Daegu izakaya dinner with abalone butter grill: Wakoan

It had been a while since my husband and I had gone on a dinner date, so off we scampered to Suseong-gu for something delicious =3 We wanted to relax over dinner together for once and try a few tasty things, and that is how we ended up at Wakoan!

They offer a wide range of Japanese-style dishes, so I thought it would be a nice place for dinner, too. There were lots of drinks as well, making it seem great for a Suseong-gu date or a get-together over drinks. Ta-da—let me show you the gorgeous dishes we tried first +ㅁ+

Izakaya Wakoan Suseong Beomeo Branch: location and hours

Wakoan, the Suseong-gu izakaya (Japanese-style pub) in Beomeo-dong, is a five-minute walk from Suseong-gu Office Station, so it is easy to reach on foot. There is parking right beside it too, which is great if you are driving! We parked there ourselves :)

The interior had a clean, modern feel with a distinctly Japanese local vibe. We sat by the window, and it was perfect for an early dinner; I think it would be even moodier later at night.

We were so hungry that we nibbled on the complimentary appetizer while immediately picking our menu~~

Ordering Wando abalone butter grill and Nagasaki white broth soup

Maybe because it is a fusion Japanese izakaya, the menu lineup was extensive. Their seasonal dishes change regularly too, so it seems like a place where you can enjoy delicious food in every season. They also had chef's recommendations for the day. Since it was just the two of us, we debated what to get, then ordered three dishes: Wando abalone butter grill, Nagasaki white broth soup, and fried eggplant.

Even before the food arrived, we were saying, “Can we really finish all this?” But we wanted to try a variety of delicious things, so we ordered everything at once. First up was the Nagasaki white broth soup ♥ You can choose white or red broth, so order whichever suits your taste +ㅁ+

Next came the Wando abalone butter grill ♥ The presentation was insane, haha.

Abalone is always so much more flavorful grilled in butter, with that lovely nutty richness. It arrived cut into easy-to-eat pieces and was delicious on its own, but topping it with the geu sauce (abalone innards sauce) served alongside brought out an even deeper flavor.

The abalone was springy and chewy, and they gave us such a generous amount of geu sauce that I tried spooning it up on its own—it would make a perfect drinking snack all by itself..♥ Wakoan, this Suseong-gu izakaya and Beomeo-dong drinking spot, is the best~~

Nagasaki soup kept warm on a burner

Since evenings have been getting chilly, I was craving something brothy, and I think we ordered so well. The portion was generous and it paired nicely with the other dishes, too.

They gave us a separate burner, so we could simmer it slowly and enjoy it warm from beginning to end, which was lovely. It was loaded with seafood too—one Nagasaki soup at Wakoan in Suseong-gu would make a bottle of soju disappear in no time, right~?

I thought it would contain only seafood, but there was meat in it too; it tasted great and felt wonderfully nourishing. At first I could not see any noodles, so I wondered whether we should add some or order rice—but underneath the bean sprouts were loads of noodles!!! Such great value, honestly.

Crispy-outside, tender-inside fried eggplant with chili-style sauce

Last was the fried eggplant, and I was surprised by how generous the portion was. It looked so crispy and delicious just from looking at it. The inside still had eggplant's characteristic soft, moist texture, so it was crispy outside and tender inside—I practically inhaled it, haha.

Maybe because I already love fried eggplant, this dish especially won me over. The slightly spicy, chili-like sauce was a perfect match too. It was easy to pick up one piece at a time, so I recommend it as a meal side or a light drinking snack :) We ate such a generous spread and ended the meal with happy smiles on both our faces >,<

A Beomeo-dong gathering spot with a group room and corkage

There is a group room inside as well as private hall tables, so next time I definitely want to come here for a get-together with friends ♥ The food was delicious and the atmosphere was so nice that I have saved it away in my heart, haha.

Oh, and one bottle of corkage is free for alcohol they do not sell, so it could be nice to bring a gifted bottle along. The restrooms are separated by gender, and everything was clean overall, so even those who pay close attention to hygiene can visit without worry. They even provide mouthwash and hair ties—the owner's thoughtfulness really stood out. Next time, I will come back for more Japanese food.