₩12,900 Korean set meals near Yeungnam University: Cafe Dongi

As a Korean-food-loving couple, Cafe Dongi is one of the places we go back to often. Since it's a chain, the taste is fairly consistent no matter which branch you visit, and each person gets their own neatly plated Korean set meal, which makes it easy to eat. Let me walk you through our usual favorite dishes and the vibe of the Yeungnam University branch.

Where is Cafe Dongi at Yeungnam University Art Center, and what is it like inside?

Cafe Dongi Yeungnam University Art Center Branch is on the 2nd floor of the Cheonma Art Center's main hall at Yeungnam University. It's open daily 10:30–20:30, with a break time from 15:00–16:30 and last order at 20:00.

At the building entrance, there's a big sign reading "Cheonma Art Center," so if it's your first visit, just look for that sign.

Next to the entrance there's also a standing sign with menu photos and prices, so you can get a rough idea of the menu before going in.

Since it's on the 2nd floor, you take the elevator up.

Once inside, the space was much bigger and cleaner than we expected. There's a large window that lets in plenty of light, and the window side had a great view with trees outside.

There were really a lot of tables, spaced generously apart. The overall wood-tone decor gives a comfortable feel.

There's also a separate room, which looked great for group gatherings. I've been to several Cafe Dongi branches, but this is the first one I've seen that's this spacious and even has a private room, haha.

Maybe because it's near campus, there were still plenty of open seats when we visited on a Sunday evening. Thanks to that, we got to sit at a window seat with a nice view.

The self-bar: fry your own eggs, as many as you like

This self-serve bar is one of the reasons I love Cafe Dongi.

There's a dedicated corner in the restaurant where you can fry your own eggs. Eggs, frying pans, and cooking oil are all set up, so you can cook them exactly how you like. Being able to add fried eggs to your Korean set meal makes for a pretty solid, filling combo.

You can also freely help yourself to roasted-grain tea (heotgae-cha), gangjeong (sweet rice snack), caramel peanuts, and seaweed flakes.

Water is self-serve from the dispenser, and disposable aprons are right next to it.

Menu, tablet ordering and the bill for two at Cafe Dongi

You order using the tablet installed at the table. Signature dishes include the Dongi grilled pork bulgogi set, the shoulder-cut Japanese-style curry set, and the beef brisket doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) set.

• Solo grilled pork set (brazier) — ₩12,900
• Solo Dongi bulgogi set (brazier) — ₩12,900

We ordered our usual pork and bulgogi. You have to get the set to get the doenjang jjigae included — you can also switch it to kimchi jjigae for an extra charge.

✔️ Pepsi Zero Lime, ₩1,000. Drinks were 50% off at the time, so we added a cola too. Total came to ₩26,800! Ordering one pork and one bulgogi set meant we could share and try both dishes, which was nice.

A robot delivers the food right to your table. By the time you finish frying your egg at the self-bar after ordering, the food is often already sitting there — it comes out fast. I've visited several Cafe Dongi branches, and the wait is always short, which also makes it a good option during busy lunch hours.

How do the grilled pork and bulgogi brazier sets taste?

Each person's tray came out all at once with the main dish, rice, soup, and side dishes — very tidy.

The grilled pork came with cabbage and vegetables mixed in, topped with sprouts, so it looked generous right from the start. The bulgogi also filled the pan completely. It wasn't just meat — cabbage and sprouts were added generously, making it easy to eat together. The pork and bulgogi flavors are clearly different, so if two people are visiting, I'd recommend ordering one of each to share.

A fried egg + doenjang jjigae + grilled pork combo will easily finish off a bowl of rice.

The doenjang jjigae wasn't just broth either — it had plenty of tofu and other ingredients, which I appreciated.

The meat sits over a candle inside the brazier, so it stays warm while you eat.

Parking at Cafe Dongi and a walk around the Yeungnam University campus

For parking, just tell the counter after your meal and they'll register it. Yeungnam University's campus is also lovely for a walk during cherry blossom or autumn foliage season — combining a walk with a hearty meal at Cafe Dongi and getting parking support felt like a pretty good little route.

Is Cafe Dongi worth it for dinner near Yeungnam University?

Cafe Dongi near Yeungnam University was a good choice when we wanted a hearty Korean meal in the area. Each solo tray came out neatly, but the composition — main dish, rice, soup, and sides — was quite generous, and the unlimited fried eggs made it even more filling. For ₩12,900 per person for a full set meal, this is a place I'd think of again when looking for Korean food near Yeungnam University.