Daegu izakaya with cabbage rolls and outdoor seats: Gyodong Nakwon

What is Gyodong Nakwon? A Japanese-style izakaya in Gyodong, Daegu

Gyodong Nakwon is an izakaya on the first floor of 627 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, right next to Melting Point. My friends and I hadn't met up in Daegu's Gyodong neighborhood in a while, and while looking for a spot we heard about a place with real Japanese-alley vibes — so we went to check out Gyodong Nakwon.

As soon as we arrived, the exterior already had that Japanese feel. The sign and the lighting gave off small-alley-izakaya-in-Japan energy, so the mood was already good before we even walked in. It suits the vibe of Gyodong so well that it catches your eye just passing by, and you kind of want to snap a photo out front before heading in.

Counter seats, inner hall and outdoor tables: seating at Gyodong Nakwon

Inside, Gyodong Nakwon is split into a tachi counter, an inner hall, and an outdoor terrace. The interior was nicely done and had a great atmosphere. The lighting was soft and the whole place felt slightly dim overall — perfect for drinking and talking.

There's a tachi counter too, and it really nails the izakaya feel. Sitting there, you can watch the food being prepped right in front of you, and it looked like a great spot for two people to have a casual drink.

Head further inside and the space turns out to be much bigger than you'd expect. It didn't look that spacious from outside, but the interior runs pretty deep, so there was plenty of room. Anime plays continuously on a screen further in, which somehow makes the Japanese vibe feel even more authentic.

What are the outdoor seats at Gyodong Nakwon like?

Going out to the side, there's also an outdoor terrace. With the evenings getting cooler these days, I figured eating outside would be nice, and once we sat down — a light breeze, a great mood — it was perfect for sitting with a friend and chatting about this and that.

Gyodong Nakwon menu and the complimentary starter

Once we sat down we browsed the menu first, and it was genuinely varied. From soups and hot pots to a range of Japanese-style dishes perfect as drinking snacks, it seemed like a great menu for a group to order a bunch of things and share.

They brought out shrimp chips, and they were more delicious than expected. We kept picking at them one by one while waiting for the food, and they disappeared fast enough that we asked for a refill. It's a nice feeling when even the free starter snack is this good.

Motsunabe (beef intestine hot pot), 26,000 won: a clear, clean broth

First we ordered the motsunabe — you've basically got to get a hot pot when you're at an izakaya, that's just how it goes. It came loaded with beef intestine and vegetables, so it looked delicious just by appearance.

A spoonful of hot broth followed by a piece of intestine — perfect. I worried the intestine might make the broth greasy or heavy, but it was clean and clear, the kind of taste you keep going back for. It suits cooler weather especially well.

Cabbage rolls, 14,000 won, served with cream sauce

Next up was the roll cabbage. It's cabbage rolled around a filling inside, and the look of it already had that classic Japanese-izakaya feel, so I was kind of excited for it.

Taking a bite, you get the cabbage's subtle sweetness along with a dumpling-like filling, making it both light and filling at the same time. It came with a really good cream sauce that kept it from being too plain, and the seasoning was just right.

At first we thought of the motsunabe as the main dish and ordered the roll cabbage as more of a side, but it turned out to be really good. If the motsunabe is rich and savory thanks to the intestine, the roll cabbage felt softer and cleaner, which made switching between the two great.

Beef tendon with green onion, 13,000 won, plus mozzarella for 3,000 won

Last to arrive was the beef tendon with green onion stir-fry. One look and it screamed drinking snack. The tendon wasn't chewy in a bad way — it had a nice, springy texture — and the seasoning had soaked in well, so it got more flavorful the more you chewed.

It was especially good eaten with the melted cheese on top. The springy tendon plus the fragrant, slightly sharp green onion, combined with savory cheese and salty seasoning — a perfect combination.

76,500 won for three: the full bill at Gyodong Nakwon

• Motsunabe (beef intestine hot pot) ₩26,000
• Roll cabbage ₩14,000
• Beef tendon with green onion stir-fry ₩13,000
• Added mozzarella cheese ₩3,000
• Chamisul soju ₩5,000 × 2
• Asahi draft beer ₩8,000
• Zero Coke ₩2,500
• Total ₩76,500

We went back and forth on where to meet up after not seeing each other in a while, and I was really satisfied — great atmosphere, and a good variety of dishes to try. Recommended as one of the good bars in Gyodong.