Round Tray Taster · 8 stories
Writes about cafes and small restaurants across Daejeon-Chungcheong and Jeju. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés
Idobonga (이도본가) is a Korean restaurant specializing in galbitang (beef short rib soup) on Oryu-ro in Jung-gu, Daejeon. At Idobonga, the galbitang with big short ribs came with chadol bibimbap (beef brisket bibimbap) and muk-muchim (seasoned jelly salad); the meat slipped right off the bone, and the broth was clear yet deep. Idobonga is a place worth returning to for a restorative meal when the weather leaves you drained.
Gildon (길돈) is a Korean BBQ restaurant specializing in flower pork belly (kkotsamgyeop) and flower pork neck (kkotmoksal), located in the Gallery Hurium shopping building in Galma-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. At Gildon, the scored flower pork belly and the cube-thick flower pork neck were grilled first, followed by aged kimchi stew and a seafood ramyeon with crab and shrimp, and every dish from the meat to the meal course delivered. For grilled pork plus a hearty soup finish in one sitting in Galma-dong, Gildon is a sure pick.
Jeonju House (전주하우스) is a Korean restaurant in Bongmyeong-dong, Yuseong, Daejeon, specializing in galbi kimchi stew (pork rib and kimchi stew). The galbi kimchi stew comes in a wide metal pot with whole heads of aged kimchi and thick pork ribs, and was ordered alongside a thick giant egg roll. The spicy aged-kimchi broth and the soft egg roll make Jeonju House a satisfying pick, whether with rice or with soju.
Hanppong (한뽕) is a newly opened restaurant in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, specializing in galbitang (beef short rib soup) and doganitang (ox knee soup). Ordered outside the lunch rush, Hanppong's Mountain-Piled Galbitang (산더미 갈비탕) came with thick, slow-simmered short ribs that slid right off the bone, a deep broth with no greasiness and a generous portion of glass noodles, and the bowl was emptied to the last drop. For a hearty yet clean-tasting Korean restorative meal in Daejeon, Hanppong's Mountain-Piled Galbitang is well worth ordering.
Hanmaeum Jeongyuk Sikdang Boksu Branch is a butcher-style Korean BBQ restaurant in Boksu-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, specializing in aged fresh beef and pork. Two people shared the half-cow beef set (300g) of five cuts: jin-galbisal, galbisal, bone-in galbi, buchaesal and usamgyeop. Doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) simmered at the table and was refilled throughout. For two people who want to focus on aged beef BBQ without a set course, Hanmaeum Jeongyuk Sikdang Boksu Branch serves a meal that is neither too much nor too little.
Kitsune Yubu Daejeon Dunsan is a Japanese-style snack bar specializing in jumbo inari sushi (rice in sweet tofu pouches) in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, near City Hall Station. The writer dined in on rosé udon-bokki (udon in tteokbokki-style rosé sauce) and 4 jumbo inari sushi (crab stick, beef kimchi, octopus wasabi and creamy shrimp), and especially loved dipping the inari sushi into the rosé udon-bokki sauce. For a filling, out-of-the-ordinary snack meal in Dunsan-dong, Kitsune Yubu's rosé udon-bokki and jumbo inari sushi combo is well worth ordering.
Plate Dunsan Branch is a pasta restaurant on the 2nd floor on Dunsan-ro 31beon-gil in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, where diners can choose their noodle type. Two diners ordered the meatball bolognese spaghetti and the white vongole spaghetti, swapped both to spinach spaghetti noodles and shared them; the spinach noodles cleaned up the bolognese's heavy aftertaste and brought out a light, nutty flavor in the vongole. At Plate Dunsan Branch, the spinach noodle swap is well worth trying.
Frank Coffee Bar Daejeon Dunsan Branch is a European-style espresso bar and dessert café in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. The writer ordered an Americano with three baked sweets: a vanilla canelé, a lemon madeleine and an apple crumble financier. The writer also noticed a bigger salt bread lineup after a renewal, including a peach wakku salt bread. Frank Coffee Bar's nutty, full-bodied Americano pairs well with the baked sweets, making it a good pick for a dessert-focused café visit.
