Daegu Korean restaurant lunch with a 6-month-old: Hyangtaek Seongseo

Last summer I visited Gyeongju and stopped by a Hyangtaek location on Hwangnidangil, where I had a really memorable meal of mackerel gondre rice (perilla leaf rice with mackerel) and eggplant doenjang rice bowl.

This time I heard a new Seongseo Keimyung University branch had opened, so I went with my husband and our 6-month-old baby. Here's my honest review of the food, the atmosphere, and — especially — whether it was comfortable visiting with a baby.

Where is Hyangtaek Seongseo? Hours and parking

Hyangtaek Seongseo Keimyung University Branch is located at 71 Hosandong-ro 35bukgil, Dalseo-gu, Daegu, 1st floor, and is closed every Sunday. On weekdays it's open 11:00–20:00 with a break time from 15:30–17:00, and last orders at 15:00 and 19:00.

• 📍 Address: 71 Hosandong-ro 35bukgil, Dalseo-gu, Daegu, South Korea, 1st floor
• 🕰️ Hours: Mon–Fri 11:00–20:00 / closed every Sunday
• Break time: 15:30–17:00
• Last order: 15:00 / 19:00
• 🅿️ Parking: no parking in front, alley parking only
• 👶🏻 Baby chair ❌ / stroller ❌ in tighter seats

There's no tabling app or number ticket. You just have to wait in the order you arrived.

How long was the weekday lunch wait at Hyangtaek Seongseo?

Hyangtaek Seongseo sits in a residential neighborhood, and we visited around noon on a weekday. There's no tabling app or waiting number — you just sit on the chairs by the entrance ✨in order of arrival✨ (though more people end up standing than sitting).

There were about 3 parties ahead of us when we arrived, but turnover is fast, so we didn't wait long.

Inside there are around 10 tables, a mix of 4-tops and 2-tops, and the whole place felt clean and pleasant.

What's on the menu at Hyangtaek Seongseo

The menu is simple: 5 main dishes and 4 side dishes, so it wasn't complicated or hard to choose from.

Don't forget — if you join the review event, you get a coupon for a free mushroom platter!

The set table at Hyangtaek Seongseo and how to eat it

The basic spread at Hyangtaek Seongseo includes gopchang gim (seasoned laver strips), gungchae (pickled stem vegetable), mixed jeotgal (salted seafood), a special sauce, kelp vinegar, and miso soybean paste soup. Each table has instructions on how to eat it for the best flavor.

Pairing the gopchang gim with the mixed jeotgal, and adjusting the special sauce to taste, makes everything even better. And the eggplant doenjang rice bowl tastes even more interesting with a splash of the kelp vinegar — it adds a nice tangy note.

How the mackerel gondre rice, eggplant doenjang rice bowl and galbi platter taste

We ordered the signature mackerel gondre rice and eggplant doenjang rice bowl, plus a galbi platter.

• Mackerel gondre rice / eggplant doenjang rice bowl •

Everything was plated so neatly it felt like tasting with your eyes first — even taking the photos put me in a good mood ➿. Overall the flavors were clean and not heavy-handed, letting the natural taste of the ingredients come through. And pairing it with the side dishes and sauces meant you could switch it up depending on your mood. In short: it was SO good.

A distinctive menu at a reasonable price — a neat, enjoyable Korean meal

I loved that we could try a menu you don't usually see, at a price that wasn't a burden, and each dish was so neatly presented that it was even more satisfying. If you're craving something a little different from your usual Korean food and want a meal that's clean but filling, I'd recommend Hyangtaek, a well-known spot near Keimyung Seongseo.

Can you bring a baby? High chairs and strollers at Hyangtaek Seongseo

At the time of our visit, Hyangtaek Seongseo didn't have a baby chair set up. I'm not sure if that's just because it recently opened and things weren't fully in place yet.

When I asked a staff member whether strollers were allowed, they said it depends on the seat. If you're planning to visit with a baby, it's worth keeping this in mind ahead of time.

- And that's it: I ate with the baby strapped to me the whole time, but the food was so good it made for a happy, unbothered review -