Daejeon Chinese bar first in line: eggplant fritters at Yongju

Today I've brought a totally honest review of Yongju, the Chinese-style bar that's currently the hottest spot in Galma-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. Last time I visited, the wait was so brutal I had to turn around and leave without eating. This time, with pure determination to finally try it, I timed my arrival for opening hour and became the very first customer in the door!

The place really has that proper 'cooking restaurant' vibe, the seasoning on the dishes isn't overdone, and you can feel the care put into everything — I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for an evening spot with friends or a place to drink solo in Galma-dong.

Where is Yongju in Galma-dong, and is there parking?

Yongju sits in a quiet, atmospheric spot tucked among the alleys of Galma-dong.

🚌 By public transit, walk in from around Galma Station or Galma Overpass along the alley, and you'll easily spot the moody sign. 🚗 Since it's in a narrow alley, if you're driving I'd recommend using alley parking nearby or a public parking lot.

The sign and the red lighting give off an exotic aura that catches the eye of anyone passing by.

Can you drink alone at Yongju's bar counter?

Stepping inside, the exotic feeling only gets stronger!

You can immediately tell how much heart the owner has put into the Chinese cooking and the space itself.

From a bar table where you can watch the chef cook right in front of you, to cozy tables for groups, the layout is well thought out.

Thanks to this atmosphere, it works great as an evening date spot for two in Galma-dong, and just as well as a solo drinking spot at the bar table in Galma-dong.

Yongju's menu and prices

The menu is really diverse. You can see the owner's care in the wide-ranging lineup of authentic and fusion Chinese dishes.

The signature menu includes:

• Nurungji gwabaro (crispy scorched-rice sweet & sour pork) ₩15,000
• Yongju-style braised pork belly ₩25,500
• Fried seaweed chip xiang guo ₩25,000
• Mala xiabu kalguksu (noodle soup) ₩29,800
• Sichuan-style mala tofu ₩15,000
• Biryong egg fried rice ₩8,000

The cooked dishes include:

• Rosé mala xiang guo ₩28,000
• Fish-tank eggplant fritters ₩12,000
• Garlic cream shrimp ₩12,000
• Cold yukhoe (beef tartare) majang noodles ₩16,000
• Shrimp ball soup ₩12,000

There's such a wide variety of dishes and the prices overall are really reasonable, so it's a big plus that you can order several to try without feeling burdened!

Since it's a one-person owner-chef operation, the self-serve bar comes stocked with recommended sauce pairings.

What I ordered at Yongju: yeon-saengmaek, fried eggplant, nurungji gwabaro and Biryong egg fried rice

Yeon-saengmaek / Fish-tank eggplant fritters / Nurungji gwabaro / Biryong egg fried rice

I ordered yeon-saengmaek, fish-tank eggplant fritters, nurungji gwabaro, and Biryong egg fried rice!

Yeon-saengmaek (8,000 won): draft beer and gaoliangju in golden ratio

The first thing to arrive was yeon-saengmaek, a drink combining cold draft beer with a shot of Yantai gaoliangju. Behind the crisp fizz of the draft beer, the distinctive aroma of the gaoliangju wraps smoothly around your mouth — the owner's ratio is so perfect and it's an amazing match with the Chinese dishes, so you really must order it 🌟

Fish-fragrant fried eggplant (14,000 won): mild, clean, properly cooked flavour

Next up came the fish-tank eggplant fritters, which really had that upscale 'restaurant cooking' taste.

Usually the food at regular bars is intense and over-seasoned so you get tired of it fast, but Yongju's fish-tank eggplant fritters weren't overly seasoned — mild, and crispy outside with a tender inside. Delicious.

The very first dish was so good that... I became convinced I need to work through Yongju's entire menu one by one!

Nurungji gwabaro (15,000 won): lemon aroma meets toasted rice crunch

This dish, trendy right now, comes topped generously with a crunchy nurungji (scorched rice) cracker-like texture piled on top of the gwabaro.

Behind the crunchy, nutty bite of the nurungji you find the chewy interior of the gwabaro, and the sauce is thick yet has a bright lemon fragrance that fully cuts through the fried richness.

That combination of bright, sweet, and crispy really worked well!

Biryong egg fried rice (8,000 won) with a deep-fried egg (1,500 won): the quiet star

Last to arrive was the egg fried rice, and it turned out to be a surprisingly huge highlight.

It's a Chinese-style fried rice where every single grain looks lovingly coated in egg, and once I popped the yolk of the added fried egg on top and mixed it all in, it was the best combination... 👍

It fills you up warm and hearty, making the drinks go down smoothly, so I'd strongly recommend adding it — twice over!!

Is Yongju in Daejeon worth a return visit?

Yongju in Galma-dong completely erased the disappointment of my failed visit last time due to the wait! If you want to properly enjoy Chinese cooking at a Galma-dong favorite, or you're looking for a high-quality-food evening gathering spot or an atmospheric solo-drinking spot in Galma-dong, definitely visit Yongju in Galma-dong, Daejeon! I'll be back 100% soon to work through the other signature dishes 😃