Daegu Korean restaurant, kid-friendly cheonggukjang stew: Banwoldang

While looking for a long-loved Korean restaurant near Banwoldang, this time Huya's family visited Banwoldang Bujasikdang (반월당부자식당) :) From dishes bursting with that distinctive fire-grilled smokiness to deep, homey Korean cooking passed down from mom's own hands — if you love spicy fire-grilled dishes, this is a Banwoldang spot worth checking out, so let me introduce it today ♥

Where is Banwoldang Bujasikdang, and when is it open?

• 📍 13-13 Gwandeokjeong-gil, 1st floor, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea
• ⏰ Daily 11:00 - 20:45
• Break time 15:30 - 17:00 / Last order 14:45, 20:00
• Closed every Sunday / Chuseok holiday (Sept 24-26)
• 🛎️ Group seating, reservations, takeout, delivery, kids' chairs, wifi

A storefront that shows its years as a Daegu favorite

Banwoldang Bujasikdang carries on 36 years of deep Korean home cooking passed down from mom, adding a special fire-grilled flavor to all that care. Maybe that's why my anticipation for how it would taste was already rising before I even took a bite, haha ㅎㅎ

This place has been featured on TV multiple times! From the exterior alone you could feel the atmosphere of a restaurant that's held its ground in the same spot for a long time :)

How long is the wait? About 15 minutes through the Tabling app

True to its reputation as a Banwoldang favorite, there was already a line when we arrived. Luckily we could register for a table through Tabling and just wait on our number — we ended up waiting around 15 minutes before getting in!

There were also separate waiting seats out front, so we didn't have to stand around aimlessly. If you're planning to eat at Banwoldang, it's probably a good idea to build in some extra time, haha ㅎㅎ

Inside Banwoldang Bujasikdang: relaxed seating and a private room

The first thing that caught my eye as soon as we walked in was the wall covered with autographs and visit photos from celebrities!

The inside isn't huge, but there were more tables than I expected, and there was also a room-style space toward the back. So it seems like this place works for family meals as well as group gatherings or company dinners with a reservation!

What are the signature dishes at Banwoldang Bujasikdang?

Banwoldang Bujasikdang's signature menu includes buja short rib, fire-grilled squid stir-fry, fire-grilled pork stir-fry, and fire-grilled squid-and-pork stir-fry — all orderable in 2 servings or more. After some deliberation, Huya's family ordered 2 servings of buja short rib plus 2 servings of fire-grilled squid-and-pork stir-fry!

Side dishes and the self-serve ssam vegetable bar

While waiting for the main dishes, I checked out the side dishes laid out on the table: seasoned bean sprouts, pickled radish, cabbage salad with kewpie mayo, seaweed stem, and pickled onion! Overall nothing too strong-flavored, and a lineup that paired nicely with the spicy fire-grilled dishes — very satisfying, and the staff kindly refilled anything that ran low, haha ㅎㅎ

There's a separate self-serve zone for ssam (wrap) vegetables, so you just grab as much as you need. It looked like they were using nothing but clean, fresh ingredients! ㅎㅎ

And seeing that we came with Huya, they even brought out kids' cutlery for us — I was touched :) Little gestures like that really make a difference for a family meal out!

Country cheonggukjang stew from 36 years of cooking

The first dish to arrive was the country cheonggukjang stew (fermented soybean stew).

One spoonful in and it had a nutty, deep flavor. Made with a rustic, nutty country soybean paste from mom's 36 years of experience, it felt like a different depth from a typical doenjang stew. Good with rice, and also great as a palate-cleansing spoonful between bites of fire-grilled food :) It wasn't spicy at all, and 5-year-old Huya ate it happily, so if you're visiting with kids, this one's worth noting.

Buja stone-grilled short rib: thick cuts with real smoky flavor

Next up was the buja short rib, piled high with scallion strips on thick cuts of meat — looked delicious from the start. Underneath the stone plate there were enoki mushrooms too, and the staff kindly explained that they'd cook a little more on the hot stone plate before eating.

Taking a bite of the meat with scallion strips and vegetables together, the savory richness of the meat and the fragrance of the scallions worked really well together, and above all, that gentle, distinctive fire-grilled smokiness came through.

Wrapping the meat and scallions in the ssam vegetables was also delicious! ㅎㅎ Huya's family ordered this one to share with our kid, but it paired well with rice too, so I'd recommend it without hesitation as a family dinner dish ♥

Fire-grilled squid-and-pork stir-fry, spicy and smoky

And the dish I personally was most looking forward to that day! The fire-grilled squid-and-pork stir-fry. I went back and forth between the squid stir-fry and the pork stir-fry, and since I couldn't give up either one, I ordered this combo — being able to taste both squid and pork at once turned out to be a great choice, >_<

Right away the spicy seasoning hit with a strong smoky char that really woke up the appetite. The pork wasn't dry at all — super tender — and the squid was springy and plump, with excellent texture too!

I mixed it into rice with the sauce and gave it a good stir... it was honestly pure honey, haha ㅎㅎ

Delicious on its own, but mixed into rice it's a whole different charm... spicy sauce plus that smoky char meant a bowl of rice could disappear in no time ♡

Final verdict: is Banwoldang Bujasikdang worth it with a child?

Banwoldang Bujasikdang, a Banwoldang favorite, impressed with dishes that add that distinctive fire-grilled char to 36 years of home-cooked Korean flavors from mom. If you're looking for a spot for a family meal or gathering near Banwoldang, or craving spicy, smoky fire-grilled food, I'd recommend Banwoldang Bujasikdang ♥