First Gulp · 34 stories

First Sip

I write about visits to cafes in Daegu and Gyeongbuk. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants

PlaceBuk-gu, BusanRestaurants

Busan Chinese restaurant with medicinal herb display: Gupo Jjambbong

Gupo Jjambbong Gupo Main Branch is a jjambbong (spicy seafood noodle soup) restaurant known for its herbal broth, open since 2011 in Gupo-dong, Buk-gu, Busan. The writer browsed the medicinal herbs displayed in the dining room, then ate octopus-abalone jjambbong (₩15,000), tangsuyuk (sweet-and-sour pork) with the sauce poured on, and seafood platter jjajangmyeon (₩9,000) topped with a runny fried egg, all mildly seasoned and easy on the stomach. Gupo Jjambbong Gupo Main Branch is a restorative Chinese restaurant well suited to taking your parents.

Written Oct 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYangsan, GyeongnamRestaurants

First Jeju yellow crab at a Yangsan gejang restaurant: Deodo Gejang

Deodo Gejang is a marinated crab (gejang) and assorted jang restaurant in the food complex beside Tongdosa Temple in Yangsan, Gyeongnam. The two-person set (48,000 won) comes with three kinds of grilled fish, spicy marinated yellow crab and nutritious pot rice; the Jeju yellow crab, a first for the writer, tasted much like flower crab but was packed full of meat, and for someone who can't handle much heat, the sauce was a little spicier than Shin Ramyun. For a tidy, generous gejang spread for two, Deodo Gejang in Yangsan is worth recommending.

Written Oct 10, 2026Sponsored
PlacePohang, GyeongbukRestaurants

Whole squid, seaweed scallop: Pohang Mundeok conveyor sushi, Hojueseo

Hojueseo on Hoejeon Chobap (호주에서온회전초밥) is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant in Mundeok, Ocheon-eup, Nam-gu, Pohang, where every plate costs a flat ₩2,200. At Hojueseo on Hoejeon Chobap the writer started with grilled shrimp mayo and beef sushi, moved on to gamtae (seaweed) scallop, gamtae sea urchin, beef belly with dried radish, salmon belly and whole mitre squid, then finished with melon and pineapple. Meant as a quick taste, it turned out better than expected: a great-value sushi spot worth a return visit.

Written Oct 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongsan, GyeongbukRestaurants

Aged sushi restaurant in Hayang, Gyeongsan: tuna akami at Sonsi Sushi

Sonsi Sushi Hayang branch (손시스시 하양점) is an aged-sashimi sushi restaurant on Hayangyeok-gil in Hayang-eup, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk. After enjoying the Yeungnam University main branch, the writer ordered the 30,500-won value set for 2–3 people, a small aged sushi set and the Sonsi futomaki at the Hayang branch, tasting everything from kombu-cured flounder to tuna akami. With quality ingredients such as Sindongjin rice and handmade soy sauce made with Gyeongsan jujubes, Sonsi Sushi Hayang ranks among the top aged-sashimi sushi spots in Gyeongsan.

Written Oct 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gyeongju pork BBQ, salted cutlassfish dip: Ddeoggogi Ttaenggijae

Ddeoggogi Ttaenggijae (뒷고기 땡기재) is a charcoal pork BBQ restaurant on Yongdam-ro in Hyeongok-myeon, Gyeongju, where an AI robot pre-grills the meat before it reaches the table. The writer dipped the 700g whole pork belly and pork neck combo (55,000 won) alternately in salt and galchi-sokjeot (salted cutlassfish innards), added a half portion of dwitgogi (pork trimmings) and finished with crab doenjang jjigae. The owner, who once ran a banchan shop, makes the side dishes and adds home-grown chili peppers on the house. Ddeoggogi Ttaenggijae is a strongly recommended local favorite for pork in Gyeongju.

Written Oct 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukCafés

Gyeongju Bomun-danji café with mango yogurt and pink lemonade: Yard

Yard is a two-floor brunch café on the main road by Gyeongju World in Bomun-danji, Gyeongju, with a flower field of about 1,000 pyeong in front of the building. During yellow cosmos season, the writer drove to Yard, took photos along the flower field path and ordered a mango yogurt blend (7,000 won), pink lemonade (6,500 won) and grapefruit fruit tea (5,500 won). Yard is a Gyeongju view café worth the trip for its yellow cosmos scenery and refreshing drinks.

Written Oct 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukCafés

Gyeongju hanok café for matcha lovers: mango parfait, Bonghwangdang

Cafe Bonghwangdang is a hanok-style café with royal tomb views, located between Hwangnidan-gil and Daereungwon in Gyeongju. From a second-floor picture-window seat, the writer tried the Cafe Bonghwangdang matcha parfait (8,500 won), topped with a tower-shaped matcha chocolate and mango, and the cinnamon-cream Bonghwang coffee (8,500 won), then bought a tiger-wrapped 10-piece Bonghwang yeonhwagwa (lotus-shaped Korean confection) set (20,000 won) as a souvenir. Cafe Bonghwangdang is a good one-stop choice for relaxing tomb views and a Gyeongju souvenir beyond the usual chalborippang (barley bread) and Hwangnam bread.

Written Oct 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Palgongsan night-view BBQ, Daegu: water-aged spare ribs at Modak

Modak Texas Barbecue Palgongsan Branch is a Texas-style barbecue restaurant on Palgongsan-ro in Dong-gu, Daegu. The two-person Memphis Platter set (77,000 won) brought spare ribs, brisket, pulled pork and wings, and after the meal came complimentary marshmallows roasted over an outdoor campfire. With the Palgongsan night view lighting up in the evening and cowboy-hatted staff serving the tables, Modak Texas Barbecue Palgongsan Branch is a strong pick for a Palgongsan drive dinner when you want both atmosphere and good food.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored
PlacePohang, GyeongbukRestaurants

Pohang crab restaurant with sekkoshi, bakdal set for two: Gallilli

Gallilli Daegae Hoe Sikdang is a bakdal (full-meat) snow crab and sashimi restaurant on the crab street of Jukdo Market in Pohang. On a day when Yeongdeok crab and domestic bakdal crab were unavailable due to fishing conditions, the writer ordered the bakdal crab set for two (₩130,000). The meal ran from abalone porridge through a side spread of sekkoshi hoe muchim (spicy bone-in raw fish salad), mulhoe (cold raw fish soup), horaegi (baby squid), mixed sashimi and soy-marinated crab, then freshly steamed, pre-cracked bakdal crab, crab-shell fried rice and maeuntang (spicy fish stew). Verdict: Gallilli Daegae Hoe Sikdang is a Jukdo Market crab restaurant with a generous side spread and crab packed full of meat.

Written Sep 29, 2026Sponsored
PlacePohang, GyeongbukRestaurants

Pohang mulhoe restaurant, double squid bowl and sausage bar: Ppwang

Ppwang Mulhoe is a squid mulhoe (cold raw seafood soup) restaurant on Haean-ro in Buk-gu, Pohang, right in front of Yeongildae Beach. On a weekend visit with my parents, we ordered the 3-seafood Ppwang Mulhoe and a double-size squid mulhoe (25,000 won each) and made full use of the unlimited self-serve bar with squid soup, fried snacks, tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and stir-fried sausage. With fresh seafood, an icy broth that isn't too sweet and a well-stocked self-serve bar, Ppwang Mulhoe was a satisfying spot for a family meal.

Written Sep 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongsan, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gyeongsan Korean restaurant: bulgogi and Gimpo gold rice, Cafe Dongi

Cafe Dongi Yeungnam University Art Center Branch is a good-value Korean restaurant on the 2nd floor of the Cheonma Art Center main hall at Yeungnam University in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk. The order was the fire-grilled bulgogi set meal (12,900 won), the tuna and yeolmu (young radish greens) bibimbap set (8,900 won) and nuruk-aged tangsuyuk (17,800 won). The highlights were the rice, which Cafe Dongi says is grade-1 Gimpo gold rice, and a self-serve bar of five-grain rice, fried eggs, seaweed and puffed barley bars. Cafe Dongi is worth recommending to anyone near Yeungnam University looking for a filling Korean meal for 10,000-something won or a place for a group gathering.

Written Sep 28, 2026Sponsored
PlacePohang, GyeongbukRestaurants

Pohang sashimi restaurant with pufferfish skin salad: Yeonggwang Hoe

Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center is a sashimi and snow crab restaurant in the crab alley behind Jukdo Market in Pohang, Gyeongbuk. A medium assorted sashimi platter for 80,000 won came with an endless run of side dishes, including shrimp sushi, pufferfish skin salad, octopus tangtangi (chopped raw octopus), fried crab, sea squirt and sea snails, and ended with spicy fish stew (maeuntang) and Andong kimchi. True to Yeonggwang Hoe Daegae Center's slogan that generosity brings prosperity, both the portions and the freshness were satisfying.

Written Sep 27, 2026Sponsored