Chimsan-dong, Daegu gukbap restaurant: chive-topped broth, Don Gukbap

On days when you crave hot broth and tender meat, nothing beats gukbap. Plenty of people around Goseong-dong and Chimsan-dong in Buk-gu, Daegu are probably hunting for a proper meal, so today I'm introducing a hearty gukbap place I visited recently: Don Gukbap (돈국밥).

What kind of place is Don Gukbap near Buk-gu Office Station in Daegu?

Don Gukbap is an old-school gukbap restaurant on Oksan-ro 7-gil, near the Buk-gu Office in Daegu. The area is full of hidden restaurants, and this is one of those places that people in the know already head to. I love gukbap, so I went in with high hopes, and the tidy menu and deep flavor lived up to the rumors. It made for a really happy meal.

The inside has an old-school feel, and the staff greeted us kindly. After looking over the menu, I ordered the suyuk set (수육정식), one of Don Gukbap's signature popular dishes. When gukbap alone feels a little lacking and you want the soft texture of suyuk (boiled pork slices) too, I don't think anything beats the suyuk set.

What does the Don Gukbap suyuk set look like?

The suyuk set comes as one spread: gukbap in a ttukbaegi (earthenware bowl), suyuk on a separate plate, and several side dishes. After a short wait, a generous and neat table was laid out. Besides the main gukbap and suyuk, there were so many kinds of sides to go with them that I felt full just looking at it.

Milky gukbap broth piled with leeks

The gukbap arrives in a big ttukbaegi with a rich, milky broth, topped with a heap of fresh leeks (buchu) for a fragrant touch. I tasted the broth first: no gamey smell at all, just a deep, savory flavor that filled my mouth.

The depth of the broth was something special, living up to its reputation as a top spot near Buk-gu Office. It was also fun to loosen the somyeon noodles that come with it into the broth and slurp them down with the meat. You can season it to taste with the minced seasoning or saeujeot (salted shrimp) for an even better bowl.

Suyuk that's tender, not too thick

The star of the set, the suyuk, comes neatly sliced on its own plate. The slices aren't too thick, just the right thickness, so it was very easy to eat.

The ratio of lean meat to fat was golden, so it wasn't dry at all, and the way it melted softly in my mouth was a work of art. Even just dipped lightly in saeujeot, I could taste the meat's own nutty flavor.

What side dishes and lettuce wraps come with it?

The suyuk set comes with kkakdugi, geotjeori, garlic, chili and onion, ssamjang, saeujeot, lettuce and jaeraegi. The sides paired perfectly with both the suyuk and the gukbap. The well-fermented kkakdugi and the spicy geotjeori cut right through anything that might feel greasy.

The sharp garlic, chili and onion were all fresh, and they gave us plenty of ssamjang and saeujeot too. The lettuce basket in particular held lettuce that was bright green and washed clean, so I could wrap it up without worry. Topping a piece of tender suyuk with garlic and ssamjang and taking a big bite of the lettuce wrap, I couldn't have asked for more. The sweet-and-sour jaeraegi also did its part to whet the appetite.

How were the portions and overall satisfaction?

The suyuk set was a well-stocked, generous meal, and I was thoroughly satisfied. I mixed a bowl of rice into the broth and ate it with meat and kimchi on top, and before I knew it I could see the bottom of the ttukbaegi, scraped clean. Afterward my body felt warm, with the fullness of having eaten a proper restorative meal.

If you're near Buk-gu Office in Daegu and looking for gukbap with clean, deep broth or silky, tender suyuk, do keep Don Gukbap in mind. It's easy to go alone and a friendly spot for friends or coworkers too. I'm definitely going back the next time I crave hot broth.