Dongseong-ro, Daegu kalguksu where you pick noodle thickness: Donggok

When I want a solid, filling meal in Dongseong-ro, Daegu, this is the place that comes to mind — Donggok Jemyeon, and I finally went back haha.

This is somewhere I visit whenever I'm craving noodles or a hot soup dish, and the menu is varied enough that it's genuinely a good place to go for a proper meal. Even though I went at an awkward hour this time, there were still plenty of customers — definitely lives up to being a Dongseong-ro favorite haha.

This time I ordered Hanwoo beef bone kalguksu, yukgaejang kalguksu, and gabrisal pork suyuk!!

629 Gukchaebosang-ro, 1st floor, Jung-gu, Daegu / 89-1 Gongpyeong-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu / 11:30 - 21:00 / Last order 20:30

Donggok Jemyeon menu and the receipt review event

The menu board at Donggok Jemyeon has plenty of variety beyond just kalguksu. Take a look at the menu board haha, so nice that there are so many options!!

They're also running a receipt review event, so give that a try if you visit.

Kimchi you serve yourself from the jar

And the kimchi here is genuinely delicious! You can serve yourself as much as you want, which I really love.

This is what I ordered!

Yukgaejang kalguksu with thick noodles

For the yukgaejang kalguksu, I went the opposite way and ordered thick noodles, and the combination really worked well together. With the spicy, rich yukgaejang broth, the thick noodles gave a proper chewy bite, and eating the broth and noodles together felt so much more filling hahaha.

The broth here is so good overall that eating just the noodles felt like a waste. So in the end I added a bowl of rice and mixed it into the broth — and yeah, broth deserves rice!!!!! Once I had the rice too, it felt like a full, proper meal, and I was very satisfied.

Hanwoo beef bone kalguksu with thin noodles

Whenever I come to Donggok Jemyeon, I always order the Hanwoo beef bone kalguksu with thin noodles. The rich, savory bone broth pairs so well with thin noodles that it's personally one of my favorite dishes here. Being able to choose the noodle thickness yourself is one of the great things about Donggok Jemyeon — even the same kalguksu feels totally different in texture depending on the noodle hahaha.

The thin noodles soak up the broth well, so they're smooth and easy to slurp down. The best!

Gabrisal pork suyuk on the side

And the gabrisal pork suyuk (boiled pork) we ordered alongside was also really good. It's a great side dish for when kalguksu alone doesn't feel like enough — the meat was tasty and had a great texture, pairing nicely with the noodles.

Having a bowl of noodles plus suyuk made for a perfectly filling meal. Donggok Jemyeon has more variety on the menu than you'd expect, so it was nice being able to pick from several dishes, not just kalguksu.

Busy even at an off-peak hour

I also liked being able to choose the noodle thickness to suit my taste. If you like thin noodles, go thin; if you like a chewier, more textured bite, go thick — so even with the same dish, you can eat it exactly how you like.

More than anything, even though I visited at an awkward hour, customers kept coming in the whole time. This is a great place to visit when you're craving good Korean food or a warm soup dish in Dongseong-ro, Daegu, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a restaurant in Dongseong-ro or Gyodong haha.

So generous with the portions, totally satisfied haha.

I really love these thick noodles in the yukgaejang kalguksu — this is the dish I always order whenever I come here!

The gabrisal pork is tender and juicy, and it's amazing eaten together with the pickled radish.

The broth is so good that mixing rice into it is basically mandatory…

I tried the Hanwoo beef bone kalguksu with thin noodles and the yukgaejang kalguksu with thick noodles, and I was satisfied with both combinations. In the end I mixed a bowl of rice into the broth and walked out very full and satisfied.

If you're looking for a filling meal in Dongseong-ro, I think Donggok Jemyeon is well worth a visit. They're also running a receipt review event, so if you go, I'd recommend joining that too.

And a sweet yakult for dessert!!