Solo-lunch dumpling house in Gwanpyeong-dong, Daejeon: Yongja 1

(This was a sponsored visit, but the writer notes she's paid out of pocket to visit many times before — this is a genuinely honest review with zero exaggeration.)

Eating alone at Yongja 1 Gwanpyeong Branch at 11:10am on a weekday

Yongja 1 Gwanpyeong Branch is a kalguksu and dumpling specialist on Gwandeul 1-gil in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, open 11:00–20:00 and closed Sundays. I had a short window during my company lunch break while running errands in Gwanpyeong-dong, and was looking for somewhere super simple to eat solo — and suddenly I was craving kimchi dumplings so, so badly!!

So I went alone to Yongja, the kalguksu-and-dumpling place I visit really often. I hesitated a bit wondering if it'd be okay to go solo since it's always busy, but figured I'd just eat quick and dash out, so I went for it.

Since Yongja is always busy, I went a bit early as a party of one — arrived around 11:10am, haha. I didn't book ahead, but since Yongja usually gets crowded, I'd recommend reserving if you're coming as a group of 4 or more.

Two-seat tables for solo diners and the self-serve takeout corner

Here's the seating at Yongja 1 Gwanpyeong Branch. It's pretty spacious!! There are a few more seats further inside, haha. And there are 2-person tables for solo diners too, so come here for a solo meal like me~~ That day, lots of people — men and women alike — showed up early to eat solo too.

And extra side dishes are self-serve, haha. The dumpling portions at Yongja are seriously huge, so they run a self-serve takeout corner for leftover dumplings. The containers come in sizes for 4 or fewer dumplings and more, so you can pack exactly the right amount. I packed some that day too, planning to eat dumplings again for dinner, lol.

What's on the menu at Yongja 1, and what the steamed dumplings cost

Steamed dumplings at Yongja 1 Gwanpyeong Branch are 9,000 won for 8 pieces. The menu is simple — I usually order kalguksu and steamed dumplings together, but since I was solo today I just ordered the dumplings. The price is really nice... and the dumplings are plump and generous too.

They also have soybean kalguksu in summer. Summer's almost over now, so if you like soybean noodle soup, better catch the last train, lol. Yongja's isn't even plain soybean noodles — it's soybean kalguksu, a mashup of soybean soup and knife-cut noodles apparently. It's sold in limited quantity, so it can sell out.

The kimchi side dish and the free bowl of kalguksu broth

Another thing I love at Yongja is the kimchi!!! It's really delicious here. It's that well-fermented, crunchy kind of kimchi — exactly the type that goes perfectly with kalguksu. When I go to a kalguksu place, the noodle doneness and thickness plus the kimchi matter most to me, and Yongja's kimchi passes the test every single time I eat here, lol.

And since I ordered steamed dumplings, they gave me this kalguksu broth on the house. The dumplings are on the spicy side, so eating them with that hot kalguksu broth is pure bliss... it's seriously addictive, everyone... dangerous stuff...

Dumplings pinched by hand and noodles cut in the shop

They actually pinch the dumplings and make the kalguksu noodles right here in the restaurant. Watching it, I thought — is this what real craftsmanship looks like?

Can you see it? These are dumplings hand-pinched one by one, with real care. And Yongja's dumpling skins are seriously, seriously thin. I'll show you in photos below, haha.

9,000 won steamed dumplings, and here you can see all 8 pieces. I think the price is really reasonable and good value. The dumplings are on the larger side, the skin is thin, and the filling is packed — I was full after just 4? pieces. Yay... I'm happy thinking I'll eat the rest for dinner too!!!!

To think this shape is all hand-pinched one by one... the skill to make them this uniform is really impressive.

Every steamed dumpling at Yongja 1 is a kimchi dumpling: inside the skin and filling

Yongja 1 Gwanpyeong Branch's steamed dumplings have no meat option — they're all kimchi dumplings. That day I took photos purely to dig into one dumpling. Up close, the skin is so thin you can see the filling right through it!! I wanted to stop taking photos and just eat already, T.T

Okay, so if you press down lightly with chopsticks and pull, it tears straight through with zero resistance, haha. And what I noticed was how chewy the skin felt — soft but chewy at the same time, and the texture really was springy and elastic. If the skin had been thick, the wrapper's flavor would've dominated, but at Yongja there's none of that — it really felt like a thin, chewy cover made purely to showcase the filling.

Wow..... and here's a look inside after tearing it open, showing the filling. As you can see, it's packed tight with finely chopped filling. The dumplings are on the larger side, but instead of being padded out with flour from a thick skin, they're filled entirely with actual filling — I really liked that. I love dumplings so much... I often order just dumplings for dinner too.

Take one bite and the filling spills right out. So honestly, eating these in one bite? Not possible here. You really have to put it on a plate and tear it apart with a spoon, scooping out the filling as you go, lol. Yongja's steamed dumplings have no meat filling at all — they're all kimchi dumplings. Which makes them even more my style. Crunchy kimchi, mild tofu, and finely minced vegetables blend well with the seasoning, giving you a nicely spicy bite.

I took a closer shot of the skin and filling. See how thin the skin really is, haha. And the inside is packed full — that's Yongja's steamed dumpling. Leaving without trying this? Hmm... well... go back and eat some (?)

A full shot I snapped after eating a few pieces, realizing I should document it. Even that day, tons of customers came in from really early on. A bit later, the place was completely full. And most people order both kalguksu and steamed dumplings, haha.

Why 4 of the 8 dumplings went home in a takeout box

Ate 4 out of 8, packed the rest to go... lol. Partly because Yongja's portions are big, and partly because my stomach is small, so I'll finish the rest for dinner tonight. Do I get tired of it? Nope. Not at all. I love dumplings enough to eat them every single day. But by that same token, I really hate bad dumplings too.

I know a few good dumpling spots in Daejeon, and Yongja is definitely on that list. If you love dumplings like I do, you have to try Yongja at least once. Oh, and the kalguksu is obviously excellent too!!!! I usually leave after eating both kalguksu and dumplings, but today it was just me solo~~haha.