Daegu Korean restaurant, galbi instead of mushrooms: Hyangtaek Jongno

Location | 19 Jungang-daero 77-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu / Jongno 2-ga 66-1, Jung-gu, Daegu

Hours | 11:00 - 20:00, break time 15:30 - 17:00

Parking | separate lot 🅿️ / takeout available ⭕️

Where is Hyangtaek Daegu Jongno Branch, and is there parking?

For a Dongseongno lunch date in Daegu, I headed to Hyangtaek Jongno Branch near Banwoldang. I have good memories of eating well at their spot in front of Dongdaegu Station, so this time I visited with my kid.

This Dongseongno Korean restaurant, Hyangtaek Jongno Branch, sits right next to Sangguune Dwaejigui, across from the Starbucks Jongno Gotaek branch. Parking is separate, so plan for that.

Inside the renovated hanok: what the dining room looks like

Right as you walk in, there's a waiting list posted. It was a slightly late lunch hour and plenty of people were out having Dongseongno dates over a meal, but luckily, being a weekday, we didn't have to wait.

This Banwoldang-area Korean restaurant, built into a renovated old hanok, has an open kitchen along with tables for two and four.

The old wooden pillars were kept intact, giving the ceiling a nice height worth admiring. Two-seat tables get priority, and parties of three or more are seated at the four-seat tables.

Hyangtaek Jongno menu and prices

Hyangtaek Jongno Branch menu and prices

• Mackerel gondre rice ₩14,000
• Eggplant doenjang rice bowl ₩13,000
• Yukhoe bibimbap ₩14,000
• Wild herb & squid rice bowl ₩13,000
• Herring roe bibim noodles ₩13,000
• Grilled deodeok and mushrooms ₩9,000
• Mushroom platter ₩6,000
• Galbi platter ₩10,000
• Cheongsong-style chicken bulgogi ₩9,000

What comes with the meal: the basic table setting

First, the basic table setting arrives: a clear broth, minced squid jeotgal (salted seafood), pickled gungchae (a leafy green), seasoning sauce, and dried seaweed, with spoons and chopsticks set beside the table.

Galbi platter instead of the mushroom platter, for a child who dislikes mushrooms

If you sign up for Naver Place notifications, you get a free mushroom pancake, but since my kid hates mushrooms, there was no choice but to order the galbi platter instead. The table next to us ordered the grilled deodeok and mushrooms and the Cheongsong-style chicken bulgogi as sides, and those looked delicious too.

How to eat Hyangtaek's mackerel gondre rice

To enjoy the mackerel gondre bibimbap properly, you first break up the grilled mackerel into small pieces.

Mixed up mackerel gondre rice wrapped in dried seaweed and dipped in the seasoning sauce was light and delicious. It's not too strongly seasoned, so I think adults would enjoy it too.

Herring roe bibim noodles with the galbi platter: how the combination tastes

I ordered the herring roe bibim noodles expecting a bit of spice, and as expected it was spicy, with perilla leaves and beef brisket piled on top for a generous topping.

The bibim noodles are already delicious on their own with the popping herring roe on top, but wrapping the galbi platter in with it made the flavor even richer and more satisfying.

The galbi platter we ordered on top came pressed flat and grilled, like a flattened tteokgalbi (minced beef patty), with juices pooled on top.

It made a great side to go with our three dishes for two.

After the meal, there were plenty of cafés nearby around Dongseongno and Jongno in Daegu, including the Starbucks Jongno Gotaek branch, so it was easy to move on from there. I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for a hearty Korean meal in downtown Daegu.