Daegu Korean restaurant: spicy squid bowl and mackerel rice, Hyangtaek

If you're looking for a tidy Korean rice restaurant near Seongseo Keimyung University, I recommend Hyangtaek Seongseo Keimyung University Branch (향택 성서계명대점). It was a filling meal that lets the ingredients speak rather than relying on strong flavors, and I especially liked the mackerel gondre rice, where fragrant gondre (thistle greens) and mild mackerel go together well. Sharing between two of us meant comparing different flavors, which was fun, and I already want to try the other rice bowls next time. A great Korean spot near Keimyung!

Where is Hyangtaek Seongseo Keimyung University Branch?

Hyangtaek Seongseo Keimyung University Branch is at 71 Hosan-dong-ro 35buk-gil, Dalseo-gu, Daegu, South Korea (1st floor), near Keimyung University and Dongsan Hospital. It's a handy place to visit when you need a meal around Keimyung.

Atmosphere at Hyangtaek Seongseo Keimyung University Branch

The restaurant felt clean and neat overall. It's decorated in wood tones, which felt comfortable, and the tables aren't cramped, so it works for a solo meal, a date or a family dinner out.

What's on the Hyangtaek menu, and what comes with it?

The menu centers on Korean rice dishes: mackerel gondre rice, eggplant doenjang rice bowl, yukhoe (raw beef) bibimbap, chamnamul squid rice bowl, and herring roe noodles, all hearty options to eat with rice. Sides included grilled deodeok and mushrooms, hanpan galbi, Cheongsong-style chicken bulgogi and hanpan mushroom jeon.

There were two of us, so we each picked a rice dish and added one side.

After a short wait, warm doenjang (soybean paste) soup came out first, along with the basic side dishes.

Gopchang gim, jeotgal and gungchae came neatly plated, and they pair nicely with rice, so they matched the mains well.

What does the mackerel gondre rice taste like?

I ordered Hyangtaek's mackerel gondre rice because it's described as gondre simmered for over 3 hours, tossed in a special seasoning and served with domestic large mackerel. The bowl was generously piled with gondre, with a big piece of grilled mackerel in the middle, a satisfying bowl at a glance.

I flaked the mackerel with my chopsticks and mixed it with the rice and gondre.

The mackerel was mild, and the gondre's fragrant flavor made it clean and easy to eat. I first tasted the ingredients as they were, then mixed in a little of the special sauce that came with it, and the savory depth made it even richer.

Putting rice and mackerel on a sheet of gopchang gim was especially good, as the seaweed's nutty aroma went well with it.

Is the chamnamul squid rice bowl spicy?

Hyangtaek's chamnamul squid rice bowl was only slightly spicy. It's said to combine fragrant chamnamul (pimpinella herb) with squid stir-fried in a special sauce aged for 24 hours.

The chamnamul added a fresh fragrance, and the squid stir-fried in the special sauce was chewy yet tender. The seasoning was mildly spicy with plenty of savory depth, so the more I ate, the more I wanted.

Is the hanpan mushroom side worth adding?

Hyangtaek's hanpan mushroom jeon (mushroom pancake) was crisp on the outside while keeping the mushrooms' moist texture inside. I tore off a piece with my chopsticks and took a bite.

The jeon is lightly seasoned, so it was fine on its own, and dipping it in the sauce that came with it added a salty note that tasted great. If rice dishes alone feel like not enough, I'd recommend adding the hanpan mushroom as a side.

Overall verdict on Hyangtaek Seongseo Keimyung University Branch

Hyangtaek Seongseo Keimyung University Branch was a good place for a hearty Korean meal in a clean setting. The mackerel gondre rice, with mild mackerel and fragrant gondre, wasn't heavy at all, and the chamnamul squid rice bowl balanced seasoned squid and chamnamul for a rich flavor.

If you're near Keimyung University and want a Korean rice restaurant that isn't harsh, or just a filling meal, Hyangtaek is worth a visit. We plan to go back next time for the eggplant doenjang rice bowl or other dishes!