Daegu Japanese restaurant for groups: chashu cold soba, Myeonsikdang

I visited Myeonsikdang, a well-known restaurant near Keimyung University in Daegu. It works for solo meals, and it has enough seats for big groups too. Let me show you around ^__^

Myeonsikdang Keimyung University Branch: location and hours

Myeonsikdang Keimyung University Branch (면식당 계명대점) is at 55 Seodang-ro 9-gil, Dalseo-gu, Daegu, on the 2nd floor, and it is open daily from 9:00 to 20:30.

The restaurant is in the busy student area around Keimyung University in Seongseo. It sits on the 2nd floor of the Seven-Eleven building on the main road, and the big sign made it very easy to find.

Parking and public transport

There is no dedicated parking lot, but you can park in the side alley or on the main road outside no-parking hours, so it wasn't a hassle for me. By public transport, it's about a 10-minute walk from Gyemyeongdae Station, so access is great :)

Group meals near Keimyung University: what's the seating like?

The inside is much bigger than I expected. Tables range from 4-person to 8-person, and they're spaced far apart, so it felt roomy, airy and comfortable.

With several 8-person tables, it's perfect if you're looking for a place for a group! Students can also gather here for lunch together.

Window bar seats for dining solo

There are also bar-style seats where you can look out through a big window, so it's a good fit if you want a quiet meal on your own.

Myeonsikdang menu and self-serve bar

True to a popular Keimyung-area spot, the menu is really varied. You can choose from ramen, soba, katsu (breaded cutlet), donburi (rice bowls) and rice noodles, so everyone from kids to adults can find something they like!

The self-serve bar has water, kimchi, kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) and broth. You can help yourself and refill as you like, which was handy.

The ₩27,400 set for two: what did I pick?

The set for two at Myeonsikdang is ₩27,400, and the price can change depending on the sides. My combinations were chashu cold soba + smoky mini buta-don (pork rice bowl), and handmade loin katsu + smoky mini buta-don.

For the side with my handmade loin katsu, I chose the smoky mini buta-don. One nice thing about the set menu is that you can pick your own side.

Handmade loin katsu: the textbook crispy outside, juicy inside

The handmade loin katsu looks crunchy just from the outside, and the inside is tender and mild. The loin was thick enough that you'd say this was a tonkatsu specialist. Crispy outside, juicy inside, textbook >.<

Besides the standard tonkatsu sauce, they also gave us spicy sauce, wasabi and two more, so we could enjoy the katsu in all sorts of combinations.

Side dish: smoky mini buta-don

The smoky mini buta-don I ordered as a side was full of char-grilled aroma from the first bite, and really appealing. There's a generous amount of meat too, so I think everyone would like it!

It's a side, but it could easily be served as a main, and the salty-sweet meat seasoning goes very well with plain white rice.

Big ₩6,000 lemonade

The lemonade at Myeonsikdang is ₩6,000. I was so surprised at how big it was when it arrived! It's fresh and fizzy, great for cooling down and quenching your thirst.

What does the icy chashu cold soba taste like?

Myeonsikdang's chashu cold soba pairs fresh buckwheat noodles with fire-grilled chashu (braised pork slices), and I'm told the two together make each other even better. The standard toppings are green onion, shredded seaweed, baby greens, grated radish, wasabi, a soft-boiled egg and chashu.

It's packed with icy slush, so cold it gives you a brain freeze, which suits a sweltering summer like this. You can already imagine the deep flavor of the broth spreading, cool and subtle!

The buckwheat noodles in the cold soba were chewy yet soft, and eaten together with the chashu, the deliciousness doubled~ I recommend adding extra chashu.

Myeonsikdang Keimyung University Branch in one line

With generous portions, a wide menu, and room for solo diners and groups alike, Myeonsikdang is a great Keimyung-area restaurant, so go enjoy a good meal and blow away the sweltering summer :)