Less-spicy mala kaoyu with ningbo fish and ice cream: Bantiannyao

Today I'm introducing Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch, a place I liked so much I went back! It's even better if you add vegetables and eat it shabu-shabu style — worth checking out if you're looking for a shabu-shabu spot in Dunsan-dong.

Location and parking for Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch

13 Dunsan-ro 31beon-gil, Seo-gu, Daejeon, 2nd floor / Open daily 11:00 - 22:30 / Parking available

You can use the building's own parking lot. I visited on a weekend, though, and building parking is hard to get then, so I used the Galleria Department Store parking lot instead.

Bantiannyao Kaoyu's upbeat music was already thumping out from outside, so I knew I'd found the right place. Take the elevator or stairs up and there it is!

What's the inside like?

There's only this one restaurant on the second floor, so it's really spacious! There are 2-person and 4-person tables with generous spacing between them, and since it's newly opened, it feels fresh and clean.

Since the food simmers as you eat, I'd recommend using the disposable aprons, and they have baby tableware too, so it seems easy to bring kids along.

On one side there's a phone charger, hair ties, dish soap, dental floss, and even sanitary pads in the restroom — you can really feel how thoughtful the owner is.

How do you order kaoyu?

The first time I visited Bantiannyao Kaoyu, I had no idea how to order, so here's the process:

• 1) First pick the sauce and spice level! We went with the Best Mala Kaoyu and chose less spicy
• 2) Choose your fish. That day they only had ningbo fish, so we went with that — next time I want to try sea bass for its firmer texture
• 3) You can add toppings. We didn't add any, but if you add the vegetable and mushroom assortment, it's great for enjoying it shabu-shabu style
• 4, 5) You can choose side dishes and alcoholic drinks
• ✔️ Finally, there's the self-bar usage fee — think of it as a basic add-on

What's in the ₩2,000-per-person self-bar?

Add the ₩2,000 self-bar fee per person and you get unlimited rice, snacks, sauces, and soda.

Even the less-spicy version at Bantiannyao is about as spicy as Jin Ramyeon, so as you eat, that spicy sauce makes you crave rice. Rice is a must!

There's a written sauce recipe posted, so if you're not sure how to mix your dipping sauce, you can just follow along — makes it easy.

I used the recipe as a reference and made mine to taste, and honestly, however you make it, it tastes good haha. I love minced garlic so I piled it on, and it turned out really spicy? If you're sensitive to spice, adjust it as you go!

Mala kaoyu with ningbo fish, less spicy

We ordered mala kaoyu ₩43,000 (ningbo fish / less spicy), plus the self-bar for ₩2,000.

The mala kaoyu arrives! The look of it, piled high with red chili peppers, is really striking! The fish is big enough for three servings, and it looks like it fell into lava — a sight you don't see every day. Just looking at it before eating already got me excited..

The fish comes already grilled, so you don't need to simmer it long, but you keep simmering until the hourglass runs out, and once time's up, a staff member comes and trims it for you personally.

Once time was up, they trimmed the fish for us while explaining it. They said ningbo fish is a freshwater fish, but it has little of the muddy or fishy taste, so even first-timers tend to like it without much divide in opinion.

The ningbo fish belly and cheek meat were served separately on their own plate.

I put it on top of rice and ate it — so chewy and really delicious! Since it's cooked in an oven, the outside is crispy while the inside stays soft, and it's so good I kept reaching for more!

I dipped it in various sauces and also tried the noodle-like egg tofu, and by the end this sauce.. it felt almost a waste to only eat it with fish. If you go with 3-4 people and add side dishes and shabu-shabu-style toppings, I think you'd enjoy it even more!

Even the less-spicy version was a bit spicy, so topping it with peanut sauce toned the heat down nicely haha.

Finishing with ice cream

After finishing everything, don't leave without ice cream!

Why does sweet ice cream pair so perfectly after all that mala spice.. Finishing with dessert made it a completely satisfying meal! Next time I'll come with a bigger group and add more toppings haha. If you're looking for a shabu-shabu spot in Dunsan-dong, give Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch a try!