# Tomato-broth kaoyu with ningbo fish in Daejeon: Bantiannyao - By Junye (https://superchart.com/en/@market-meal-passage/) - Written Sep 8, 2026 - Updated Sep 14, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Seo-gu, Daejeon - Sponsored: This post was written after receiving a complimentary meal as part of a sponsored store visit. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@market-meal-passage/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@market-meal-passage/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/index.md) · [日本語](https://superchart.com/ja/@market-meal-passage/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/index.md) · [简体中文](https://superchart.com/zh-cn/@market-meal-passage/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/index.md) · [繁體中文](https://superchart.com/zh-tw/@market-meal-passage/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/index.md) · [Tiếng Việt](https://superchart.com/vi/@market-meal-passage/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/index.md) · [ไทย](https://superchart.com/th/@market-meal-passage/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/index.md) · [Bahasa Indonesia](https://superchart.com/id/@market-meal-passage/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/index.md) · [Bahasa Melayu](https://superchart.com/ms/@market-meal-passage/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/index.md) · [Español](https://superchart.com/es/@market-meal-passage/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/index.md) ## In short Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch is a Chinese restaurant in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, serving kaoyu with a whole fish cooked in broth. This visit skipped mala for a tomato broth with ningbo fish, an add-on vegetable-mushroom platter, and staff who came to debone the fish once the tabletop hourglass ran out. The fish was tender with no muddy taste or stray bones, and the self-serve sauce bar made for a fun DIY finish. ## Good to know - **Ordered**: Tomato kaoyu (fish: ningbo fish), added vegetable-mushroom platter - **Self-serve bar**: Unlimited rice, rice paper, snacks, soda, sauce ingredients - **Service**: Staff debone the fish once the tabletop hourglass runs out - **Location**: 13, Dunsan-ro 31beon-gil, Seo-gu, Daejeon, South Korea, 2F Unit 1 *as written by the visitor on Sep 8, 2026* ![Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch main image](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-01-lon8m-900.webp) ![Kaoyu hot pot at Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-02-1q5wg-966.webp) ![Close-up of tomato-broth kaoyu](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-03-ubcrd-966.webp) ![Table setting at Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-04-1s34u-900.webp) > Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch The weather's gotten pretty chilly lately 🍂 and whenever it does, I always crave something warm and rich. I was looking for something a bit different from my usual go-to dishes, and I found a place worth writing about: Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch. This isn't just an ordinary Chinese restaurant — it had a special charm hidden inside. ![A full kaoyu spread combined with fish dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-05-xyp86-900.webp) ## A one-of-a-kind dining experience in Daejeon I'd always wished Daejeon had a proper kaoyu (baked/braised fish hot pot) restaurant, and this place turned out to be the only one in the city combining fish dishes with this concept. It was a genuinely new kind of menu, letting you experience the tingling appeal of mala alongside the deep flavor of the broth at the same time. If you're looking for a hongjeo restaurant or hot pot spot in Dunsan-dong, this seemed like it could be a very attractive option — that was my first impression. ![Interior of the restaurant with mint-colored decor](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-06-133b7-900.webp) ![Restaurant seating in a comfortable atmosphere](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-07-1cs3n-900.webp) Walking through the door, the cool mint-colored interior caught my eye first ✨ It wasn't too heavy, but had just enough of an upscale feel to make for a comfortable meal. ![Menu listing various broths and ingredients](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-08-1b8h5-900.webp) Sitting down and looking at the menu, I found a wide variety of broths and ingredients on offer. I've been to plenty of shabu-shabu restaurants in Dunsan-dong, but this was my first time seeing a dish with a whole large fish in it, and it got me pretty excited. It clearly felt different from your typical meat-focused hot pot menus in Dunsan-dong. Picking a dish while imagining what it would taste like was its own kind of fun. ## Tomato broth meets ningbo fish ![Ordering the tomato kaoyu with ningbo fish](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-09-1l2lm-966.webp) I went with the tomato kaoyu, which is milder and richer than the spicy mala version. I usually love tomato-based broths anyway, so it was an easy choice. For the fish, I was told ningbo fish was the only option available, so that's what I ordered. I'd never heard the name before, so I looked it up — turns out ningbo fish is a freshwater fish. It had been a while since I'd had freshwater fish, so it felt a bit unfamiliar, but that only made me more curious to try this new Daejeon-style Chinese kaoyu dish. I also made sure to order the vegetable-mushroom platter to go with it. A good soup dish really needs plenty of fresh vegetables 🥬 ## Attentive tableside service and deboning ![Tomato kaoyu served in a huge square hot pot](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-10-lg7pg-1200.webp) Before long, the dish arrived in a massive square hot pot. The visual alone was overwhelming — I couldn't take my eyes off it 👀 The chunky fish sitting in the red tomato broth was seriously appetite-stirring. ![Hourglass placed on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-11-vb0aq-900.webp) An hourglass was placed on the table along with the food ⏳ Once the sand runs out, a staff member comes over and debones the fish for you so it's easy to eat. That kind of attentive service really elevates the meal. When time was up, a staff member came over and expertly prepared the fish. They started by pulling off chunks of belly meat first, kindly explaining that this part was the tastiest. It felt like being pampered, which put me in a good mood before I'd even taken a bite. It was a different kind of warmth from what you'd get at a shabu-shabu place in Dunsan-dong — a gentler, more thoughtful kind. ![Vegetable-mushroom platter added into the kaoyu](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-12-1ue52-900.webp) The vegetable-mushroom platter I'd ordered ahead of time could be added in whenever I liked. Since I'm a bit impatient, instead of adding it little by little, I just dumped it all in at once for a hearty boil. As the vegetable stock released into the broth, the flavor got even deeper. ## An unlimited self-serve bar to enjoy your way ![Self-serve bar set up on one side of the restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-13-uctw2-m-900.webp) Another great thing about Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch was the self-serve bar. It was set up on one side of the restaurant, and I was surprised by how much variety it had. ![Rice, rice paper, and snacks at the self-serve bar](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-14-9pski-900.webp) Besides basic rice, there was rice paper, light snacks, and soda — all unlimited. ![Corner with ingredients for making your own sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-15-1uobx-900.webp) There were also neatly arranged sauce ingredients so you could mix your own to taste. The real charm of a hot pot restaurant in Dunsan-dong is definitely making your own sauce. ![Recommended sauce recipes written on the wall](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-16-1f2r2-900.webp) ![A homemade special sauce mixed to taste](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-17-8nmqi-966.webp) There were recommended sauce recipes written out neatly on the wall, but I've always preferred mixing things by feel rather than following a recipe. So this time too, I coolly skipped the suggested recipe and just poured in a bunch of ingredients by instinct to make my own special sauce. Luckily it suited my taste perfectly and paired great with the food. ## Tender fish that broke my preconceptions ![Deboned ningbo fish meat](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-18-oolfb-900.webp) Honestly, I had one small worry before starting the meal. Since ningbo fish is freshwater, I was a bit concerned it might have that muddy smell or too many bones to eat comfortably 🤔 But after one bite of the fish soaked in broth, those worries melted away instantly. ![Tender fish soaked in tomato broth](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-19-18w5r-966.webp) The flesh was much softer and more tender than I expected. It practically melted in my mouth — the texture was really appealing. There was none of the muddy or fishy smell I'd worried about with freshwater fish, and it blended perfectly with the tomato broth for a deep savory flavor. On top of that, there were fewer small bones than I expected, so it was easy to pick apart. I think even kids or elderly folks could eat this without much trouble. ![Fish and vegetables dipped in the special sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-20-11u29-966.webp) Dipping the vegetables and fish into my special sauce, I understood exactly why this place is known as a top kaoyu spot in Daejeon. If you're tired of shabu-shabu or regular mala soup in Dunsan-dong, this new combination will feel like a refreshing change. As the broth reduced, the flavor kept getting richer, and I couldn't put my spoon down until the very end. ![Tomato kaoyu with the broth reduced down](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-21-119p5-900.webp) ![The kaoyu pot near the end of the meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer-22-auf38-900.webp) It was my first time trying this dish, and it exceeded my expectations. It felt like discovering a new world of flavor within something familiar. Once it gets even colder, I know I'll be craving this warm, rich broth again. Next time, I think I want to try the spicy mala-based broth too — and I'll be bringing my own signature sauce along for that one as well. ## Where it is - Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch (반티엔야오 카오위 대전점) - 13 Dunsan-ro 31beon-gil, Seo-gu, Daejeon, South Korea, 2F Unit 1 - 대전광역시 서구 둔산로31번길 13 2층 1호 - 36.3523179, 127.3772817 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%B0%98%ED%8B%B0%EC%97%94%EC%95%BC%EC%98%A4%20%EC%B9%B4%EC%98%A4%EC%9C%84%20%EB%8C%80%EC%A0%84%EC%A0%90/@36.3523179,127.3772817,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@market-meal-passage/daejeon-dunsan-tomato-kaoyu-ningboer/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt