Kitchen Steam Fan · 24 stories

Steam from the Kitchen

I write about meals and restaurant visits in Daegu and Gyeongbuk. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceBuk-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Chimsan-dong Korean BBQ: koji-salt galbi and 9dan Set, Gogi 9dan

Gogi 9dan Chimsan Direct Branch (고기9단 침산직영점) is a charcoal-grill beef and pork restaurant on Chimsannam-ro in Chimsan-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu, with a kids' play room and a large parking lot under the piloti building. We ordered a 600g plate of fresh galbi (unmarinated short rib), mul naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth) and the 17,000-won 9dan Set of hanwoo yukhoe (Korean beef tartare), kimchi stew, jjolmyeon (chewy spicy noodles) and sushi; the juicy galbi sprinkled with nuruk (koji) salt and the hanjeongsik-style banchan (side dishes) stood out. At Gogi 9dan, the 9dan Set is worth ordering alongside the meat.

Written May 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Galbi & soju in Jongno, Daegu: crab-shrimp stew with rice, Jangjak

Jangjak Saenggalbi Jongno Main Branch (벽돌 생갈비 종로점) is a beef galbi (Korean short rib) restaurant in Jongno, Jung-gu, Daegu, built on a recipe passed down from Wolga Galbi in Bukchang-dong, Seoul. A group of friends shared half fresh and half marinated galbi (500g for 58,000 won) plus gesaebi-tang (crab, shrimp and scallop stew), with a cypress-steamed platter served free at every table and staff grilling all the meat. For a soju night, the verdict is to finish at Jangjak Saenggalbi with rice mixed into the gesaebi-tang.

Written May 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Dongseong-ro Korean lunch: jjukkumi and jeyuk sets, Cafe Dongi

Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro Main Branch is a Korean restaurant serving single-portion brazier meals on the 2nd floor of Dongseong-ro 3-gil in Jung-gu, Daegu. At lunch the writer ordered the grandma's stir-fried jjukkumi (baby octopus) set and the fire-grilled jeyuk (spicy pork) set, added a mini tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) to try, and upgraded one stew to kimchi stew for 1,000 won. With unlimited fried eggs, rice and multigrain gangjeong, Cafe Dongi serves a filling, good-value lunch.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDalseo, DaeguRestaurants

Seongseo, Daegu seafood restaurant: spicy butter boil unlike mala

Sin Yeongung Cheonggukjang Haemulttukbaegi Seongseo Moda Outlet branch is a Korean seafood ttukbaegi (earthenware pot stew) restaurant near Moda Outlet in Seongseo, Dalseo, Daegu. The writer ordered the medium seafood platter boil, a group dish, for 49,000 won, plus an old-style pork cutlet for a child who can't eat spicy food. The seafood platter boil has a rich butter aroma, but its heat keeps it from feeling greasy, and the portion was just right for 3: a very satisfying first try.

Written May 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Daemyeong-dong Korean dinner after 7 PM: shrimp curry tray, Cafe Dongi

Cafe Dongi Daemyeong Station Branch is a Korean set-meal restaurant on the hanjeongsik (traditional Korean full-course) alley in Daemyeong-dong, Nam-gu, Daegu, with unlimited refills of rice, fried eggs, side dishes and barley gangjeong (sweet puffed barley bars). After 7 PM the writer ordered the crispy whole shrimp Japanese curry tray, the Dongi jeyuk (spicy stir-fried pork) tray and the single-brazier jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) tray with its stew switched to kimchi stew, and parked in one of the 2 spots out front or in the alley. With generous tray meals and high chairs, Cafe Dongi Daemyeong Station Branch is a good fit for a family dinner out.

Written Oct 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Gyo-dong, Daegu BBQ: see-through-thin shaved pork, Suyeong Naengsam

Suyeong Naengsam Daegu Direct Store (수영냉삼 대구 직영점) is a frozen pork BBQ (naengsam) restaurant in Gyo-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu, near Jungangno Station Exit 1. Over 5 servings of flash-frozen shaved pork (daepae) at ₩7,900 each, a ₩5,000 aged kimchi stew and a ₩3,500 cold janchi guksu (noodle soup), the grill was salted first and the house-made pa kimchi (scallion kimchi) and kimchi were grilled alongside the pork while a Samsung Lions game played on TV. The thin shaved pork cooks fast and never turns chewy, and with cheap sides Suyeong Naengsam suits both soju nights and meals with kids.

Written Jun 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceBuk-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Ramen shop by Daegu Health College: double cheddar katsu, Myeonsikdang

Myeonsikdang Daegu Bogeondae is a Japanese restaurant serving ramen, katsu, soba and rice bowls on the university street right in front of Daegu Health College in Buk-gu, Daegu. On a visit around 5 PM, the writer ordered tonkotsu ramen, Sanuki fish cake udon and double cheddar katsu as single items, one per person, and was happy with the rich tonkotsu broth, the thick cheddar cheese pork cutlet and the free rice. Myeonsikdang Daegu Bogeondae is a go-to ramen spot near Daegu Health College for generous portions at student prices.

Written May 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMilyang, GyeongnamRestaurants

Beginner-friendly loach soup near Yeongnamnu, Milyang: Ilpum Irojeong

Ilpum Irojeong (일품 이로정) is a loach soup restaurant on Baengmin-ro near Yeongnamnu Pavilion in Milyang, Gyeongnam, known for loach soup in a sanghwang mushroom broth. On a weekend day trip from Daegu, the writer arrived with a child at the 11am opening and ordered the boiled pork and mackerel sanghwang loach set for two (18,000 won per person) plus a pork cutlet; the thick soup had no bones or muddy taste and suited a loach soup beginner, while the child happily ate the grilled mackerel served one per person. Ilpum Irojeong is a good Milyang lunch spot for families with kids or for taking parents out.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMilyang, GyeongnamRestaurants

Milyang Chinese restaurant: salt-dip chicken tangsuyuk, Milyang Dol

Milyang Dol Jjamppong (밀양돌짬뽕) is a Chinese restaurant on Baengmin-ro near Yeongnamnu Pavilion in Milyang, Gyeongnam, specialising in jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) served on a sizzling stone plate. On a weekend around 1:30pm, after a short wait, the family ordered the stone jjamppong for 2 with handmade chicken tangsuyuk (sweet and sour fried chicken) as a set, plus a meaty kids' jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles). The spicy broth stayed hot to the last spoonful and made a perfect hangover cure after soju the night before, and the chicken tangsuyuk was delicious even dipped in salt. With jjajangmyeon for the kids and jjamppong for the adults, Milyang Dol Jjamppong is a great family pick near Yeongnamnu.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Makchang grill in Jongno, Daegu: window seat and a stray cat, Bongja

Bongja Makchang Daegu Jongno Branch (봉자막창 대구종로점) is a makchang (grilled beef intestine) and pork belly restaurant in the Jongno food alley in Jung-gu, Daegu. After a weekday wait, the writer got the entrance window seat for the first time, ordered a 'plate + plate' mixing two of the 6 meats, and finished course-style with free self-bar ramyeon and free patbingsu (red bean shaved ice). Bongja Makchang Daegu Jongno Branch fills you up on two meats for the low ₩40,000s and has a group table inside, making it a good pick for a team dinner.

Written Oct 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGyeongju, GyeongbukRestaurants

Gyeongju Korean restaurant: rice bowls served in 1 minute, Hyangtaek

Hyangtaek Gyeongju (향택) is a healthy Korean rice bowl restaurant in an alley off Hwangnidang-gil in Gyeongju. On a weekday visit before 12:00, the signature Spanish mackerel gondre rice (rice with Korean thistle) and eggplant doenjang (soybean paste) bowl reached the table in about 1 minute, and both tasted clean and not too salty. Hyangtaek Gyeongju suits anyone who wants a quick, filling Korean lunch before getting back to exploring Hwangnidang-gil.

Written Oct 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHaeundae, BusanRestaurants

Haeundae Market restaurant: mild hagfish after the beach, Hyejane San

Hyejane San Gomjangeo Main Branch is a live hagfish (gomjangeo) and shellfish restaurant inside Haeundae Market in Busan. After swimming at Haeundae Beach, the writer came for dinner with a child and ordered the Pick 2 set (78,000 won): mild seasoned grilled hagfish and steamed clams, with free shrimp, live octopus and sea squirt on the side. With a spacious dining room and separate men's and women's restrooms, Hyejane San Gomjangeo is an easy place to enjoy hagfish and steamed clams together in Haeundae Market.

Written Jul 6, 2026Sponsored