Daegu Korean meal: 50-year fried dumplings, brazier jeyuk, Cafe Dongi

What is Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro Main Branch like, and can you park?

Cafe Dongi (카페동이) Dongseong-ro Main Branch is a Korean set-meal restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building at 58-9 Dongseong-ro 3-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu. It is open Mon–Fri 11:00–20:30 and Sat–Sun 11:00–21:00.

When I want Korean food in Dongseong-ro, I always end up looking for a place that is tasty and filling. This time Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro Main Branch caught my eye, since it's known for a neat, hearty spread that feels like a home-cooked meal, so I paid a visit.

Sadly, there is no dedicated parking lot in the building, so you can't park there :( If you're driving, I'd recommend a nearby paid lot. The cheapest is the Gukchae Bosang Park public parking lot, and the closest to the restaurant is said to be the Teresa Credit Union Main Branch lot!

Atmosphere and seating at Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro Main Branch

Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro Main Branch is a clean, comfortable space with wood-tone interiors and warm lighting. That tidiness was the very first thing I noticed when I walked in. The tables are spaced generously too, so I could eat without feeling cramped^^!

There are tables for 2, tables for 4 and group seating, so it works for solo meals, get-togethers with friends, family outings and even company dinners. Each seat has a partition, so there's little interference from the next table, which I liked. haha

What's in the self-serve corner at Cafe Dongi?

The self-serve corner at Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro Main Branch has a fried egg station, unlimited multigrain rice, barley gangjeong (crispy barley snack), hotgae tea and filtered water. This generous self-serve corner is one of the biggest charms of Cafe Dongi.

The first thing that caught my eye was the DIY fried egg station.

Plenty of fresh eggs were laid out, so you can fry as many as you like. A golden, freshly fried egg on top of warm rice really felt like a home-cooked meal. haha

The multigrain rice is also unlimited, so you can top up whenever you run out, which makes for a healthy meal. They say the rice is Grade 1 Geumssal rice from Gimpo, grown in the DMZ clean zone, which made me trust it even more.

After the meal there's nutty, crunchy barley gangjeong to pick at as a palate cleanser, and a welcome hotgae tea and cool filtered water are free to help yourself, so you can drink them before or after eating without a second thought.

Menu and prices at Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro Main Branch

Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro Main Branch offers a range of Korean meal sets at a reasonable price of around ₩10,000, premium single-serving set meals, and sides like nuruk (fermented grain starter) sirloin tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) and fried dumplings. It's easy to find a filling meal to suit your taste^^!

Mungzzi's Pick

• [Single brazier] Dongi flame-grilled spicy pork (jeyuk) set
• Beef belly doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) set
• Mini tangsuyuk tasting plate
• 50-year-tradition juicy fried dumplings

What Mungzzi ordered was the premium Dongi flame-grilled spicy pork set, the beef belly doenjang jjigae set, the mini tangsuyuk tasting plate, and the 50-year-tradition juicy fried dumplings.

It was such a generous spread that the table filled up in no time ><

How was the Dongi flame-grilled spicy pork set?

The Dongi flame-grilled spicy pork set comes on a personal brazier, so it stays warm to the very last bite, which I really liked. The jeyuk (spicy stir-fried pork) had a subtle smoky flavor and the sweet-spicy seasoning had soaked in well, and the tender meat went nicely with the crunchy cabbage.

With the doenjang jjigae and side dishes that come with it, it became a hearty meal like home cooking haha

Beef belly doenjang jjigae set

The beef belly doenjang jjigae set at Cafe Dongi impressed me with a rich, savory broth from the first spoonful.

There was plenty of beef belly, so the meat's nutty flavor blended well into the broth, and the tofu, mushrooms and other ingredients were generous too, so a bowl of rice vanished in an instant.

Mini tangsuyuk and 50-year-tradition fried dumplings

The sides, the mini tangsuyuk tasting plate and the 50-year-tradition fried dumplings, were better than I expected. The mini tangsuyuk was crispy outside and moist inside, as if freshly fried, perfect alongside the meal.

In particular, the sirloin is aged with nuruk, so the meat was tender and clean-tasting with no gamey smell.

Last, the 50-year-tradition juicy fried dumplings: the moment I bit in, the juices spread through the crispy wrapper, and I was really satisfied.

They're packed full, so they work as a snack, and they went even better alongside the jeyuk or the doenjang jjigae.

Would you go back to Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro Main Branch?

Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro Main Branch in Daegu offered a big spread plus a varied self-serve corner, so the value for money was really high. With tasty food, a clean restaurant and a comfortable atmosphere, I'd recommend it if you want hearty, home-style Korean food in Dongseong-ro! haha