Birria tacos at Horse Taco, a Soje-dong taco restaurant in Daejeon

Why I walked from Daejeon Station to Soje-dong for lunch

I had some business in Daejeon recently. I arrived at Daejeon Station around lunchtime, planning to eat before heading out. When I actually looked for restaurants near the station, the options right in front turned out to be slimmer than I expected. That's when I found out about Sojedong, about a 10-minute walk from Daejeon Station.

Sojedong is a neighborhood full of cafés and restaurants housed in tastefully remodeled old buildings, so it's great for strolling and honestly a perfect date spot too. Walking through the alleys, Horse Taco caught my eye — it looked like a good spot for a light lunch, so I walked right in.

Inside Horse Taco: the atmosphere and a bar table for solo diners

The moment I opened the door, the exotic, Mexico-like interior was the first thing that caught my eye. The atmosphere wasn't overdone, which made it great for photos, and the tables were spaced out comfortably for a relaxed meal. There's also a bar table, so eating alone here wouldn't feel awkward at all.

It's such a comfortable place to eat solo that I'd want to stop by again if I ever come to Daejeon alone. If you're looking for a Daejeon Station restaurant, I'd recommend making Sojedong part of the plan.

Horse Taco menu: what to order together

Horse Taco's menu was more varied than I expected. Alongside their signature tacos, they also had burritos and nachos, plus a good range of drinks like draft beer and sodas to go with the food.

I mostly ordered from the signature menu: birria taco, camaron taco, dorilloco, and jamaica.

I figured I'd need about three tacos to feel full, so I ordered generously — and when they arrived, the portions were actually quite hefty.

The tacos themselves were bigger than what I usually picture, so if you're eating alone, two tacos plus one side would be plenty.

Camaron taco: shrimp taco at Horse Taco

First up was the camaron taco. It had crispy fried shrimp inside, giving it a really nice texture — a good, light way to start the meal.

The crunch of the shrimp paired well with the fresh toppings, making it easy to eat without feeling heavy.

My top pick at Horse Taco: the birria taco

But my clear favorite was the birria taco. It was packed with beef and had wonderful flavor — rich and hearty enough that one taco alone felt pretty satisfying. The tender meat and seasoning worked so well together that I kept thinking about it. If I come back, I'm definitely ordering birria again.

Dorilloco, the side to share

The dorilloco I ordered as a side was really impressive too. It's Doritos-style nachos tossed with salsa, jalapeños, and mayonnaise — spicy, salty, and tangy all at once, exactly the kind of flavor that pulls you in. The chips were crunchy, but the parts soaked in sauce had a whole different texture, so I kept reaching for more. This is absolutely a perfect beer snack.

Is Horse Taco worth it for lunch near Daejeon Station or a date course?

Honestly, nothing I ordered was a miss. The birria taco, camaron taco, and dorilloco were all satisfying, but personally the beef birria taco stuck with me the most. Next time, birria taco plus a dorilloco and a draft beer sounds like the perfect combo.

It's an easy walk from Daejeon Station, and the Sojedong alleys are lovely for a slow stroll after the meal, so I'd recommend it as a date course too. If you're hunting for a Daejeon Station restaurant like I was, don't just stick to the area right by the station — walk over to Sojedong. Between the great tacos and the charming alley atmosphere, you'll likely have a much more satisfying time.