Toddler-friendly fusion Korean in Daejeon: shared clear gomtang, Usul

What is Usul, the fusion Korean restaurant near Jungangno Station in Daejeon?

Usul (우슬) is a restaurant near Jungangno Station in Jung-gu, Daejeon, where you can enjoy neat, atmospheric fusion Korean food. The Korean menu is varied and includes gomtang (clear meat soup), so you can have a solid meal with a child, and there are plenty of dishes adults will love too, so it seems great for wedding invitation meetups, dates or meals with friends! I was really happy with everything here, from the tidy dishes to the stylish mood, so I'm introducing it to you! 💕

Usul hours, parking and private hire info

• Address: 48 Jungangno 138beon-gil, 1st floor, Unit 109 (Hangari Geurim), Jung-gu, Daejeon
• Hours: 11:00–21:00 (closed every Monday)
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Last order: 14:30, 20:30
• Parking: underground parking in the building, 3 hours free for diners
• Note: private hire available (ask via Naver Talk Talk or Instagram)

What are Usul's exterior and interior like?

Usul is on the ground floor of a building, so it was easy to get to. From the outside, big earthenware jars and a soft yellow glow welcome you, and I walked in feeling great, haha.

Even the menu posted by the door had that Usul vibe, haha.

Inside, tidy wood-toned furniture and yellow lamps made for a warm welcome.

The tables are nicely spaced and the room is quiet, so it works as a date spot, and anyone who likes a neat Korean meal will be happy here whoever they come with.

Does Usul have baby chairs and coat hangers?

Usul has baby chairs too.

They even take care of the way to the restroom and of food smells after the meal, what a thoughtful touch, haha. In winter it's hard to find somewhere to put your clothes, so I liked that there are hangers for coats.

It was autumn, and sitting inside looking out, the autumn sunlight coming in made the place feel even warmer.

What did we order at Usul?

As a fusion Korean restaurant, Usul has a really wide range of fusion dishes. They looked so good in the photos that choosing was genuinely hard, haha. After much agonizing, this is what we ordered.

• Clear gomtang 10.9
• Basil doenjang cream sujebi (hand-pulled dough flake soup) 14.9
• Gochujang yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) and yubu rolls (fried tofu pouch rolls) 20.9

Can a 2-year-old eat Usul's clear gomtang?

The clear gomtang was literally clear-broth gomtang! The meat was sliced really thin, and egg garnish was piled on top like falling snow, so it looked neat and delicious!

The broth is made by simmering burdock and vegetables for a long time until clear, with boiled pork on top, making a mild, light gomtang.

Under the meat, there's fluffy rice hiding like this, haha. I'd come with the baby and was worried about the menu, but my 2-year-old could share the clear gomtang with us, which was great!

What does Usul's basil doenjang cream sujebi taste like?

Next, the basil doenjang cream sujebi!! It's sujebi simmered with traditional doenjang (fermented soybean paste) and milk, with basil pesto gently stirred in. Personally, this was my favorite! It's sujebi but also like pasta, so the flavor goes back and forth between the two and you get a variety of tastes!

Pop the egg yolk and mix it all together, haha.

How do you eat Usul's gochujang yukhoe and yubu rolls?

Next, the gochujang yukhoe and yubu rolls! Aged kimchi and rolled omelet go inside the fried tofu pouch, and you take a bite with the yukhoe tossed in gochujang sauce... wow, this was really good too! The seasoning on the yukhoe was rich and made it even more flavorful, and the yubu roll with wasabi felt like eating egg sushi!

Thick-cut yukhoe!

The egg is thick too! The two together were really great!

Who is Usul good for?

Usul was top-notch in both looks and taste!! Adults and kids can eat together, and it's somewhere between Korean and Western food, so I think it can satisfy a lot of needs! If you're looking for a date spot, a wedding invitation meetup, or a place to eat with a baby, I recommend Usul~

Tips before visiting Usul

If you're looking for clean, atmospheric fusion Korean food near Jungangno Station in Daejeon, I really recommend stopping by 'Usul'! The neat flavors, the interior and the kind staff all satisfied me, so we had a lovely time throughout the meal.

Popular times may have a wait, so book through Naver, or if you walk in, I recommend going a bit before mealtime! Check the opening hours and last order beforehand! Also, near Usul there are hot spots like Sungsimdang's main branch and Yeongchun Mochi, so it was great to look around them too!