Oyster tempura and mixed pork cutlets in Yuseong, Daejeon: Gatjidong

I wanted to write up my visit to Gatjidong, a well-known spot in Yuseong. I've always loved the combo of old-style Western pork cutlet + cream pasta, and that's how I found this place — off to Yuseong with high hopes!

Near Daejeon National Cemetery, with weekend parking

The restaurant is near Daejeon National Cemetery, so it's easy to get to and not hard to find at all. Parking is available on weekends too, so we didn't have to worry about that 🚘🚘

The moment we walked in, the atmosphere was so pleasant ✨✨ The interior is spacious with generous spacing between tables, so you can eat comfortably without worrying about other diners around you. There were two-person tables that would feel comfortable even for solo diners, plus larger tables for groups — a good layout for all kinds of parties.

Everything felt neat and well put together ‼️ Since it's known as a top spot near Daejeon National Cemetery, we went in the early evening to avoid a wait.

Rice, soup, and old-style Western soup at the self-serve bar

Inside, there's a self-serve bar where you can freely help yourself to rice, soup, old-style Western soup, and other basics.

Basic side dishes like kimchi and pickled radish were also set out, so we had plenty. The flow of the self-serve area wasn't complicated either, which made things easy.

Tablet ordering — what's on the menu?

Ordering was simple using the tablet at each table. Nice touch that the restaurant listed a text-only number saying they'd listen closely to customer feedback 👍🏻👍🏻 Looking at the menu, there was a wide range of choices — pasta, pork cutlets, tempura, and more. We could pick what we wanted and pay all in one go, no hassle at all. After ordering, we waited while grabbing side dishes from the self-serve bar.

That day we ordered whole pollack roe cream pasta, oyster tempura, and the Gatjidong mixed pork cutlet platter. Each dish had its own character, and it was nice to be able to whet our appetite with the soup and pick at the side dishes at our own pace before the food arrived. We didn't have to bother calling a server and wait, and everything came out quickly, so we weren't waiting long.

Whole pollack roe cream pasta

The first dish to arrive was the whole pollack roe cream pasta — the smooth cream sauce paired with the salty pollack roe is always a winning combo 👏🏻👏🏻 The noodles were cooked to a nice springy texture, and the sauce coated them evenly, giving it great flavor. The roe was generous, so every bite had a rich, deep taste. If you love pasta, this dish should satisfy you.

A rare find: oyster tempura

The oyster tempura you can get at this National Cemetery-area favorite had crispy batter paired with the fresh texture of the oysters. The tempura wasn't greasy at all — it was nutty and light, easy to eat without feeling heavy. The oysters had strong, lively flavor, so I'd definitely recommend it to seafood lovers 😀😀

Eating it with the tartar sauce and soy sauce on the side added even more depth of flavor. My husband devoured it. Oyster tempura isn't something you find often, so he said it had been a while since he'd had it 🦪🦪 So glad we ordered it — oyster tempura, the best!🥹🥹

Gatjidong mixed pork cutlets — don't skip the cheese cutlet

The Gatjidong mixed pork cutlet platter was satisfying since it let us enjoy several kinds of pork cutlet at once.

With sirloin, cheese, and chicken cutlets all on one plate, we got to try a bit of everything. Each cutlet was thick, crispy outside and juicy inside — the texture was really good. It paired well with the special sauce served alongside. For old-style Western pork cutlet, the sauce is everything, isn't it.

You have to try the cheese pork cutlet — so good, a total cheese bomb 🧀🧀

Prices varied a bit by menu item, but overall felt reasonable. Given the quality and portion sizes, it felt like more than enough for the price, and the extra oyster tempura and pasta we added were good value too, so nothing felt like a stretch. Thanks to that, we got to enjoy a nice variety of dishes.

Gatjidong was satisfying across the board — the food, the atmosphere, the service. With its varied menu, reasonable prices, and comfortable vibe, it's a place I'd recommend to just about anyone. It'd work well for a special occasion, but also just as an everyday choice.

They also had these cute little things set up. We didn't use them, but I think kids would love them.

Next time I want to try the tomato green citrus salmon udon — it sounds unusual. Thanks for the meal 🙏🏻🙏🏻