Daegu restaurant with a gangjeong dessert corner: Geumdeungeo

Today I'm sharing my visit to Geumdeungeo Deulanguil Main Branch, a well-known restaurant on Deulan-ro in Daegu. I ordered the wood-fired grilled mackerel and the spicy pork stir-fry, and there was a lot worth noting, from the banchan (side dishes) lineup to the serving method.

Waiting time and the dining room at Geumdeungeo Deulanguil Main Branch

Living up to its reputation as a Deulan-ro favorite, there was already a wait when we arrived. After the wait, we were shown to our table,

and the inside turned out to be much more spacious than I expected. Along with hall seating, there were also private rooms, so you could comfortably choose a spot depending on your party size or situation.

What we ordered: wood-fired grilled mackerel and spicy pork stir-fry, two servings each

At Geumdeungeo Deulanguil Main Branch, we ordered two servings of wood-fired grilled mackerel and two servings of spicy pork stir-fry. Ordering both together worked really well, alternating between the salty, clean-tasting mackerel and the spicy pork.

Handmade banchan delivered by a serving robot, refills at the self-serve bar

After ordering, a serving robot brought out the banchan first. Watching the robot navigate its way to our table on its own was fascinating, and it kept the wait from feeling boring.

There was a really wide variety of basic banchan. What makes these special is that they're all handmade in-house. Since these weren't store-bought side dishes but ones cooked right at the restaurant, the flavor was noticeably deeper and fresher.

If you run low, you can grab more from the self-serve bar, so we could refill without any hesitation.

How was the spicy pork stir-fry at Geumdeungeo?

The spicy pork stir-fry had a sweet-and-spicy sauce well soaked into the meat. Onions were stir-fried together with the meat, giving a variety of textures, and sesame seeds and perilla leaves on top added a nice fragrance. The spice level was moderate, not overwhelming, so it worked well both with rice and as a drinking snack.

Wood-fired grilled mackerel and nuruk salt

The wood-fired grilled mackerel looked distinctive right away, as befits the restaurant's signature dish. Because it's grilled directly in a wood-fired oven, the skin was browned to a nice golden color while the flesh underneath stayed moist and well cooked. There was a clear smoky flavor, different from mackerel pan-fried the usual way.

You're meant to dip the mackerel lightly in nuruk salt, and the salty seasoning brought out the fish's natural savoriness even more. It was grilled cleanly with no fishy smell, so anyone who regularly enjoys mackerel would especially appreciate it.

What is at the dessert corner? Self-serve gangjeong, coffee and apricot juice

After finishing the meal, we could help ourselves to gangjeong (fried rice cake snacks) at the entrance.

There was also self-serve coffee and apricot juice, which made for the perfect palate cleanser after the meal. Pairing the sweet gangjeong with a cup of coffee wrapped things up nicely.

Handmade banchan and mackerel you can buy to take home

Another great thing about this place is that you can buy the same handmade banchan and mackerel we ate to take home separately. Knowing you can enjoy the same side dishes at home again made me think I should try the takeaway option on my next visit.

Who Geumdeungeo Deulanguil suits best

• Anyone wanting wood-fired grilled mackerel at a Deulan-ro favorite in Daegu
• Anyone who loves handmade, in-house banchan
• Anyone who wants to eat comfortably in a spacious restaurant
• Anyone who wants to enjoy the handmade banchan and mackerel at home afterward

Geumdeungeo Deulanguil Main Branch: the verdict

Geumdeungeo Deulanguil Main Branch, a Deulan-ro favorite in Daegu, delivered on both the wood-fired grilled mackerel and the spicy pork stir-fry. What stood out most was the handmade banchan lineup made in-house, and being able to freely refill at the self-serve bar was also great. It's clear this restaurant pays close attention to details, from the serving robot to the dessert zone to takeaway options. If you're looking for a good grilled mackerel restaurant on Deulan-ro in Daegu, Geumdeungeo Deulanguil Main Branch is worth a visit.

Wood-fired mackerel and handmade banchan made with care, a Deulan-ro favorite in Daegu: Geumdeungeo