Grilled mackerel restaurant in Suseong, Daegu: Geumdeungeo

Wanting grilled mackerel, I visited Geumdeungeo Deulanguil Main Branch (금등어 들안길 본점) with my husband. We had the charcoal-oven grilled mackerel set meal with extra mackerel and jeyuk-bokkeum (spicy pork stir-fry), then packed mackerel to give to my parents.

Where is Geumdeungeo Deulanguil Main Branch, and is parking available?

The restaurant is on the second floor of the building at 57 Deulan-ro, Suseong-gu, Daegu. There is a dedicated space for about 10 cars on the first floor, and I was told that tower parking can be used free of charge when it is full.

The hours posted during my visit were daily from 11:00 to 20:40. Break time was 15:30 to 17:00, and last orders were at 20:00.

What was it like dining with parents or children?

The interior was spacious and cozy, with window seats and private-room-style seating. High chairs were available, and families who had brought their parents kept arriving from the morning. The staff checked in first to see whether we needed anything, so we ate comfortably.

Can you freely take side dishes?

There was a self-service station for side dishes made with seasonal ingredients. I liked being able to have several side dishes alongside the meal, like a hansikjeongsik (Korean set meal), and take whichever ones I wanted.

How much are the grilled mackerel set meal and add-ons?

We ordered two charcoal-oven grilled mackerel set meals, plus one extra mackerel and jeyuk-bokkeum. These were the prices of the items we ordered during my visit.

• Charcoal-oven grilled mackerel set meal: ₩19,000 per person
• Extra mackerel: ₩7,000 per fish
• Extra jeyuk-bokkeum: ₩9,000

What did the charcoal-oven mackerel and spicy pork taste like?

I was told the mackerel is seasoned with nuruk salt and grilled in a 450°C charcoal oven. When I tried it, the outside was crisp while the flesh was moist and tender. Most of the bones had been removed, but a few remained along both sides.

Salt was served separately, so I could dip the fish to my taste. The mackerel went well over freshly cooked rice with the side dishes and doenjang-guk (soybean paste soup).

The added jeyuk-bokkeum had thick pieces of meat with a satisfying chew. My husband liked it too and kept making ssam (leaf wraps). One bowl of rice was not enough, so we ordered more rice and drinks as well.

Can you take home mackerel for your parents?

The display case sold Geumdeungeo mackerel for gifts or takeout, as well as side dishes such as salted seafood. My husband enjoyed the mackerel and suggested bringing some to my parents, so we paid for a five-fish takeout set for ₩30,000. The takeout price was ₩7,000 for one fish or ₩30,000 for five.

When we were paying and leaving, a staff member noticed that I was pregnant and gave me a snack gift intended for pregnant women and military personnel. That thoughtful gesture stayed with me.

Coffee and drinks were available for takeout, and cups of ice were prepared as well. We could have tender grilled mackerel alongside thick spicy pork, and with seating and parking available, I thought it would be nice to return for a meal with my parents next time.