Restaurant Row Walker · 41 stories

Along Restaurant Row

I write about restaurants I visit and meals I try in Daejeon and the Chungcheong region. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Things to do · Bars

PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Yuseong Korean restaurant, fall-off-the-bone galbi stew: Jeonju House

Jeonju House (전주하우스) is a Korean restaurant near Yuseong Oncheon Station in Bongmyeong-dong, Yuseong, Daejeon, serving cauldron-cooked galbi kimchi stew and pork belly grilled on a cast-iron lid. On an early-lunch visit, the aged kimchi galbi stew made with Korean-grown kimchi cost 15,000 won per person (minimum 2 servings), with fresh pork ribs that slipped easily off the bone in a deep, well-aged kimchi broth. With a clean ochre-walled dining room and parking out front, Jeonju House is a solid pick for anyone after a hearty Korean meal in Yuseong.

Written Jun 12, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Dunsan-dong Western restaurant with arches: lobster pasta set, Plate

Plate Dunsan Branch is a Western restaurant on the 2nd floor on Dunsan-ro 31beon-gil in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. In a room with arched walls, indirect lighting and a wine display cabinet, the pasta set brought bread, salad and soup, followed by lobster pasta, Cheongyang clam cream gnocchi and a green grape ade. The top pick at Plate Dunsan Branch was the Cheongyang clam cream gnocchi, where Cheongyang chili cuts the richness, and the sauces were seasoned gently enough to finish every plate cleanly.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Itaewon brunch restaurant for a quiet date over gnocchi: Ongfleur

Ongfleur is a brunch restaurant with a green awning on a side street off Hoenamu-ro 44-gil in Itaewon, Yongsan, Seoul. On a date at Ongfleur, the couple prepaid at the kiosk and shared smoked salmon eggs Benedict, bacon cream gnocchi, an iced Americano and an iced chamomile tea, and the calm atmosphere kept the conversation going. Ongfleur is a good fit for a quiet Itaewon date brunch where you can focus on each other.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Tanbang-dong, Daejeon Western restaurant: 4 dishes and 2 ades, THE MUA

THE MUA is a Western restaurant tucked into an alley in Tanbang-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. On a first visit to THE MUA, the writer ordered through a Toss QR code and tried lobster croquettes, quattro mushroom gnocchi, sous-vide wine pork belly risotto, handmade jambon cream pasta, and green grape and grapefruit ades. Thanks to polished food and a calm atmosphere, THE MUA is a Tanbang-dong Western restaurant worth returning to with someone special.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Gyukatsu restaurant at Seoul Station: bean sprout tantanmen, Ichigyu

Ichigyu Seoul Station Branch is a Japanese gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on basement level 1 of Huam-ro, near Seoul Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. At Ichigyu, the signature Ichigyu gyukatsu set is grilled on a personal brazier, and this visit added the Ichigyu tantanmen, piled high with bean sprouts, plus an assorted fried platter of shrimp and chicken karaage. Rather than stopping at gyukatsu, adding the spicy tantanmen and crispy fried platter makes Ichigyu a more satisfying Seoul Station meal.

Written Jun 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Station teppanyaki spot I saved from a short video: Jojo

Jojo AK Plaza Suwon is a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant on the B1 floor of AK Plaza, connected directly to Suwon Station in Suwon, Gyeonggi. After saving Jojo from a short-form social media video of teppanyaki cooking, the writer ordered the yakisoba set and was pleased by the sweetness drawn from the vegetables, the savory depth of the sauce and the chewy noodles. Verdict: Jojo AK Plaza Suwon is a Japanese restaurant worth returning to whenever teppanyaki yakisoba is on your mind at Suwon Station.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Cheap Western food at Suwon Station: thin-crust pizza, Rolling Pasta

Rolling Pasta Suwon Station Branch is a budget Western restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building on Hyanggyo-ro 1beon-gil, near Suwon Station in Suwon, Gyeonggi. The writer had spicy oil pasta, beef brisket doria (baked rice gratin) and crispy thin-crust pizza with ade and iced tea, and found the portions and flavor generous for pasta starting at 7,000–8,000 won. For tasty Western food that's easy on the wallet when prices are high, Rolling Pasta Suwon Station Branch is a satisfying pick.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Hidden Suwon alley café with a red brick photo spot: Jeongjiyoung

Jeongjiyoung Coffee Roasters Hwahongmun Branch is a roastery café tucked down an alley just off the main street of Haenggung-dong, Suwon. The writer explored the red brick photo spot and street-style interior, then had a grapefruit ade with real grapefruit pulp and an iced chamomile tea made with Rishi tea bags, and was happy with both. For a quiet, stylish hidden café in Haenggung-dong, Jeongjiyoung Coffee Roasters Hwahongmun Branch is a great fit.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonCafés

Garden café in Yuseong, Daejeon: Einspänner and ssanghwacha at Luonto

Luonto Sutonggol Branch (루온토 수통골점) is a large garden café on Sutonggol-ro in Yuseong, Daejeon, known for its chimney bread. On a weekend visit, the writer tried cinnamon chimney bread, a choco latte, ssanghwacha (Korean herbal tea) and an Einspänner, then explored the outdoor wedding stage on the lawn. With good food, a garden setting and a spacious car park, Luonto Sutonggol Branch made a satisfying weekend outing café.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon Chinese restaurant, XO fried rice & ganjjajang: Macheonchwi

Macheonchwi (마천취 중화객잔) is a Chinese restaurant in Mannyeon-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. On a meal with friends, we ordered three of Macheonchwi's signature dishes: Macheonchwi XO fried rice, samseon ganjjajang (seafood black bean noodles with the sauce served on the side) and white jjamppong (seafood noodle soup in a white broth). The seafood-packed white jjamppong broth, the separate ganjjajang sauce and the smoky wok-fried XO rice all hit the mark. If you want proper jjajangmyeon and jjamppong, Macheonchwi in Mannyeon-dong is a sure bet.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonThings to do

Daejeon thriller escape room: blindfolded into Obsession, Cube Escape

Cube Escape Daejeon Dunsan Branch is an escape room café in Dunsan-dong, Daejeon, that runs Obsession, a thriller theme. The writer and a friend played Obsession for 60 minutes, entering blindfolded, and story-linked puzzles plus immersive lighting and background music kept them so tense that their hands were still shaking afterward. For thriller fans or anyone looking for an unusual date in Daejeon, Obsession at Cube Escape is a strong recommendation.

Written Jun 26, 2026Sponsored
PlaceChuncheon, GangwonRestaurants

Chuncheon noodle house for a hot-day naengmyeon tour: Sinbi Myeonok

Sinbi Myeonok Chuncheon Myeongdong is a naengmyeon (cold noodle) and Korean restaurant on Jungangno in Chuncheon, Gangwon. On a hot weekend drive and Chuncheon naengmyeon tour, the writer ordered the icy mul naengmyeon and was won over by the clean self-bar, brass spoon settings, rich broth and chewy noodles, drinking every last drop of broth straight from the bowl. For cold mul naengmyeon in the summer heat, Sinbi Myeonok Chuncheon Myeongdong is the answer.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored