Buk-gu, Daegu Japanese spot: icy cold soba, cheese katsu, Myeonsikdang

When the weather is hot or you have no appetite, what's the first dish that comes to mind? For me it's usually clean, refreshing cold noodles or something crispy and fried. So today I'm sharing an honest, detailed review of Myeonsikdang (면식당), a hidden gem near Daegu Health College in Buk-gu, Daegu, a noodle and katsu shop with a great word-of-mouth reputation. I'll go through everything one by one, from the tidy interior to the dishes that won me over!

Where is Myeonsikdang Daegu Bogeondae, and what's the atmosphere like?

Myeonsikdang Daegu Bogeondae sits in a university-area alley near Daegu Health College, with a clean, stylish exterior that stands out even from a distance. Probably because it's near campus, the prices are great for the value, and the inside is pleasant and well kept, which makes for a nice welcome.

It felt like a cozy place to relax with a friend or partner, and just as good for solo diners, who are so common these days, to eat quietly without any pressure. By the entrance there's a banner showing the seasonal menu, so you start happily debating what to eat before you even walk in.

Today's pick: refreshing cold soba and crispy-outside, juicy-inside half-and-half katsu

This time at Myeonsikdang Daegu Bogeondae I ordered the cold soba, the half-and-half katsu (banban katsu), and a drink. I got the cold soba to cool me down, the half-and-half katsu so I could enjoy two flavors at once, and a drink, because a meal feels incomplete without one.

Myeonsikdang cold soba: how were the icy broth and toppings?

The cold soba comes in a big bowl of clear, rich broth with ice floating on top, topped with baby greens, chopped scallions, shredded seaweed, grated radish and a soft-boiled egg. The generous look of it made me gasp when it arrived, and just looking at it cooled my head down. The toppings are really piled on, with no skimping.

The chewy, springy soba noodles had soaked up the savory, chilled broth, and my chopsticks just wouldn't stop. When I stirred a little wasabi and grated radish into the broth and ate them together, the balance of flavors was simply perfect.

Myeonsikdang half-and-half katsu: the combination of cheese and crunch

The half-and-half katsu is crispy fried pork cutlet with golden, rich cheese melted over it like snow, and I picked it to enjoy alongside the cold soba. It hit both sight and smell at once.

Besides the generously cheesed katsu, the plate neatly holds a fresh cabbage salad, spicy pickled chili peppers that refresh your mouth, and warm rice to fill you up. With the crispy outside, juicy inside pork cutlet and the smooth, nutty cheese on top, it tasted familiar yet well made, the kind of thing anyone of any age would like.

The generous scallions on top cut through the richness that fried food can have, so I enjoyed it to the very last piece without getting tired of it.

Would I recommend Myeonsikdang for lunch near Daegu Health College?

If you're looking for a no-fail place to eat near Daegu Health College, a spot for a date, or somewhere to comfortably eat alone, I'd recommend Myeonsikdang Daegu Bogeondae without hesitation. The combination of the cool, clean cold soba broth and the rich cheese half-and-half katsu was so good that I felt happy all through the meal.

If you happen to be near the college in Buk-gu, Daegu, do stop by and enjoy a filling, tasty meal!