Dakdoritang set at a Keimyung University pub in Daegu: Sugisogeum

Why Sugisogeum is an easy drinking spot by Keimyung University's east gate

Sugisogeum Keimyung University branch is a Korean pub near Keimyung University's east gate in Dalseo, Daegu. It's a place I used to go to often when I wanted a cheap, tasty side dish with drinks, but I hadn't been in a while, so I finally went back.

When Sugisogeum first opened downtown, the wait was absolutely insane, so I was so glad when a branch opened near Keimyung. Also, a lot of pubs near Keimyung's east gate have the annoying old-school setup where the restroom is outside — but Sugisogeum's is indoors haha. That alone gets a pass from me. Okay, on to the review!

• 📍Hours: Daily 18:00 – 3:00 the next day
• 📍Parking: Not available
• 📍Reservations: By phone inquiry

It really feels like that 20-something college-street vibe, in a good way lol

What comes in the dakdoritang set: udon noodles, glass noodle fritters and fried rice

The prices are honestly a steal. Sugisogeum is actually most famous for its cold shabu shabu, but this time we ordered the dakdoritang set! At this price you'd be silly not to get the set, so we ordered dakdoritang + udon noodles + fried glass noodles + fried rice. We hadn't eaten dinner yet so we deliberately picked the rice option, but in the end there was so much food we couldn't finish it all.

I really love tofu kimchi and it's the basic side dish here, so happy about that.

The draft beer was perfect for sipping while we waited for the dakdoritang to arrive — it takes a while since the chicken comes fully cooked already.

Why you eat the dakdoritang right away instead of boiling it down

Finally, the dakdoritang I ordered arrived. At first I thought what was on top was squid fritters — like, when did they add that? — but it turned out to be fried glass noodles lol. I hate soggy food so I immediately rescued all the fritters as soon as it arrived.

When we got it, they told us not to boil it again and just eat it right away, since it comes already fully cooked — boiling it more just makes it saltier. I said okay~~ and then out of habit turned on the burner and boiled it anyway lol. So later the staff came over and turned it off when they saw it was at a rolling boil haha.

Anyway, I diligently rescued all the fried glass noodles. The seasoning wasn't too strong, just right, which was really nice. I genuinely wanted a bowl of rice to mix it with.

Add the udon noodles as soon as they arrive

Then there was the udon noodles that came with the set. You know how the pros add udon noodles into dakdoritang, right? The noodles come pre-boiled, so you just simmer them briefly to soak up the sauce — so easy.

They said the udon noodles taste best if you add them in right away, so that's what we did haha. I want to eat this again already.

Fried rice to finish, and 4 draft beers for 65,000 won total

Once we'd eaten a good amount, we asked for the fried rice, and the kitchen made it and brought it out! The fried rice wasn't salty either, the grains were nice and fluffy, and it was so good. Cooking it right in the pan at the table has its own charm with the crispy bits, but health-wise, having it made in the kitchen like this is the better option ^^

We'd planned to just have a simple dinner and one round of draft beer before heading home, but the dakdoritang was so good we ended up ordering another round each lol. Four draft beers plus the dakdoritang set still came to only ₩65,000 — an absolute steal. A lot of people think the area near Keimyung's east gate has died down, but Sugisogeum has a line every single day and is clearly doing great business. There's a reason for that.

If you sign up for Naver notifications you get a cream cheese cracker too, so don't forget to sign up before you visit and grab that coupon. Among the pubs near Keimyung's east gate, this one is clean, delicious, and open until 3am — there's no reason not to go haha.

Waiting times and reservation tips at Sugisogeum

Sugisogeum Keimyung University branch is a hot spot with a wait almost every day, so if you're planning to visit, I'd recommend booking ahead. You can reach them by Instagram DM or phone, and same-day reservations are possible too, so try to book before 7pm. Highly recommend Sugisogeum as a good restaurant and bar near Keimyung University Station.