Kalguksu restaurant lunch for two in Yuseong, Daejeon: Choi Jiseong's

I was craving something refreshing, so my husband and I went hunting for a seafood kalguksu spot in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon for lunch. We landed on Choi Jiseong's Seafood Kalguksu, hoping for generous seafood and a clean broth.

We ordered two servings of seafood kalguksu plus a sample pajeon (savory pancake) and left completely full. Here's a detailed rundown of what we ate, the prices, and parking info :)

Where to park at Choi Jiseong's Seafood Kalguksu, and what the room is like

When you drive to a restaurant, parking matters almost as much as the food. At Choi Jiseong's Seafood Kalguksu you can park in the alleys around the shop or at the nearby Yuseong public parking lot, so we got in easily after parking.

Inside, the space felt bigger and cleaner than I expected. The tables were spaced comfortably apart, so we never felt cramped while eating, and it looked like a good spot for a family meal or a larger group too.

We visited during lunch hour, and the clean, relaxed atmosphere overall made for an easy, unhurried meal!

Two servings of seafood kalguksu plus sample pajeon: 34,000 won for two

We sat down and looked over the menu. Choi Jiseong's Seafood Kalguksu also has boiled pork (suyuk), dumplings and other dishes besides the kalguksu, but what we ordered that day was simple.

• Seafood kalguksu (2 servings): ₩25,000
• Sample pajeon: ₩9,000
• Total paid: ₩34,000

Eating generously for two and staying in the ₩30,000s range didn't feel like a burden at all.

What I especially liked was the sample pajeon! I love pajeon, but ordering a full-size one for just two people can feel like too much — having a smaller option like this made it a great side to pair with the kalguksu!

Clams, mussels and whole squid: a kalguksu pot that looks like seafood stew

Our seafood kalguksu finally arrived. A big hot pot landed on the table, and both my husband and I let out a gasp without even meaning to.

It was loaded with two kinds of clams, mussels, and a whole chunky squid — the visual was so generous it looked more like a seafood stew than kalguksu!

Seeing the pot packed with seafood felt satisfying just to look at. As the broth started bubbling, the flavors of the seafood slowly steeped in, and the first spoonful was clean and refreshing rather than sharply salty.

The savory depth from the clams especially made the broth deep and refreshing — perfect for a day when you're craving warm soup! If you've been looking for this kind of clean, refreshing seafood kalguksu in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, I think you'll love it.

Seafood first, then fresh noodles in the deepened broth

Another fun part of Choi Jiseong's Seafood Kalguksu is that you don't eat the seafood and noodles all at once — you enjoy them in order. First we cooked the seafood in the broth and ate it shabu-shabu style!

The whole squid had a springy, chewy texture I loved, and the clams, eaten with the broth, tasted clean yet savory.

Once we'd eaten most of the seafood, it was time to add the kalguksu noodles. They dropped in the fresh noodles into the broth, now much richer than at the start, and let it bubble away :)

With all the seafood flavor soaked into the broth, the soup tasted even deeper once the noodles were in. The noodles kept their chewy texture too, never turning mushy, which I liked.

Add in the spicy, crunchy fresh kimchi (geotjeori) on the side, and you get the full, proper kalguksu experience.

Is the 9,000 won sample pajeon enough for two to share?

The sample pajeon we ordered together also exceeded expectations. The word 'sample' made me picture something small and thin, but it turned out surprisingly large and thick! Plenty for two people to share.

The outside was crisply pan-fried while the inside stayed moist, giving it a great texture. With squid and scallions mixed in, every bite had a nutty, savory flavor.

Taking a bite of the crispy pajeon and following it with a sip of the refreshing kalguksu broth, the two paired perfectly. If seafood kalguksu alone feels like it's not quite enough, this is a great, budget-friendly dish to add on.

Looking for seafood kalguksu in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon?

Visiting Choi Jiseong's Seafood Kalguksu for lunch with my husband, I really loved being able to enjoy generous seafood and a refreshing broth all in one meal.

Best of all, the format of eating the seafood first, then adding noodles into the broth that's already deeply steeped in seafood flavor, meant even one dish felt like two different experiences :)

We ordered two servings of seafood kalguksu and the sample pajeon, and it was a solid, filling combo for two.

If you're looking for a Daejeon kalguksu spot with a clean, refreshing broth, or craving noodles loaded with seafood, this place is worth a visit. It's especially a great fit for lunch if you're searching for good lunch spots in Yuseong-gu.

Choi Jiseong's Seafood Kalguksu: address, hours and parking

• Name: Choi Jiseong's Seafood Kalguksu
• Address: 42 Munhwawon-ro, 1st floor, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 10:00–24:00
• Parking: Nearby alley parking or Yuseong public parking lot