Daehung-dong gamjatang restaurant in Daejeon: lunch wait at Yeonam

I was really craving gamjatang (pork backbone potato stew) that day, so I went to check out Yeonam Charcoal-Grilled Pork Backbone & Gamjatang, a spot in Daehung-dong known for its waiting line.

Where is Yeonam Charcoal-Grilled Pork Backbone & Gamjatang, and its hours and parking

• 📍Location: 37-9 Jungang-ro 130beon-gil, Jung-gu, Daejeon (Daehung-dong 225-6)
• ⏰Hours: 11:30-24:00 (last order 23:30)
• 🚗Parking: Wooridle Park public parking

If you're driving, there's no dedicated lot, so you'll need to park at the nearby Wooridle Park public parking lot. We arrived around lunchtime and there were already a whole row of people sitting on the waiting chairs outside. I was surprised there were so many people even on a weekday lunch!

Also, since the famously popular Sungsimdang is just a 4-minute walk from here, keep this in mind for pairing it into your Daejeon trip.

How long is the weekday lunch wait at Yeonam, and what is the restaurant like?

We registered for the wait too, and when our turn came we were shown to a seat — and sure enough, inside was packed as well!!!

The inside was clean, and I liked that the tables were spaced far enough apart that conversations didn't get interrupted by other tables.

Above all, the staff here were super kind — if I had to rate the kindness out of 5, it was nearly a perfect 5. They personally handed us disposable aprons, and even though we could've just grabbed spoons and chopsticks from the drawer ourselves, a staff member set them out for us anyway.

I guess you'd call it thoughtful kindness? Hahaha, it really touched me~ No matter how many customers there were, the kindness that had seeped into the place was undeniable.

Ordering gamjatang at Yeonam: what side dishes come with it?

People say the grilled pork bones at this Daehung-dong spot are delicious too, but we ordered gamjatang — and I think it's clear the crowds aren't there for nothing. There's a reason so many people flock here: it truly excelled in both portion and flavor.

They gave us one soy sauce dip each for the meat, along with basic side dishes like ssamjang, peppers, stir-fried dried anchovies, pickled onion, cubed radish kimchi, and mayo salad — every single one paired well with the meat.

Seriously, not a single side dish missed the mark. It wasn't a case of wishing something were there — everything was there, so you could enjoy a whole range of flavors.

The tender meat, dipped or paired with the tangy-sweet pickled onion, spicy cubed radish kimchi, cool peppers, and salty soy sauce dip — oh man~~!! So good, so good, so good!

The lean meat hidden at the bottom of the pot: is one gamjatang enough for two?

You can also add extra noodles or toppings. At first, just looking at the surface, I thought it was mostly noodles and vegetables and that the portion was smaller than expected — but all the meat was hiding underneath. The pot was surprisingly deep too, haha. After being a little disappointed, the unexpected twist made me think, 'ah, that's exactly why there's a wait for this place.'

The amount of meat was so generous that it was slightly too filling for two women to finish. With that much quantity plus great flavor, no wonder it's a must-visit in Daehung-dong, Daejeon.

With so many gamjatang restaurants these days serving big bones but relatively little meat, this place clearly understood exactly what people want. They know exactly what customers like and dislike — there's no doubt about it. Successful restaurants always have a good reason for being that way.

Verdict: is Yeonam worth a trip when you crave gamjatang in Daejeon?

Thanks to the broth soaked into the meat, potatoes, dried radish greens, rice cakes, and glass noodles, Yeonam Charcoal-Grilled Pork Backbone & Gamjatang in Daehung-dong, Daejeon delivered a much deeper, more robust flavor than expected.

They say the grilled pork bones here are delicious too, but the gamjatang is just as good, so if you're ever craving it, definitely give this place a try! There's clearly a reason it has a waiting line~ ^^