Daegu Korean restaurant with kids: soy short rib and pork stir-fry

I'd been craving spicy fire-grilled pork stir-fry for a while, so I headed to Banwoldang Bujasikdang, a well-known spot in Jung-gu, Daegu. They've apparently kept the same flavor in the same spot for 36 years 🫠 The years show in a cozy, old-school feel. Usually places like this are hidden gems, but this one's not hidden at all — it's already a famous Banwoldang Korean restaurant haha.

Banwoldang Bujasikdang business info

• Address: 13-13 Gwandeokjeong-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea, 1st floor, Banwoldang Bujasikdang
• Hours: Mon–Sat 11:00 – 20:45
• Break time 15:30 – 17:00 / Last order 14:45, 20:00
• Closed regularly: every Sunday, closed Sep 24–26 for Chuseok holiday
• Amenities: Wi-Fi, takeout, group dining available, reservations, delivery, baby chairs, easy payment
• Featured on 2TV Saengsaeng Jeongbo episode 2210, January 16, 2025, fire-grilled pork stir-fry

Even though it was still early evening, the place was packed inside. We waited for the parking attendant, so our timing slipped a bit and we ended up being No. 1 in line anyway 😂

Inside the entrance, one whole wall is covered in celebrity autographs, and it seems most of them are athletes — I guess athletes really know their way around good restaurants? haha, some kind of good-food proof I suppose. They also sell meal kits, which are cheaper than eating in-store.

Apparently a second, company-run branch has opened in Suseong. I heard it has way more parking than the Banwoldang location. Just FYI — if you're closer to Suseong-gu, the second branch might be your move.

Inside, the room, and how tight are the seats?

The tables are spaced a bit tightly, but the place is well kept for its age. There's a room further in, but it was full of guests so I couldn't get a photo. It's a floor-seating room, fitting up to 16 people for groups. Book ahead and you can eat privately 🤗

Instead of plain rice, order the bibimbap (mixed rice bowl) so you can mix it with the main pork or squid stir-fry — it's delicious that way. There's plenty of sauce, so it mixes well, and paired with the included doenjang (soybean paste) stew, it makes for a great meal.

An apron is a must while the food sizzles away on the hot plate. Baby chairs are available too, so it's a good spot for a family meal out. Just keep in mind the tables are set close together 🙏

Banwoldang Bujasikdang menu and prices

• (New) fire-grilled squid & pork combo – ₩14,000
• Bujja short rib (2+) – ₩14,000
• Fire-grilled squid stir-fry (2+) – ₩13,000
• Fire-grilled pork stir-fry (2+) – ₩12,000
• + Country-style cheonggukjang (fermented soybean) stew included
• *Rice bowl ₩1,000 extra
• Country-style cheonggukjang stew & bibimbap (solo menu) ₩10,500

What comes with the basic side dishes

Five neat side dishes are set out: seasoned bean sprouts, radish salad, pickled onion, seaweed stem, and cabbage salad.

Vegetables, rice, and cabbage are all domestic; the meat, squid, tofu and so on are imported. The wrap vegetables are self-serve — lettuce, peppers, and soybean paste are ready to go, and they seem to bring more side dishes if you ask. If you leave food behind, they joke there's a 100-million-won environmental fee haha — the owner's got a good sense of humor.

Bujja short rib for two — soy sauce even a kid enjoyed

A delicious spread landed on the table.

Bujja short rib for two. Glossy, sweet soy sauce soaked moist into the short rib, with a mountain of crisp shredded scallions piled on top 😃 The sweet sauce and scallion aroma go really well together. The meat pieces are on the bigger side, so they suggest cutting it up ✂️ It was tender and not spicy at all, so my kid ate it happily.

Fire-grilled pork stir-fry for two — there's really a lot of sauce

The spicy pork stir-fry seems to be the most popular item at Banwoldang Station's Bujasikdang. It has a base sweetness and a good kick of spice, with the sauce really soaked into the meat — this is a true fire-grilling place! 😁 There's so much sauce that piling it over bibimbap and mixing it up sounds amazing. Next time I'll definitely order it as bibimbap haha.

The cheonggukjang stew that comes standard is the country-style version, so it's a bit salty 🤫

Where to park

When heading to a downtown Banwoldang restaurant in Daegu, parking is always the first worry. This Korean restaurant near Banwoldang Station has 3 spots out front, and there's also a lot behind the building that's convenient to use. That day, either there was no attendant on duty or they just don't provide one — we waited but nobody showed up. Park and walk in the direction of the arrows, and you'll be right at Bujasikdang's entrance.

Leftover thoughts after eating

The staff were really kind. We sat near the entrance, and even though the aisle inside was narrow, they kept telling elderly guests to be careful on their way out haha.

The short rib is sweet, so I'd recommend it for kids or anyone who can't handle spice, while the spicy pork stir-fry had a genuinely huge amount of sauce and was delicious — I only realized while writing this post exactly why there was so much sauce, haha. It's a bit of a shame we didn't get to mix the pork into bibimbap. A quick 'how to enjoy it' guide for first-timers would've been nice. Our table's ordering pad happened to be broken, so maybe that info was in there — who knows 😢

It's great for a family meal out, but also a good pick to bring your parents to. The day we visited, there were a lot of groups of older folks and organized gatherings. Portions run generous, so it's good value, and it has that comfortable, homey feel. If you're looking for a Jung-gu, Daegu Korean restaurant near Banwoldang, this is a solid pick for fire-grilled pork stir-fry and fire-grilled squid stir-fry — Banwoldang Bujasikdang.