Jongno, Daegu makchang grill: 4pm weekend opening, Bongja set

Daegu is the undisputed home of makchang... haha. I heard there was a place in Jongno, Daegu that does it really well, so I rushed over to try it... Bongja Makchang Daegu Jongno Branch (봉자막창 대구종로점) is popular with proper Daegu locals and has been on a bunch of hot TV shows lately. Here's my review of this TV-famous Jongno makchang spot.

Bongja Makchang Daegu Jongno Branch: location and how to get there

Bongja Makchang Daegu Jongno Branch is in Jongno, Jung-gu, Daegu, and it takes under 5 minutes on foot from Exit 1 of Jungangno Station (중앙로역). I guess it's somewhere between Dongseongno and Jungangno...! It had been ages since I last came to Daegu and a lot had changed.. Anyway, it's right in the middle of downtown, so access is great. No wonder it's so crowded..

Bongja Makchang opening hours: when to go to avoid the wait

Bongja Makchang Daegu Jongno Branch opens at 5pm on weekdays and 4pm on weekends, and stays open until 2am (last order 12:30am). There are no days off.

Mon–Fri 17:00–02:00 (L.O 00:30) / Sat–Sun 16:00–02:00 (L.O 00:30)

On weekends it opens at 4... haha. If you don't go early you have to wait forever, so I got there right at 4... hahaha.

Exterior

Bongja Makchang sits slightly back from the road, so if you just follow your navigation you might walk right past it... haha. Maybe that's why it has a bit of a hidden-gem feel, which I like.. It's great for a team dinner in Jung-gu, Daegu too, and look, there's a separate waiting zone out front.. T_T That's how many people come!

What I ate was the Bongja set, and with the big size you get two plates.. I mean, makchang is already an expensive food, and you can enjoy it this affordably?? You'll see later, but the lineup here is honestly shocking... the best.

Interior

As soon as I walked in, a staff member greeted me super kindly.. This place keeps you in a good mood from the moment you enter to the moment you leave, and there's a real reason for that.. haha. I'll explain later. For now, the welcome alone was so friendly... hahaha.

Makchang is the main thing, but they also have tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), shaved ice, kimchi cold noodles and more as sides.. And the shaved ice comes as a freebie... isn't that the best??

Bongja set at Bongja Makchang for ₩41,000: what's included?

The Bongja set is ₩41,000 and includes makchang or pork, plus unlimited ramyeon and shaved ice. Is that even legal?? And the ramyeon comes in all kinds of varieties. On top of that, there are sides like chicken feet, steamed pork belly, kimchi cold noodles.. they have everything.. T_T

Would you believe all of this ramyeon is unlimited... There are regular ramyeon and even stir-fried noodle types.. They even have a measuring cup, lol. It shows up later.. heh.

Side dishes and steamed egg

Wait, I didn't order steamed egg.... Turns out the Bongja set includes it. And the side dishes that come out are really neat and clean.. If you run short, you can eat as much as you like at the self-service bar, which is a huge plus!!

How do the makchang and marinated makchang taste?

The makchang at Bongja comes lightly pre-grilled, so you only need to cook it a little longer. They also give you bracken, mushrooms and rice cakes.

Makchang has arrived~~ That's one plate.. and it's still not over, which surprised me all over again~

Makchang crisping up... from the sound to the smell, absolutely perfect.... And the bracken and other things get grilled in the same fat, so it's icing on the cake, no??

Then the marinated makchang I ordered came out too... wow, this stuff is dangerous.. It was so hot out that I ordered a beer, and it just slid down. The marinated makchang here is a bit spicy and reminds me of fire-flavored pig's feet (bul-jokbal)?? So it can't help but call for booze... I admit it...

Also, when it comes to makchang, makchang sauce and curry powder are the basics, right?? Dip it in the makchang sauce with a little chili pepper and you get a crazy combo that wipes out the greasiness~~

They thoughtfully even give mayonnaise with the fiery makchang.. lol. Add a bite of the nicely cooked mushrooms and you're in heaven~~

Unlimited ramyeon and the self-service bar

The ramyeon corner at Bongja Makchang even has tips on how to cook ramyeon well. I wasn't even that hungry, but how are you supposed to resist this? T_T

Next to it there's dental floss, hair ties, toothpicks, wet wipes, ramyeon seasoning packets... Everything is thoughtfully prepared; it's a fully finished restaurant. If you come to Jongno, Daegu, you really have to visit Bongja Makchang.

I boiled up Jjapaguri (Chapagetti) right away. hahaha. Eat it together with the marinated makchang and what more could you ask for~~ The best. hahaha.

Old-style shaved ice for dessert and the send-off service

To finish, Bongja Makchang Daegu Jongno Branch even serves old-style shaved ice (patbingsu) with cereal, red bean and condensed milk!! Honestly it's the most basic thing, but also the hardest to get right, isn't it???

Even after eating so much, I scraped this clean.... Having shaved ice separately like this was so nice.. After finishing with this, I didn't need to go to a café at all.. haha.

On the way out they give you a green grape candy and even spray Febreze all over you.. Service like this.. I really think nowhere else compares... the best!

Who is Bongja Makchang Daegu Jongno Branch good for?

Honestly, the value at Bongja Makchang is ridiculous... It's a great place for a big group to sit and drink endlessly, a good spot for a team dinner in Jung-gu, Daegu..! It's also good for just a few friends getting together. I highly recommend Bongja Makchang Daegu Jongno Branch for great makchang in Daegu!