Jangdae-dong kalguksu restaurant packed at 2pm: Choi Jiseong's

I was trying to decide what to eat for lunch and ended up at Choi Jiseong's Seafood Kalguksu, a restaurant in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. The seafood was really fresh and the broth so refreshing that I ate happily and well 🩵

Daejeon really does have a lot of great kalguksu restaurants 😋 Let's go through this seafood kalguksu review — great for a casual visit with friends or family!

Where is Choi Jiseong's Seafood Kalguksu? Hours and parking

Choi Jiseong's Seafood Kalguksu is on the 1st floor of 42 Munhwawon-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, near Jangdae Middle School and next to Yuseong Cultural Center. It's open daily from 11:00 to 23:00.

• ⏰ Hours: Daily 11:00–23:00
• 📍 Location: 42 Munhwawon-ro, 1st floor, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon (near Jangdae Middle School, next to Yuseong Cultural Center)
• 🚘 Parking: Street parking available 11:30–02:00; on weekends use Yuseong Cultural Center parking lot

Here's the entrance to Choi Jiseong's Seafood Kalguksu, a favorite in Jangdae-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon! It sits between Jangdae-dong and Bongmyeong-dong, so it's a great option if you have errands near the front gate of Chungnam National University 😋 For reference, it's located between Jangdae Elementary School, Jangdae Middle School, and Yuseong Cultural Center.

Why is the restaurant still full at 2pm?

I liked that the interior of Choi Jiseong's Seafood Kalguksu was spacious ✨ Even though I came after 2pm, there were quite a lot of people. It really felt like a neighborhood favorite people come back to..!

The window seats were almost completely full, so we grabbed a table further inside.

There's a self-serve bar on one side! Kimchi, wet wipes, soy sauce, chojang, wasabi and more were all set up there haha

Menu and prices: seafood kalguksu, clam kalguksu, seafood pajeon

The menu at Choi Jiseong's Seafood Kalguksu has plenty of seafood-based dishes, from seafood kalguksu to clam kalguksu to seafood pajeon (savory pancake). There's even a pork cutlet dish for kids, so it seems like a great spot for a family visit.

We ordered seafood kalguksu for two plus a taster pajeon 😙

There was a guide on the table about how to enjoy the kalguksu properly, so I read it carefully and followed it diligently haha. There's also a hashtag/review event running, so if you're interested, don't forget to join in!

The basic side dishes are kimchi, chojang, and wasabi soy sauce! Dipping into the wasabi soy sauce was genuinely delicious.

How to eat it: seafood first, noodles later

The seafood kalguksu arrived! Apparently you're supposed to eat the seafood first — the noodles only get brought out once you ask. Aside from the squid and shrimp, everything was live seafood 🐙

As it boiled, the clams quickly opened up and the squid cooked into a nice plump texture!! The squid wasn't chewy in a tough way at all — it was tender and delicious, so I kept picking at it >< Both the clams and the abalone had been alive, so they were genuinely fresh with a really great texture 🤤

How big is the taster seafood pajeon?

As we ate, the taster seafood pajeon came out! Even as a "taster" it was about the size of a regular pajeon. It had chives and seafood inside, and wasn't tough at all — really tasty. It paired really well with the seafood kalguksu 🩵

Adding extra noodles, and the kimchi

Once we'd eaten almost all the solid ingredients, we asked for the noodles! The kalguksu noodles were appropriately soft yet chewy, and paired really well with the clear broth.

Kalguksu really does need kimchi!! The kimchi was crunchy and delicious too, so I ate happily and full right to the end 😎

At the end, when we went up to the counter, there was an autograph from actor Choi Woo-shik...!!! Guess it really is a well-known Daejeon spot 😆

Is Choi Jiseong's Seafood Kalguksu worth a visit?

If you're looking for a favorite restaurant in Jangdae-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, try Choi Jiseong's Seafood Kalguksu! If you love kalguksu, this is a Daejeon kalguksu spot that'll satisfy you completely....🩵