Daegu chicken BBQ salt platter with warm noodles: Hyeongnim Dakgui

Last week I was scrolling through the map, trying to decide what to eat out, and found a place promising tender domestic chicken grilled over charcoal and a generous spread of side dishes, so I rushed over. It's Hyeongnim Dakgui Daemyeong-dong Gyeongdae branch (형님닭구이 대명동계대점), in Daemyeong-dong, Nam-gu, Daegu, right in front of Keimyung University.

Where is Hyeongnim Dakgui and how do you park?

Hyeongnim Dakgui Daemyeong-dong Gyeongdae branch is at 104 Myeongdeok-ro, Nam-gu, Daegu, and it's open 11:30-24:00. You can use the Keimyung University parking lot.

The big white sign on the red brick building stands out from far away. It's close to Namsan Station on Line 3, and since parking inside Keimyung University's Daemyeong campus lot is supported for 2 hours, it was easy to come by car too.

Atmosphere and seating at Hyeongnim Dakgui

Inside, Hyeongnim Dakgui has the feel of a daepo-jip (a casual Korean drinking house), with wide picture windows and round drum-barrel tables. You can see lush greenery outside through the open windows, so even though it's a meat restaurant it never feels stuffy, just airy and open. The classic round drum-barrel tables are great for chatting and give the place that cozy, friendly daepo-jip vibe. There's also a huge screen on one wall, and I thought it would be perfect for watching a baseball game with a cold beer :)

Is it OK for group gatherings and kids?

Hyeongnim Dakgui has group seating, private rooms, high chairs and a playroom. There's plenty of seating for friends or bigger groups, and some spaces are separated into rooms. Families with kids will find it easy too, with high chairs and a playroom that's comfortable to use.

What side dishes are at the Hyeongnim Dakgui self-bar?

The self-bar is at the front of the kitchen and is stocked with potato salad, stir-fried eggplant, stir-fried anchovies, green onion kimchi, marinated crab (gejang), water kimchi and more. Honestly, this record-breaking self-bar was the part I loved most 🙊 It's so neat and varied, with side dishes filling it up, that it could rival a Korean buffet.

I came for the chicken that day, so I picked sides that go well with it, just to my taste ☺️ Maybe because it runs as a lunch buffet during the day, I could take as much of whatever I wanted, which was really nice.

How was the salt-grilled chicken platter?

At Hyeongnim Dakgui I ordered the signature domestic salt-grilled chicken platter, plus onmyeon (warm noodles) and doenjang stew (soybean paste stew). Starting with the salt-grilled platter, then warm, refreshing noodles and bubbling, savory doenjang stew, I ordered quite cleverly, I think.

For the first round, the kind owner grills it for you, flipping it with tongs so it doesn't burn. I could actually see the fat dripping off over the charcoal while the fragrant smoky flavor soaked softly into the meat. Chicken is pretty tricky to grill over charcoal, you know. Still, so delicious...💖

The moment it hit my mouth, the smoky flavor burst out, with the tender, soft texture typical of chicken thigh and juices popping with every bite 😉 The outside was crisped chewy over the charcoal while the inside stayed moist, and the saltiness of the salt and the kick of the pepper boosted the meat's clean, nutty flavor several times over.

Doenjang stew and onmyeon with the chicken

Hyeongnim Dakgui's doenjang stew is a rich broth in an earthenware pot packed with tofu, zucchini and vegetables. When you're enjoying meat, you naturally start craving a hot, savory broth, right? It arrived at just the right time, boiling in a full pot. I scooped a little with my spoon and found soft tofu, crunchy zucchini and vegetables generously packed in, making the broth really rich and dense 😎

The onmyeon has yellow thin noodles prettily coiled in a clear, deep broth, topped with crunchy cucumber, seaweed flakes and soft egg strips, a neat, sparkling look ✨✨ After stirring the toppings and seasoning into the broth, I slurped up the noodles, which were so springy and smooth that the texture was great. The mild, quietly deep warm broth was the star, and the more I drank, the more it felt like my stomach was settling.

Hyeongnim Dakgui Daemyeong-dong Gyeongdae branch: final verdict

I finished up with dessert ice cream, of course! Hyeongnim Dakgui in front of Gyeongdae (Keimyung University) in Daemyeong-dong has excellent tender domestic chicken full of charcoal smoke, plus a generous side-dish self-bar that carries the owner's warm generosity. Nothing was lacking at this friendly Nam-gu, Daegu meat restaurant.