Daegu steakhouse: garlic sirloin vs cream tenderloin, Etrenne

What is Etrenne Jukjeon Branch, and why did I go?

Etrenne Jukjeon Branch (에트렌느 죽전점) is a Western restaurant I found while looking for a good steak place near Jukjeon Station in Daegu. I heard that the chef here used to work as manager at the very first Outback Steakhouse in Korea. I was curious what kind of steak I'd get, so I booked ahead and went, haha.

Etrenne Jukjeon Branch hours, location and seating

Etrenne Jukjeon Branch is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:30 to 21:30, with a break from 15:00 to 17:00 and last order at 20:30. It is closed every Monday.

It's at 169 Waryong-ro, Dalseo-gu, Daegu, on the ground floor of the World Mark West End building. The inside is small, but it fits about 6 tables, and group seating is possible.

I had a reservation, and they had everything ready for us.

What we ordered at Etrenne Jukjeon Branch

• Mammoth Garlic Steak
• Cream Tenderloin Steak
• Half-and-half lasagna
• Beef cream risotto
• Gambas (garlic shrimp)
• Seafood tomato pasta

Starter bread: garlic baguette

Our meal at Etrenne Jukjeon Branch started with warm garlic baguette.

The bread came one per person. It was freshly baked, crispy outside and moist inside, with a rich garlic and butter aroma. It was delicious from the very first bite.

Do you need to order salad separately with a steak?

If you order a steak at Etrenne Jukjeon Branch, a salad comes with it. I was about to add a salad too, but the staff told me it comes with the steak. If you're having steak, check what's included before adding a salad.

Gambas

The gambas at Etrenne Jukjeon Branch had plump shrimp, zucchini, onion, bell pepper and tomato.

Putting the shrimp and vegetables on the baguette that came with it was so good. We didn't order the Toowoomba pasta this time, but if you do, I think the leftover baguette would go nicely with the pasta too.

Seafood tomato pasta

The seafood tomato pasta at Etrenne Jukjeon Branch had shrimp and big clams.

If you're ordering several cream dishes like we did, it's a good idea to mix in one tomato dish.

What does the half-and-half lasagna taste like?

The half-and-half lasagna is one of the signature dishes at Etrenne Jukjeon Branch: two meat-and-cheese rolls and two potato rolls on one plate. There's plenty of tomato sauce spread on the bottom, with four rolled lasagna pieces on top.

Two are the basic version with meat and cheese, and the other two have potato.

The potato side felt especially soft. I liked that you don't have to pick just one and can switch back and forth between the two.

Is the beef cream risotto spicy?

The beef cream risotto at Etrenne Jukjeon Branch is not spicy.

It's a creamy risotto topped with sirloin simmered in a special seasoned soy sauce. You scoop up the meat and cream together,

and when I ate it, it wasn't spicy at all. If you're picking dishes for someone who has trouble with spicy food, or for a child, it's a good candidate.

Mammoth Garlic Steak vs Cream Tenderloin Steak: what's the difference?

If you were curious about the steaks at Etrenne Jukjeon Branch, this part is for you.

Mammoth Garlic Steak: sirloin, salty-sweet flavor

The Mammoth Garlic Steak is sirloin, and you can choose the doneness, so I ordered it medium rare.

It's topped with plenty of garlic flakes, comes with french fries on the side, and has onions laid under the meat.

To my taste the sauce was like a sweet soy-based seasoning, and overall the dish was salty-sweet.

Cream Tenderloin Steak: Korean beef tenderloin, mildly spicy cream sauce

The Cream Tenderloin Steak is Korean beef (hanwoo) tenderloin topped with a mildly spicy cream sauce. This one was tastier for me.

I could feel the tenderness from the moment I cut into it. It felt softer than the Mammoth, the meat was juicy, and it went well with the sauce. You might worry that cream would be heavy, but the spiciness kept it from feeling too much for me.

So what should you order at Etrenne Jukjeon Branch?

Of everything I ate at Etrenne Jukjeon Branch, the Cream Tenderloin Steak was my favorite. I'd also recommend the half-and-half lasagna, where you get to try two fillings.

• Like salty-sweet flavors? Mammoth Garlic Steak
• Craving tender meat and mildly spicy cream? Cream Tenderloin Steak
• Want to alternate between two flavors? Half-and-half lasagna
• Ordering lots of cream dishes? Mix in one seafood tomato pasta

If you're still deciding what to order before your visit, you might want to save this combination.