Korean restaurant in Dusan-dong, Daegu: Cafe Dongyi solo octopus set

Last weekend I went to Cafe Dongyi Branch 1, a well-known spot in Dusan-dong, Daegu. It's a restaurant near Hwanggeum Crossroads that has held its ground for 13 years, and since my family and I have been going regularly for years, I wanted to introduce it.

Where is Cafe Dongyi Branch 1, and what about parking and hours?

Cafe Dongyi Branch 1 is located on the first floor of the Suseong SK Leaders View commercial building, right next to Coffee Myungga, and it's right in front of Exit 1 of Hwanggeum Station on Metro Line 3, so it's easy to reach by public transit. Plus you get 2 hours of free parking at the Homeplus underground lot in the building, so it's very accessible overall.

• Daily 11:00–21:00
• Break time 15:00–16:30
• Last order 14:00, 20:00
• Closed during Chuseok holiday

We got there close to 8pm on a Sunday, so we were a bit rushed on time — if you want to eat leisurely, I'd recommend arriving by 7:30pm.

Inside Cafe Dongyi Branch 1: open kitchen downstairs, group tables upstairs

On the first floor of Cafe Dongyi Branch 1 there's an open kitchen where you can clearly see the chefs at work, plus one two-person table.

Head up the stairs to the second floor and you'll find seating ranging from two-person tables to group tables for four or more — perfect for a family meal out or a gathering.

The dark wood-toned interior had high ceilings and felt open, with a cozy atmosphere that made for a comfortable meal.

Self-serve fried eggs and five-grain rice: why regulars keep coming back

One reason I've kept coming back here is that you can grill as many self-serve fried eggs as you want. If you've tried them yourself, you'll know the eggs here are fresh and nutty-tasting, so different from home — it's no secret that I grill two every time I come.

There's also five-grain rice made with Gimpo Geumssal rice grown in Gimpo's clean farmland, which you can help yourself to as much as you want.

The barley gangjeong (sweet crispy barley snack), with its subtle sweetness, made for a nice bite of dessert after the meal.

Cafe Dongyi Branch 1 menu and the one-person set meal

Cafe Dongyi Branch 1 is run by a chef with 15 years of experience in Korean cuisine. The fact that they've held the same spot for so long said a lot on its own, and knowing all the sauces and side dishes are made in-house gave me even more confidence.

The menu was varied — flame-grilled spicy pork stir-fry, yeast-fermented sweet and sour pork, summer-special radish green bibimbap, flame-grilled bulgogi, shoulder-cut Japanese-style curry, and more — all served as home-style solo dining sets, which I loved since I often eat alone and it's totally fine to come by yourself.

I prefer seafood over meat, so I usually order the grandma's stir-fried baby octopus whenever I come, and I picked the same thing this time.

It comes neatly set up on a tray as a full-course Korean meal for one — even at a glance, the tidiness was impressive.

One main dish, three side dishes, rice, a soup, and omija tea (five-flavor berry tea) — it looked simple but felt like a satisfying, filling spread.

Adding the bite-sized kimchi pancake as a side

This is the crispy bite-sized kimchi pancake we ordered as a side — a good amount for two people to share.

Since it had just come out, we ate a piece while it was still crispy — the seasoning wasn't too strong and it was clean-tasting, making it a nice side to pair with the main.

How does grandma's stir-fried baby octopus taste?

The stir-fried baby octopus comes out on a portable stove, and it kept its warmth throughout the meal so I could enjoy even the last bite piping hot.

Made from a recipe passed down from a grandmother in the countryside, the seasoning wasn't overdone — a spicy-sweet balance that suited my taste perfectly. Above all, the texture was soft and moist through and through, and I understood why this place has been recognized as a Dusan-dong favorite for so long.

Dipping it generously into the mayo sauce added a rich, creamy layer that let the nutty flavor really shine.

I also couldn't skip picking out the small wheat rice cakes soaked in the sauce — such a fun bite.

Doenjang stew included, kimchi stew for 1,000 won more

The doenjang stew (soybean paste stew) included in the base set had a mellow, not-too-salty savoriness, fitting for a neighborhood spot at Hwanggeum Crossroads.

For an extra ₩1,000, you can switch to kimchi stew, packed with well-fermented kimchi and pork, delivering a deep, rich flavor that had me nodding along.

Mixing the spicy broth and its ingredients into the rice made for the most satisfying, filling bite.

True to its reputation as a neighborhood spot at Hwanggeum Crossroads, Cafe Dongyi Branch 1 delivered a thoughtful home-style Korean meal — a great place near Dusan-dong, Daegu, for a comfortable, home-cooked-style meal.