Dunsan-dong fish hotpot, new mala garlic kaoyu: Bantiannyao Daejeon

A hotpot recommendation in Dunsan-dong: Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch.

I'd been wanting to try this spicy, numbing broth for a while, so I finally visited Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch, a Dunsan-dong hotpot restaurant!

Where is Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch, and what should you know before going?

This Dunsan-dong hotpot restaurant is on the 2nd floor of a building down the alley behind Galleria Department Store — the building with the Gong Cha on the 1st floor! Also, there's no break time. Pregnant guests get 30% off, and guests 65+ can use the self bar for free~

Turns out this place was picked as a 2025 Excellent Brand in the Naver Reservation Awards, so I felt confident about it right from the entrance.

Inside, the lighting was soft and each seat had a partition, giving it a nice sense of private space.

Picking from 8 broth flavors and the add-in toppings

Flipping through the menu on the table, you can pick step by step, from fish type to all sorts of toppings. There's a huge variety — mala, green Sichuan pepper, suan cai, garlic, red Sichuan pepper, braised mushroom, tomato, mala tripe, and more. Also, corkage is free!

I checked the event sign on the table — there are various promotions running for Naver receipt reviews, Instagram, and YouTube certifications, so be sure to join in when you visit!

What the 2,000 won self bar holds, and how to mix the sauces

Off to one side is an unlimited self bar for just ₩2,000 per person — such a good deal!

At the self bar corner, chili, oyster sauce, chopped scallions, and other crowd-pleasing seasonings were neatly stocked.

On the wall there was a helpful sign with 4 tips for making Bantiannyao's special sauces — each of the 4 has a distinct flavor, so I'd recommend trying all of them!

Following the recommended recipe ratios, I carefully mixed up my own savory peanut sauce and spicy sauce!

It's an unlimited refill setup where you can help yourself to fluffy warm white rice and drinks as much as you want, which made things easy.

There's also a nicely stocked corner with phone charging cables, wet wipes, and even post-meal mouthwash — a full set!

The new mala garlic kaoyu, ordered with ningbo fish

After much deliberation, I ordered the new mala garlic kaoyu, billed on the poster as the ultimate in spicy-numbing flavor.

There are 3 fish options — ningbo fish, sea bass, and qingjiang fish. I picked ningbo fish, known for its soft, moist flesh! Flavor and texture differ by fish, so pick according to your taste~

There's also a diverse range of vegetables, tofu, and noodle toppings, Daejeon shabu-shabu style, that you simmer alongside the fish — fun to add according to your taste.

The receipt review freebie: smashed cucumber salad

After I left a receipt review and showed it to the staff, they immediately brought out a plate of tangy cucumber salad — a total win just from the look of it!

The crunchy cucumber, chopped garlic, and tangy-sweet special seasoning really worked to whet the appetite before the main meal.

Five minutes of simmering and a fish deboning service: how did it taste?

After a bit, a large hot plate pan arrived on the burner, and the sight of it piled high with red chili and whole garlic was a work of art.

After simmering on the table for about 5 minutes, a friendly staff member came over and cleaned the fish bones and flesh so it was easy to eat.

Thanks to the deeply infused, numbing mala broth, I got to fully enjoy this Dunsan-dong hotpot restaurant's charm, richer than I expected.

Picking up a thick piece of ningbo fish flesh, there wasn't a hint of fishy smell — it was chewy yet melted softly in my mouth.

Dipped generously into my homemade special sauce, the savory and spicy flavors combined for a depth that matched the Daejeon shabu-shabu I usually enjoy.

If you're craving an addictively spicy-numbing broth dish or a proper Dunsan-dong hotpot meal, I highly recommend Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch!