Pickle Lunch Fan · 18 stories

Pickled Radish at Lunch

I write about restaurant meals and small dining stops around Daejeon and Chungcheong. · Writes about: Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Bars

PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonBars

Galma-dong Chinese bar: digicam photos & mala beef noodles at Yongju

Yongju (용주) is a Chinese gastropub in Galma-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, known for an atmosphere and bar food that suit drinking solo. The writer took photos with Yongju's in-store digital camera and had mala beef noodle soup (₩13,000), yeonmaek, a baijiu and draft beer mix (₩8,000), and ice cream youtiao (₩3,900); even a companion who doesn't enjoy mala liked the noodles. The generous mala beef noodle soup and the youtiao topped with yogurt ice cream make Yongju a Galma-dong bar worth revisiting.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Dunsan-dong gopchang grill, first on a 7 PM weekday wait list: Uhwa

Uhwa Gopchang (우화곱창) is a gopchang (grilled beef intestine) restaurant on Daedeok-daero 195beon-gil in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. Uhwa Gopchang was already full at 7 PM on a weekday, so the writer signed up first on the wait list, then ordered 1 mixed portion and 1 beef gopchang portion, with green onion kimchi and staff grilling at the table. For odor-free gopchang packed with fat and plump daechang (large intestine), Uhwa Gopchang is a Dunsan-dong spot worth a return visit.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Gung-dong pasta place, Daejeon: weekend lunch for three at Ciment

Ciment Chungnam National University Branch is a budget-friendly Western restaurant on Daehak-ro in Gung-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. Three people visited for a weekend lunch and ordered spicy seafood tomato pasta (11,500 won), spicy beef belly pilaf & salad (10,500 won) and bacon cream cheese risotto (9,900 won); all three dishes came out quickly and together, and the portions were generous. For pasta and risotto at around 10,000 won, Ciment Chungnam National University Branch is the first place that comes to mind.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon kimchi stew spot, rainy lunch & galbi stew for 3: Jeonju House

Jeonju House (전주하우스) is a Korean restaurant serving kimchi stew and pot-lid pork belly on Oncheon-ro 101beon-gil in Bongmyeong-dong, Yuseong, Daejeon. On a rainy day, the blogger had lunch at Jeonju House and ordered the cauldron galbi kimchi stew for 3. The blogger turned the stone-pot rice served with it into nurungji (scorched rice) and also had tofu and watermelon for dessert from the self-serve bar. With plenty of rib meat in an aged-kimchi galbi stew and pot rice included, Jeonju House is a solid pick for a filling lunch in Bongmyeong-dong.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Korean BBQ for dinner with parents in Dunsan-dong, Daejeon: Imdaejang

Imdaejang Daejeon Dunsan Branch is a pork belly Korean BBQ restaurant in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, where staff grill the meat and serve it to you. The writer visited at 8 PM on a weekday and had the pork belly platter (samgyeop hanpan) for 44,000 won, cold kimchi noodles and fried rice, then finished with soft-serve ice cream. Because Imdaejang's pork belly arrives grilled, your clothes don't soak up the smell and there's no grilling hassle, so the writer recommends it for taking parents out or for a company dinner.

Written Jul 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSejongHair & beauty salons

Head spa in Eojin-dong, Sejong: 70-min brain detox at Enne Brain Spa

Enne Brain Spa is a reservation-only, one-person scalp and head spa salon on the 2nd floor of Park Blanc Building B in Eojin-dong, Sejong. The writer booked the 70-minute brain detox head spa for neck and shoulder knots, and the oil chosen by drawing cards, device and hand massage, and gua sha and mineral water finish felt as thorough as medical treatment. Enne Brain Spa is a satisfying place to ease neck and shoulder fatigue, as long as you check where the underground parking entrance is before you go.

Written Jul 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Yuseong, Daejeon restaurant: spicy octopus rice bowl for 3, Seommaeul

Seommaeul (섬마을), officially Seommaeul Agujjim & Nakjibokkeum, is a restaurant on Yuseong-daero in Yuseong, Daejeon, specializing in haemuljjim (braised seafood), agujjim (braised monkfish) and nakjibokkeum (spicy stir-fried octopus). On a rainy weeknight around 8 PM, the writer and their parents ordered Seommaeul's nakjibokkeum for 3 (12,000 won per person), mixed it in a big steel bowl with bean sprouts and seaweed flakes, and received free steamed egg and homemade sikhye (sweet rice drink). With easy parking and a group room, Seommaeul is a good nakjibokkeum restaurant in Daejeon for a meal with your parents.

Written Jul 10, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Pork BBQ for three at ₩55,000 in Dong-gu, Daejeon: Jeonbotdae

Jeonbotdae Sutbul Ogyeop (전봇대 숯불 오겹) is a charcoal-grill pork belly and ogyeopsal (five-layer pork belly) restaurant on a residential side street in Yongun-dong, Dong-gu, Daejeon. Three people ate fresh pork belly at 17,000 won for a 300g serving, pre-grilled charcoal ogyeopsal and grilled gim (seaweed) with myeongnan mayo (pollock roe mayo), then finished with doenjang sajangbap (soybean-paste rice) and kimchi mari guksu (cold kimchi noodles) for 55,000 won in total. Jeonbotdae Sutbul Ogyeop is a highly satisfying pick for good-value Korean BBQ in Daejeon.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon rib restaurant: 8-rib spicy galbijjim with parents at Idobonga

Idobonga is a Korean restaurant serving galbijjim (braised short ribs) and stone-grilled galbi right in front of Seodaejeon Station in Oryudong, Jung-gu, Daejeon. On a return dinner visit with parents, the stone-grilled galbi set had already sold out, so the writer reordered the spicy galbijjim they had enjoyed before at the 'tasty spicy' heat level, and the generous 8-rib portion, lightly seasoned side dishes and self-serve iced americano all satisfied. For a no-fail family meal with parents near Seodaejeon Station, Idobonga comes recommended.

Written Jul 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon hanok fusion Korean: heaping ₩19,900 yukhoe plate at Usul

Usul (우슬) is a hanok-style fusion Korean restaurant on the first floor of Jungangno Centum City in Daeheung-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon. The writer ordered gochujang yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) with yubu (fried tofu pouch) rolls, a Chodang sweet corn and shrimp potato pancake, and squid-ink shiitake fritters; the ₩19,900 yukhoe came piled high like a mountain, and the thick potato pancake stayed crispy to the last bite. With 3 hours of free underground parking, Usul is an easy recommendation for a wedding-invitation get-together.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheongju, ChungbukHair & beauty salons

Cheongju body care for muscle gain: 20-min Bio Photon SlimOn at It's J

It's J Cheongju Esthetic is a multi-floor beauty shop in Geumcheon-dong, Sangdang-gu, Cheongju. Its third-floor body care room runs the SlimOn diet program, which combines TNT body fat care with a Bio Photon dome. The writer's body fat was already low, so the owner cut the Bio Photon session to 20 minutes after consultation, and after one SlimOn session InBody showed skeletal muscle mass +0.8kg and body fat percentage -3.9%. If you've hit a diet plateau and want muscle rather than fat loss, It's J Cheongju's InBody-based tailoring is worth a try.

Written Jul 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceCheongju, ChungbukRestaurants

Cheongju pot rice restaurant: eel takeout in a pot-shaped box, Sorori

Sorori Cheongju Main Branch is a pot rice (sotbap) and buckwheat gimbap (seaweed rice roll) restaurant on Jungangno in the Seongan-gil area of Cheongju. The writer ordered freshwater eel pot rice and egg-packed buckwheat gimbap for takeout from Sorori Cheongju Main Branch; the pot-shaped disposable container kept the food warm, and the eel was soft with no fishy taste. Sorori Cheongju Main Branch takeout suits anyone who wants freshly cooked pot rice at home or the office.

Written Jul 30, 2026Sponsored