free corkage for 3 wines: Bueokgan

Bueokgan Restaurant is a Western restaurant on the 1st floor of the NORTH building at Shinsegae Simon Busan Premium Outlets in Gijang, Busan. The writer walked in just before noon on a weekend with no wait and ordered pepperoni pizza, arugula prosciutto pizza and truffle mushroom cream gnocchi; the best combination was dipping the pizza crust into the gnocchi's cream sauce. With free corkage for up to 3 bottles of wine, Bueokgan is a good Gijang pick for a date or group meal during an outlet shopping trip.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuyeong, BusanRestaurants

Gwangalli bar for Cheongha and shrimp pesto pasta: Salmon Brothers

Salmon Brothers is a salmon-focused Japanese and Western restaurant near Gwangan Station in Gwangalli, Busan, serving sushi, yukhoe (Korean beef tartare), pasta and a wide range of drinks. On this visit the writer ordered a salmon cheese roll and a basil pesto pasta topped with shrimp, with a bottle of Cheongha (Korean clear rice wine); the cream cheese and salmon in the roll melted in the mouth, and the pasta was as good as a Western specialist's. The verdict: Salmon Brothers turns out to be good at pasta, not just salmon.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBusanjin, BusanRestaurants

Jeonpo curry restaurant: first Busan meal, crispy karaage, Sarugak20

Sarugak20 (사루각20) is a Japanese curry restaurant in a basement across from the Jeonpo community center in Busanjin, Busan. For the first meal of a Busan trip, the writer and a younger sibling ordered the So-pecial Curry, the Sarugak Curry topped with pork cutlet and a side of karaage, and enjoyed the naturally lit basement and the rich curry. With no break time, Sarugak20 is an easy recommendation for travelers and office workers looking for lunch in Jeonpo.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored