Korean rice bowl spot by Dongdaegu Station: seaweed wraps at Hyangtaek

Where is Hyangtaek near Dongdaegu Station, and what are the hours?

Hyangtaek (향택 본점, the main branch) is a Korean restaurant at 158-7 Dongbu-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu, opposite Dongdaegu Station. It is open 11:00–20:00 with a break from 15:30 to 17:00, and there is no parking lot.

Hyangtaek is now super famous as a Daegu favorite! Starting from the main branch in front of Dongdaegu Station, it has added Daebong, Jongno and, most recently, Chimsan branches, so it's clearly still popular. Today's post is my review of my third, fourth, fifth... visit to the main branch!

Dongdaegu Station restaurant recommendation! Revisiting Hyangtaek main branch

Hyangtaek is opposite Daegu Shinsegae department store and Dongdaegu Station! So many restaurants and bars have opened near Dongdaegu Station lately that when I have plans or a get-together, I end up going there more often than to Dongseongno!

Among them, Hyangtaek, tucked in an alley, has been open quite a while and is still a Korean restaurant people keep loving :)

When to go to Hyangtaek to avoid the wait

Hyangtaek doesn't take reservations, so you have to arrive and wait. On weekday evenings, I recommend coming around 6:10 pm, or actually after 7 pm.

Even so, it's always full of customers...!

My waiting tip: on weekdays there is often a wait once it's past 6:30 pm, so come around 6:10 pm, or actually after 7 pm! But last order is 19:30.

Inside Hyangtaek: seating and eating alone

Hyangtaek has plenty of tables for 2 and 4 plus bar seats, so eating solo is fine. The space isn't big though, so it suits groups of 2–3 better than 4 or more.

The kitchen is slightly open, so you can watch the food being made, and the overall feel is cozy :)

There are lots of 2-person tables, 4-person tables and bar seats, so solo meals work!

The space isn't large though, sob, so it's a better fit for 2–3 people than groups of 4 or more!

Hyangtaek menu overview

Hyangtaek's menu is mostly Korean rice bowls and bibimbap (mixed rice), with a new summer dish, pollock yukhoe mulhoe (cold raw-beef-style spicy soup). Sides include a plate of galbi (ribs), a plate of mushrooms and grilled deodeok mushrooms.

• Yukhoe bibimbap (육회비빔밥, mixed rice with seasoned raw beef)
• Mackerel gondeure rice (삼치곤드레밥)
• Chamnamul squid rice bowl (참나물오징어덮밥)
• Eggplant doenjang rice bowl (가지된장덮밥)
• Herring roe noodles (청어알비빔면)
• Pollock yukhoe mulhoe (명태육회물회, new summer menu)

Sides include a plate of galbi, a plate of mushrooms and grilled deodeok mushrooms! They're cheap too, so they seem easy to order without worrying!

Check the "how to enjoy Hyangtaek" guide on the table too! When the food arrived, a staff member also explained it, haha

The basic side dishes are tidy too! You get neat banchan (side dishes), seaweed, warm soup, and gomchang gim (seaweed good for wrapping).

Mackerel gondeure rice, eggplant doenjang bowl and herring roe noodles: prices and taste

This visit I ordered the mackerel gondeure rice (₩14,000), eggplant doenjang rice bowl (₩13,000) and herring roe noodles (₩13,000). Prices are just over ₩10,000, the portions of rice are generous, and the eggplant and mackerel on top were big.

The mains have arrived! I wanted to try a variety, so I ordered three popular dishes :)

The price is just over ₩10,000 yet the rice portion is generous, and the big pieces of eggplant and mackerel on top look delicious :)

Eggplant doenjang rice bowl: add kelp vinegar and wrap it in gopchang gim

The eggplant doenjang rice bowl (doenjang is fermented soybean paste) is what I always order at Hyangtaek. I never get to eat eggplant elsewhere, so I always have it here, haha. Scored eggplant is grilled golden to keep its distinctive texture and served with a savory doenjang sauce.

As the staff member told me, I added a little kelp vinegar and mixed it up, and it was savory and delicious, and wrapping it in gomchang gim was honestly the best combo...!

Spanish mackerel gondeure rice: no fishy taste, no bones

The mackerel gondeure rice (gondeure is fragrant thistle greens) has golden grilled mackerel on top of aromatic gondeure rice, and the mackerel has no fishy taste at all, is moist and has no bones! So easy to eat, haha. Wrap this one in gomchang gim too!

Herring roe bibim noodles: the only noodle dish at Hyangtaek

The herring roe noodles are Hyangtaek's only noodle dish! Springy noodles topped with herring roe give a popping texture, and the sweet-and-sour sauce goes well with the rice bowls! It wasn't spicy, haha.

All three dishes were good, but wrapping the rice bowls in gomchang gim was really the tastiest! I'd recommend it for a date or a get-together too! :-)

Is Hyangtaek worth a return visit?

Hyangtaek is still a popular Korean restaurant near Dongdaegu Station. I liked the neat Korean meal and the feeling that each ingredient is cared for, and above all, the rice bowls wrapped in gomchang gim are really delicious! If you're visiting Daegu or looking for a Korean restaurant near Dongdaegu Station, give Hyangtaek a visit!