Fish restaurant in Daegu after the K-Food Festival: Geumdeungeo

From the Deulanguil K-Food Festival to Geumdeungeo Deulanguil Main Branch

Geumdeungeo Deulanguil Main Branch is a wood-fired grilled fish restaurant on Deulan-ro in Suseong, Daegu. We'd just had a blast checking out the Deulanguil K-Food Festival, which ran yesterday (September 19).

We wandered around the festival grounds snacking on this and that, but before long we got hungry again — craving something hearty and Korean, we headed to a wood-fired grilled fish spot nearby.

Where to park at Geumdeungeo: private lot and parking tower

When we arrived, the restaurant's own parking lot was really well set up. There's a parking tower too, so even if you drive, you can park without any worries.

How long is the wait, and what's on the menu board at the entrance?

Since it's such a famous Suseong Lake restaurant, there was a bit of a wait when we arrived. We put our name down and waited a short while for our turn.

While waiting, we happily browsed the menu board set up at the entrance to figure out what to order.

Handmade banchan self-bar and open kitchen at Geumdeungeo

In the center of Geumdeungeo Deulanguil Main Branch there's a self-bar packed with neat, homemade banchan (side dishes). I loved that you could go back for more of anything without feeling self-conscious.

The kitchen here starts cooking the moment you order. There was a sign that read 'Just as life is live, so is Geumdeungeo' — I thought that line was really well put.

Stepping inside, the place was already packed with diners. As a truly popular Suseong Lake restaurant in Daegu, Geumdeungeo's popularity was on full display.

Peeking into the open kitchen, it was so cleanly managed that the hygiene was obvious at a glance — very reassuring.

Serving robot and baby chairs for families

It was fun watching the serving robot busily carrying food around, and there were plenty of baby chairs on hand for families dining out in Daegu with kids.

Ordering two adult wood-fired mackerel sets and two kids' mackerel sets

Once we sat down and ordered, a savory Swiss chard doenjang soup came out fast. We got two adult wood-fired mackerel sets (₩19,000 x 2) and two kids' mackerel sets (₩10,000 x 2).

Next came the basic side dishes one after another — a refreshing salad, japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), and salty stir-fried anchovies.

Seaweed salad, doraji (bellflower root), green onion kimchi, and braised lotus root — every single side dish had that deep homemade touch and tasted healthy too, so I kept reaching for more. It's clean and neat enough to double as a Deulanguil hanjeongsik (Korean set-meal) place worth bringing your parents to.

What does Geumdeungeo's wood-fired grilled mackerel taste like?

Here comes today's star — the wood-fired grilled mackerel! Crispy outside, tender inside, and golden brown — doesn't it just look irresistible?

Dipped lightly in rice nuruk salt made with sea salt from New Zealand's pristine waters, the nutty flavor really comes through, and the mackerel meat was so tender.

Seeing the generous spread laid out in front of us, we couldn't help but smile as we dug in.

Mackerel gim-ssam (seaweed wraps) our child actually finished

The seasoning wasn't harsh and it's healthy, so our kid ate it really well. She happily wrapped rice in crispy gim (dried seaweed), and once we added a thick, tender piece of mackerel on top, she chewed away and finished a whole bowl of rice in no time.

Starbucks bean coffee for dessert and the Chuseok closing days

On the way out after a satisfying meal, there was a thoughtfully set up coffee dessert corner using Starbucks beans. With chilled ice cups ready too, walking out with an Americano in hand made the whole experience feel complete.

On the way out I noticed a sign saying the restaurant will be closed September 24 to 25 during this year's Chuseok holiday, so keep that in mind if you're planning a visit. They also sell their tasty handmade side dishes and healthy snacks, so I picked one up on the way out.

Thanks to the spacious layout, it's also a great spot for group gatherings in Daegu, and you can enjoy a neat Suseong Lake hanjeongsik. Geumdeungeo Deulanguil is a Suseong Lake restaurant that always satisfies, no matter when you visit. ❤️

Geumdeungeo Deulanguil Main Branch: hours, address and parking

• Hours: 11:00–20:40
• Break time: 15:30–17:00
• Last order: 20:00
• Parking: private lot available (parking tower)
• Closed September 24–25 for Chuseok holiday