Folded Paper Diner · 13 stories

The Folded Menu

I write about meals at restaurants I visit in Daejeon and Chungcheong. · Writes about: Restaurants · Things to do

PlaceJung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Galbi BBQ in Jongno, Daegu, fresh and marinated half-and-half: Jangjak

Jangjak Saenggalbi Jongno Main Branch (장작생갈비 종로본점) is a three-floor galbi (Korean beef short rib) restaurant in the Jongno food alley of Jung-gu, Daegu, near Jungangno Station. The writer ordered a half-and-half of Jangjak Saenggalbi (fresh, unmarinated galbi) and Jangjak Yangnyeom Galbi (marinated galbi), ordered more meat despite being full because it tasted so good, and finished with doenjang (soybean paste) stew and a daejeopbap rice bowl. For anyone who cares about meat quality, the fresh and marinated galbi half-and-half is the order to try on a first visit to Jangjak Saenggalbi.

Written Oct 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Naedang-dong, Daegu Korean BBQ for pork belly over makchang: Daraewon

Daraewon Makchang (다래원막창) is a long-running, old-school grill house in Naedang-dong, Seo-gu, Daegu, near Nampyeongni Intersection and across from Hanshin Hospital. On a return visit drawn by the retro atmosphere, the writer skipped the makchang (grilled pork intestines) and ordered pork belly, pork neck, boneless chicken feet and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), and every dish was satisfying. Daraewon Makchang is an old-school Daegu barbecue spot where even people who don't like makchang can eat well on pork belly and pork neck.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon jokbal spot with leftovers to go and soup refills: Jokbo

Jokbo is a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) restaurant in the Wolpyeong-dong food alley in Seo-gu, Daejeon. The writer ordered the small king jokbal with drinks, couldn't finish it and took the leftovers home, and the Jokbo owner happily refilled the complimentary bean sprout soup. Thanks to generous portions and a kind owner, Jokbo is a Wolpyeong-dong jokbal restaurant the writer will definitely return to.

Written Oct 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceChangwon, GyeongnamRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Seokdong, Jinhae: garlic-salt pork belly at Hanpanjip

Hanpanjip is a Korean BBQ restaurant on the Seokdong bar street in Jinhae, Changwon. At dinner, the writer ordered the Hanpan 600g platter, and staff grilled all of the pork belly, pork neck and pork skin before bringing it to the table with grilled bean sprouts and kimchi, myeongi (pickled wild garlic leaves) and garlic salt. Hanpanjip suits anyone who wants to talk over a Korean BBQ dinner without having to grill the meat themselves.

Written Oct 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon City Hall Station Italian: rich ragu after a wait at Bologna

Bologna Daejeon Dunsan Branch is an Italian restaurant with an old-European dining room in Dunsan-dong, near City Hall Station in Daejeon. On an evening visit, the writer waited behind three parties, got a KakaoTalk alert to come in and ordered ragu pasta and truffle crab risotto; the starter bread and soup were already satisfying. Bologna's ragu pasta is a little heavily seasoned, but its rich flavor wins out, and it is worth spooning onto the bread.

Written Oct 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonThings to do

Daejeon perfume workshop: learning top, middle and base notes at Scent

Scent Perfume Workshop is a perfume-making workshop in the Sharkzone building in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. On an unusual date there, the writer picked a bottle, chose top, middle and base note oils, adjusted the blend twice, and chose the perfume's color, cap and bottle decorations. Even without any perfume knowledge, the teacher's explanations make Scent Perfume Workshop an easy date idea for making a one-of-a-kind perfume.

Written Oct 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Filling raw beef and udon in Jongno, Daegu: Chulgeungil Saenggogi

Chulgeungil Saenggogi Daegu Jongno Branch is a mungtigi (thick-sliced fresh raw beef) restaurant in Jongno, Jung-gu, Daegu. Chulgeungil Saenggogi serves four raw beef dishes: Gyeongsang-style, Jeolla-style and jeongak mungtigi plus brisket sashimi. A table full of side dishes such as tteokbokki, tofu with kimchi and gimbap comes with them, along with liver and tripe refills and ramyeon or udon to finish. Anyone who usually leaves a mungtigi restaurant still hungry can eat until properly full at Chulgeungil Saenggogi in Jongno.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Eel buffet in Noeun-dong, Daejeon with basement parking: Songrimbok

Songrimbok Jangeo Unlimited Eel Daejeon Direct Store is an all-you-can-eat freshwater eel restaurant in the Noeun-dong and Jijok-dong area of Yuseong, Daejeon. The reviewer visited as a pair and found a large surface lot plus basement parking, friendly service with a complimentary pour of bokbunja (Korean black raspberry wine), and a first plate of eel and chicken neck so generous that the two never ordered a refill. Songrimbok's eel tasted better than its low price suggested, making it a solid choice for a group work dinner in Daejeon.

Written Oct 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceChangwon, GyeongnamRestaurants

Pork BBQ grilled at your table in Jinhae, Changwon: Smile Hoegwan

Smile Hoegwan Main Branch is an old-school pork BBQ restaurant on Dongjin-ro in Seok-dong, Jinhae-gu, Changwon, serving a frozen pork assortment set of samgyeopsal (pork belly), kkotsamgyeop (marbled belly), ogyeopsal (five-layer belly) and hangjeongsal (pork jowl). On this visit the owner's wife grilled the meat at the table, and the meal ran through a special egg yolk sauce, kimchi cooked on the grill, doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and fried rice. Smile Hoegwan suits anyone who wants several cuts in one order and a filling finish.

Written Sep 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Seo-gu, Daegu sashimi restaurant: five ways to eat chamgajami

Hanjan Meokgo Gajami is a wild-caught flatfish sashimi restaurant on Tonghangno 39-gil in Seo-gu, Daegu. The small chamgajami (yellow flatfish) plate came half sekkoshi (sliced bone-in) and half regular sashimi, eaten with makjang soybean paste, soy sauce with wasabi, chojang chili sauce and lettuce wraps, then finished with a spicy maeuntang stew for 2,000 won. Because Hanjan Meokgo Gajami serves wild fish, the day's catch changes, so it is worth calling ahead if you want a particular fish.

Written Sep 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Yuseong pork belly and ₩2,000 doenjang stew: Jeonju House, Daejeon

Jeonju House is a Korean restaurant in Yuseong, Daejeon, serving pork belly grilled on a cast-iron lid. On a third visit, fresh pork belly was grilled with domestic aged kimchi, then finished with a ₩2,000 doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) and cast-iron-lid fried rice. The only thing to note is that the fried rice comes with minari (water dropwort) only in spring — otherwise it was a satisfying meal.

Written Sep 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Garlic oil vs Toowoomba pasta, beer in a beaker at Ciment, Gung-dong

Ciment Chungnam National University Branch is an Italian restaurant in Gung-dong, near Chungnam National University in Yuseong, Daejeon, serving pasta, pizza and risotto. The writer ordered salchi garlic oil pasta and Toowoomba shrimp pasta side by side, alternating between the mild garlic aroma and the thick cream sauce, with a 500cc draft beer served in a beaker. A good pick if you like both oil-based and cream-based pasta.

Written Sep 8, 2026Sponsored