Dongseong-ro date-night restaurant, Daegu: sous vide steak at Dana

It's been a while, so my husband and I went on a date to a restaurant with a great mood in downtown Daegu!! It's called Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch, near Dongseong-ro's Yasi Alley (night market), and even from far away the glass building was sparkling so prettily!

Maybe because it was a weekend evening, I was excited from the entrance as we climbed the stairs. I'd heard Dana in Dongseong-ro is super famous as a blind date spot, so I was really curious what the inside would look like.

How does waiting work at Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch?

At Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch, you put your name down following the instructions at the entrance and get a KakaoTalk (Korea's main messaging app) notification. There was a friendly waiting guide posted at the entrance, and since the alert comes through KakaoTalk, you can wander around the neighborhood and wait comfortably, which I liked, haha. The average wait is said to be 7–9 minutes per party, so the turnover isn't bad, right?

A cozy split-level interior, true to its blind date reputation

On a weekend evening the second floor of Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch was full, so we were guided to a seat on the third floor. When I first arrived the second floor was packed, so I took the stairs up to the third.

The first thing that catches your eye when you walk in is this split-level structure!

There's an open kitchen on the lower level so delicious smells drift over, and when you head up the stairs there are even cozier seats. When I went, about 90% of the tables around us seemed to be couples or blind dates, lol. It really felt like a famous date hotspot in Daegu.

You can feel the thoughtfulness for guests here and there too! The table by the stairs has phone chargers of various types, so you don't have to worry about your battery.

Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch menu

What is Dana's baked risotto?

The baked risotto at Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch is a signature dish: risotto with a special sauce, bacon and shrimp, wrapped in something like a tortilla and baked in the oven. After some deliberation at our seats, I ordered the best-seller baked risotto first. The look was totally different from the risotto we usually know, and I was so surprised!

The sauces drizzled over the top were plated so prettily, like a little work of art.✨

I carefully cut it in half with a knife and the inside was packed with moist, soft rice! The moment I took a bite, I blurted out, "Wow, this is really unusual!" Maybe because it's baked in the oven, the outside is slightly crisp while the inside keeps that thick, creamy risotto texture. It's the most unique yet addictive risotto I've ever had, so please, please try it!

What is the sous vide flap steak like?

The beef flap steak at Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch is said to be cooked first by low-temperature vacuum sous vide, then seared once more in natural butter. I picked this flap steak as the main to go with the risotto.

In the cross-section you can see the rosy juices locked in. Maybe thanks to the sous vide method, there wasn't a single tough bit, and the melt-in-your-mouth texture was amazing!

Put a little whole-grain mustard and wasabi on a piece of meat, then top it with mashed potato? The nutty butter aroma and the clean beefy flavor come together and the taste is insane, lol.

Which side salads can you choose with the steak?

When you order a steak at Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch, you can choose a side salad from 3 options, and I picked the yogurt salad. The steak sauce that came with it wasn't too sweet or salty either and let the natural flavor of the meat shine.

The salad, generously topped with yogurt dressing, works as a palate cleanser.

Personally, I'd love to try the cheongyang chili bacon cream pasta next time, haha. I think the spicy kick would give it a different charm, so I'm already looking forward to it!

Is there parking at Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch?

Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch has no parking lot of its own, so if you come by car you'll need to use paid parking nearby, such as the 2.28 Park lot. It's the city center, so public transport may be much easier. Hope that helps before you visit!

Overall, both the food quality and the atmosphere at Dana in Dongseong-ro made for a satisfying time. The food and service were as excellent as the stylish exterior, so we left happy after our meal.

If you're looking for a no-fail blind date or date course in Dongseong-ro, why not enjoy a special meal at Dana?