Dongseong-ro lunch: grilled octopus and kimchi jeon at Cafe Dongi

Today I visited Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro Main Branch, a great-value restaurant in Dongseong-ro, Daegu.

With a wide range of cheap solo-dining sets, plus self-serve rice, fried eggs and seaweed, this place really delivers on value.

Location and hours of Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro Main Branch

• Address: 58-9 Dongseong-ro 3-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu, 2nd floor (500m from Banwoldang Station Exit 10)
• Hours: Daily 11:00-21:00
• Break time: 15:00-16:30
• Last order: 14:00, 20:00

Where to park

You can't park in front of the building, so if you're driving, use a nearby paid lot. Gukchaebosang Park public parking lot and Teresa Credit Union main branch parking lot are both good options.

Interior mood and seating

Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro is on the 2nd floor, and there's a dedicated elevator right at the building entrance, so getting up is easy.

I visited during peak hours so I couldn't photograph the whole place, but the interior is spacious and comfortable. There are several open 4-person tables, plus separate group seating.

There's even a section divided by partitions, so you can eat comfortably in private.

What caught my eye were the hair ties on every table and the lidded utensil holders, kept nice and hygienic!

High chairs, sanitizing wipes and even a kids' menu are all available, making this a well-equipped spot for family meals with children.

The service zone, with self-serve fried eggs

There's a dedicated waiting area off to one side of Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro. It felt like a thoughtful touch for customers waiting for a table.

At this great lunch spot in Dongseong-ro, there's a service bar right at the entrance where you can fry your own egg. Being able to make your own fried egg at a rice restaurant is a genuine sign of great value.

Across from it there's a rice cooker full of five-grain rice, and refreshing, nutty hutgae tea.

Seaweed, barley candy for dessert, and kids' tableware are all set up nearby too. Staff kept passing by to tend to the service zone, so the whole area felt well maintained and hygienic.

Menu board and prices

The menu is built around solo-dining sets, ranging from bibimbap to stews to meat dishes. Prices are cheap, around ₩10,000, and there's even a discount event running for new menu items. It's a great lunch spot in Dongseong-ro. With simple side dishes and a kids' menu on offer too, it's an easy place to eat without any pressure.

There are various promotions running, worth keeping in mind.

What we ordered

Before our ordered dishes arrived, they had us prepare a fried egg at the service zone.

A serving robot brought out the food!

[Solo Grill] Grandma's Stir-fried Baby Octopus Set

Stir-fried baby octopus served on a mini grill, with five-grain rice, doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), and side dishes.

The basic side dishes are diced radish kimchi, braised burdock root, pickled gungchae, sauce, and omija tea (five-flavor berry tea) for dessert.

The doenjang jjigae is loaded with enoki mushrooms and tofu. It's rich and savory, the kind of flavor that keeps you reaching for another spoonful.

The stir-fried baby octopus comes on a mini grill so you can keep it warm right to the last bite. Just note that if you leave it as-is, the bottom will start to stick, so it's worth stirring it once.

There's plump baby octopus, rice cakes and vegetables inside, with a subtle smoky flavor coming through. The spice level is mild enough to eat comfortably.

The octopus especially has a nice tender texture, not chewy at all. Dipped in the whole grain mustard mayo sauce, the spice was mellowed out even more by the nutty, smooth flavor of the sauce, making it even easier to eat.

[Solo Grill] Direct-Fire Jeyuk Set

Also served on a mini grill, with the same side dishes except for the sauce.

The direct-fire jeyuk on the grill comes with stir-fried spicy pork and a mix of vegetables. It's definitely spicier than the octopus. For my taste, the octopus's spice level was just right, but a friend who likes spicy food said they preferred this jeyuk for the extra kick.

Wrapping the spicy jeyuk in seaweed mellows out the heat and makes it even tastier. And remember, the seaweed is unlimited! Great for eating your fill without holding back.

Crispy bite-sized kimchi jeon, ₩2,900

A side dish I ordered — crispy bite-sized kimchi jeon (kimchi pancake). It came as four bite-sized pieces for just ₩2,900. A great, low-pressure side dish.

The small size actually worked in its favor — easy to eat in one bite, and you really get that crispy texture. It doesn't taste too floury, with a slight kick of spice — exactly the flavor a kimchi jeon should have. Soy sauce comes on the side, but it's already seasoned well enough to eat plain. A nice light add-on for when the main dish alone doesn't feel like quite enough.

Final thoughts

We finished off with the refreshing, sweet-and-tart omija tea that comes with every set, plus some barley candy for dessert. Overall, Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro Main Branch stood out for its thoughtfulness toward customers everywhere — from the rice, fried eggs and seaweed to the welcome tea and dessert. With such a wide range of solo-dining sets and prices that won't break the bank, it's a great-value restaurant to visit for a cheap, filling meal in Dongseong-ro — whether you're a local office worker on lunch break or eating solo.

If you're looking for a cheap, filling meal in Dongseong-ro, Daegu, this is Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro Main Branch.