Mala kaoyu level 2 spice with ₩2,500 draft beer in Daejeon

Who is this for?

😀 Strongly recommended if you want to experience kaoyu in Daejeon! Perfect if you want to enjoy a hotpot-style stewed fish dish, a Dunsan-dong favorite, with ₩2,500 draft beer!

We're the couple behind Jjeopjjeop Doctor. We came here curious about kaoyu, a Chinese dish we'd never tried. This is Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch, located near Galleria Department Store on Dunsan-ro in Seo-gu, Daejeon.

What's on the menu and how much does it cost?

We ordered mala kaoyu with Ningbo fish at spice level 2 (₩43,000), a vegetable-mushroom mix (₩8,800), the self-serve bar (₩2,000) ×2, draft beer (₩2,500) ×5 glasses, and soju (₩5,000).

Out of ₩73,300 total, ₩43,000 was sponsored and ₩30,300 we paid ourselves (regular card). We couldn't confirm whether Daejeon local currency is accepted.

Our first impression

It's located at 13 Dunsan-ro 31beon-gil, 2nd floor, unit 1, Seo-gu, Daejeon.

The red mala broth was so intense in color that the moment we saw it, we thought, 'This is going to be really spicy!'

Atmosphere and interior

Seating: 15 tables, about 50 seats — a spacious layout. It would work great as a Dunsan-dong group dinner spot.

Atmosphere: clean Chinese-restaurant interior with a lively vibe. As a kaoyu specialist in Daejeon's Chinese food scene, it had a distinctly exotic feel.

Main menu: you can enjoy kaoyu with a variety of sauces including mala, green Sichuan pepper, and pickled mustard green.

How was the value and satisfaction?

Value: the kaoyu itself is ₩43,000, and since you have to add the self-serve corner and vegetables separately, it's not the best value for money.

Satisfaction: our first time trying Chinese-style kaoyu in Daejeon, it was surprising and quite tasty! My wife was satisfied too, so it was a good experience overall.

Tips and final thoughts

You can get free knife-cut noodles by saving the store through the Naver alert event. Definitely check before you visit!

Mala kaoyu with Ningbo fish, spice level 2

Mala kaoyu is a Sichuan-style Chinese fish dish where the fish (Ningbo fish here) is first lightly grilled, then simmered in mala sauce and broth.

The broth's color looked incredibly spicy, but level 2 turned out to be a pleasantly spicy, satisfying heat rather than overwhelming.

A staff member filleted the fish for us right at the table and explained everything, which we really appreciated. The Ningbo fish flesh was thick and tender, easy to pick apart with chopsticks, and the mala sauce soaked in nicely, bringing out great umami.

The vegetable-mushroom mix was nice thanks to its variety of vegetables.

If you're curious about Chinese-style kaoyu in Daejeon, definitely visit Bantiannyao — we'd also strongly recommend it as a Dunsan-dong group dinner spot!

Our final verdicts as a couple

👨 Jjeopjjeop Husband's final verdict

I wanted to try the sea bass but it was sold out — a bit of a letdown!! Since Ningbo fish is a freshwater fish, toward the end there was a slight muddy smell. Something to keep in mind if you're sensitive to that!

👩 Jjeopjjeop Wife's final verdict

Having toothbrushes in the restroom was such a thoughtful touch, and the ice cream dessert was amazing too!! Overall I was satisfied, and it was really nice trying something new.