Chinese bar in Galma-dong, Daejeon: garlic mayo cream shrimp at Yongju

As a former exchange student in China, I sometimes get a craving for the local food I used to eat there — but even eating Chinese food in Korea, it's not easy to get that exact same taste. So this time, wanting to try proper Chinese-style cooking, I headed to Yongju in Galma-dong.

Yongju's storefront on Gallidan-gil: why it catches your eye

Yongju is a Chinese-style bar on Gallidan-gil in Galma-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, and even from the outside it had the feel of a real restaurant in China. With its red accents and exotic atmosphere, it caught my eye right away just walking past. The place radiated such a strong local Chinese feel that my expectations were already sky-high before I'd even stepped inside.

Inside Yongju: the red dragon sculpture hanging from the ceiling

The moment I stepped inside, a whole different world opened up from the exterior. The first thing that grabbed my attention was a massive red dragon sculpture hanging from the ceiling. It was decorated like a movie set. One wall was lined with movie posters, black-and-white photos, and retro knick-knacks, each one fun to look at. Turning toward the counter, a display case packed with all kinds of Chinese liquor made the place feel even more substantial.

There was the familiar Tsingtao beer along with baijiu, plus a variety of Chinese liquors that aren't easy to find elsewhere, all taking up their own space. Just seeing the colorful bottles fill the display case made it feel like being in a real bar in China. If you like drinking, browsing to decide what to try would be half the fun — my expectations were already high before I'd even looked at the menu.

Yongju's menu and what comes in the mala xiang guo set

Looking through Yongju's menu, there were so many genuine Chinese-style dishes on offer. The signature menu included nurungji gwabarou, Yongju dongpo pork, kimchi chaldeok xiang guo, mala shabu kalguksu (noodle soup), and Sichuan-style mapo tofu — dishes that would get anyone who likes Chinese food excited just from the names.

There were also less common local dishes like mala rosé xiang guo, garlic cream shrimp, cold yukhoe majang noodles, and fish-fragrant fried eggplant, which made choosing genuinely fun. The Chinese beer and baijiu selection was especially wide too — familiar Tsingtao alongside Harbin and Snow Beer, plus various baijiu that seemed perfect to pair with the food.

Looking through the menu felt like actually being at a restaurant in China, and I couldn't help but fall into a happy dilemma over what to order. Since we wanted to try a bit of everything rather than commit to one dish, we went with a set menu. We chose the mala xiang guo set, which came with mala xiang guo as the base plus nurungji gwabarou and garlic mayo cream shrimp — a great combo for tasting a variety of Chinese dishes. I already love Chinese food, so my anticipation was building even before the dishes arrived. Let's see if it tasted authentic even to someone who used to live in China — here's my honest review of each dish!

Mala rosé xiang guo: numbing heat softened by rosé sauce

The first dish we tried at Yongju was the mala rosé xiang guo. The name itself — a combo of mala and rosé — made me curious what it would taste like. One bite in, the numbing, spicy signature flavor of mala hit first, followed by the soft, savory taste of the rosé sauce. The creamy rosé sauce gently tamed mala's strong punch, so it wasn't as intense as I expected.

The chewy ingredients were deeply coated in sauce, and with every bite the spicy, savory flavor built up more — subtly addictive, so my chopsticks kept going back for more. It's a dish where you can enjoy mala's numbing kick and rosé's smoothness at the same time, so it would suit anyone looking for a different kind of mala dish.

Garlic mayo cream shrimp: crisp outside, plump inside, never heavy

Yongju's garlic mayo cream shrimp was a dish where the combination of crispy shrimp and smooth sauce really shined. The portion was generous and the plating looked so appetizing that I was impressed the moment it arrived. One bite, and the crispy-outside, plump-inside shrimp was wrapped in a soft sauce with a sharp garlic kick — not greasy at all, and I kept reaching for more.

Nurungji gwabarou: why is it named after scorched rice?

Yongju's proud signature dish, nurungji gwabarou (crispy rice batter sweet-and-sour pork). Apparently gwabarou originally means "nurungji meat," so true to its name, this is a unique take on gwabarou made with a nurungji (scorched rice)-based batter. And true to its name, the batter really was nurungji! One bite and I understood exactly why it was so crispy. The crunchy texture paired with a refreshing lemon slice and a light, savory sauce gave both chewy and savory notes at once — a real specialty.

Verdict: Yongju in Galma-dong when you're craving Chinese food

As someone who used to study in China, I went to Yongju in Galma-dong wanting proper Chinese-style cooking, and between the wide range of Chinese liquor, the interior that felt straight out of China, and dishes each with their own personality, it brought back the vibe of eating out there — which made me extra happy.

The mala rosé xiang guo, with its numbing kick and interesting texture; the crispy, savory garlic mayo cream shrimp; and the chewy, sweet-and-sour nurungji gwabarou — each dish had a different appeal, making them great to enjoy together.

I'd recommend this place to anyone who likes authentic Chinese cooking, as well as those looking for something a bit different to pair with drinks. If you've been missing Chinese food like I have, Yongju in Galma-dong is worth a visit to get a real taste of China. Another good meal, another good time today.