Suseong Daegu Japanese restaurant: mentaiko avocado bowl at Ongijeong

Ongijeong, the Japanese restaurant I revisited at Suseong Lake

Today, I’m sharing a great Japanese tendong (tempura rice bowl) spot at Suseong Lake. I had visited this restaurant on an earlier trip to Suseong Lake and was so pleased with it that I came back. It’s Ongijeong Suseong Lake Branch.

Last time, I really enjoyed the steak and fresh salmon rice bowl tempura sets, but this time I wanted to try something different, so I chose the mentaiko avocado rice bowl. The result? So satisfying!

As you’d expect from a great tendong spot, the tempura looks incredible and is seriously crisp!

Ongijeong Suseong Lake Branch location and hours

It is located on the first floor at 9 Suseongmot 6-gil, Suseong-gu, Daegu.

• Hours: 11:00–21:30
• Last order: 20:45

Dedicated parking and exterior in front of the restaurant

It’s great that you can park easily in the dedicated lot right in front of the restaurant.

Ongijeong is among the popular restaurants clustered around Suseong Lake. It would be lovely before or after a walk or workout around the lake, and it seems like a good date spot too.

If the parking lot happens to be full, they say they can guide you if you ask.

There is also a menu board by the entrance.

Ordering the mentaiko avocado rice bowl tempura set

Ongijeong has several versions of its signature tempura set, and this time I chose the mentaiko avocado option right at the top of the menu.

A warm interior for family gatherings and dates

True to the restaurant name “Ongijeong,” which suggests a table filled with warm affection, the interior feels warm and comfortable too.

There is a slightly room-like space toward the back, and partitions between the tables, so I’d recommend it for relaxed family meals, friends, and dates with your partner.

Mentaiko avocado rice bowl and tempura set

Ta-da! The main mentaiko avocado rice bowl tempura set arrived. The rice bowl looked so good, and everything was plated neatly and beautifully.

And of course, the tempura was served in a very generous portion, along with neat side dishes of pickled radish, kimchi, sauce, and salad.

The restaurant atmosphere was neat, the food was neat—definitely a Suseong Lake Japanese restaurant worth recognizing.

Crisp tempura and the rice bowl

Now it was time to taste the food at this Suseong Lake tendong favorite, right?

First, I settled my stomach with a clean-tasting bowl of miso soup.

The lotus-root tempura was so crisp and delicious dipped in the sauce. I mixed the mentaiko avocado rice bowl well so it would be easy to eat.

Taking a big spoonful, the salty mentaiko and avocado’s distinctively wholesome flavor came together perfectly—it was completely my kind of dish.

The eggplant and chili pepper tempura were also great, with Ongijeong’s signature crisp texture working well with the ingredients. Eating the mentaiko avocado rice bowl and tempura together like rice and side dishes made it even tastier.

Especially, the kabocha squash, enoki mushroom, and perilla leaf tempura looked amazing, were generously sized, and showed the quality you expect from a Suseong Lake tendong spot.

I left very full and having eaten wonderfully.

It also seems like a nice, easy-on-the-stomach lunch, so I recommend it to anyone looking for a lunch restaurant near Suseong Lake.

When you want a neat meal at Suseong Lake

• Recommended for family, friends, and dates thanks to the neat food and interior
• A place to enjoy crisp tempura and signature rice bowls
• A good Suseong Lake lunch spot for a neat, satisfying meal