Suseong Daegu Korean restaurant with spicy pork and squid

Fire-grilled pork and squid in Beomeo-dong

A restaurant specializing in fire-grilled pork and squid stir-fry that I have loved since its Dongseong-ro flagship has opened in Suseong-gu too, so I went straight over. It is Banwoldang Buja Sikdang Suseong Branch (반월당부자식당 수성점), a Korean restaurant on the covered-road stretch in Beomeo-dong. It is a genuinely great restaurant that has already been proven on TV several times, and this time I had the fire-grilled pork-and-squid stir-fry so I could enjoy both at once.

Hours and parking support

It is open Monday through Saturday from 11:00 to 20:45, with a break from 15:30 to 17:00. Last orders are at 14:45 and 20:00, and it is regularly closed every Sunday.

If you use the public street parking lot in front and bring your payment receipt, you receive one hour of free parking. It is also close to Children's World Station, so it is easy to reach by public transit.

It has been featured several times on TV programs including MBC Live Tonight and Saengsaeng Information, so it is a place I stop by with complete confidence in the food.

A cozy, comfortable dining room

The interior is cozy overall, yet very clean and comfortable. Perhaps word has already spread among locals, because customers kept coming in even before dinner time. The locals are always the first to spot a great Suseong-gu restaurant!

Thoughtfully, there are disposable aprons on one side, along with high chairs for families dining with little children.

A fire show from the open kitchen

One of Banwoldang Buja Sikdang Suseong Branch's standout features is its open kitchen, where you can see right in. As soon as an order comes in, you can watch the cooks toss the wok and send flames soaring for a dramatic fire show. Seeing everything rapidly stir-fried over such intense direct heat had the aroma tickling my nose and made my mouth water before I had even eaten.

There is a self-service bar in the center of the restaurant for guests to use freely. The lettuce in particular was so tender and fresh; wrapped around the meat, it had the most wonderfully soft bite.

The banchan (Korean side dishes), including seaweed stems, bean sprouts, and cabbage salad, were clean-tasting and mild, and went beautifully with the main stir-fry.

Fire-grilled pork and squid ordered by tablet

Today, I ordered two portions of fire-grilled pork-and-squid stir-fry and two bowls of rice. You simply order from the tablet at your table, which was convenient since there was no need to call a staff member. There is a takeout menu too, so it would be nice to enjoy a relaxed meal at home with family.

They are also running a receipt-review event. Leave a review and you get one can of soda, so do join in if that appeals to you.

Stone-plate stir-fry that stays warm to the last bite

Rather than arriving on an ordinary plate, it comes sizzling on a thoroughly heated stone plate, so it stays warm all the way through the meal. The savory pork and seafood flavor of the squid came together beautifully, from the appearance right through to the aroma.

I tried the squid and pork in one bite. The pork was not at all tough, but wonderfully tender, while the squid had a perfect springy chew.

The pleasantly spicy house seasoning and intense smoky flavor had soaked deeply into every bite, and once I started eating, I simply could not put my chopsticks down.

It was delicious wrapped in fresh lettuce with plenty of meat, squid, and rice, and just as good with rice on its own. It is the ultimate rice thief!

Included cheonggukjang stew and a coffee finish

When you order a main stir-fry, countryside cheonggukjang doenjang-jjigae (fermented soybean paste stew) is included. It nicely balances the savory comfort of regular doenjang-jjigae with the deep flavor of cheonggukjang, making for an incredibly rich broth. It soothed my slightly spicy mouth between bites of the pork-and-squid stir-fry and completed a perfect combination that never became tiring.

Sweet coffee is also ready for you on the way out after your meal. Finishing with a cup after such spicy, smoke-filled food felt just perfect. This was among the best Korean food I have had in Suseong-gu.

Overall

• Near Daegu Subway's Children's World Station, I was able to visit comfortably with one hour of parking support.
• The pork-and-squid stir-fry pairs tender pork and springy squid with a dramatic fire show that maximizes its smoky flavor.
• The deeply savory countryside cheonggukjang doenjang-jjigae and fresh ssam (leaf wraps) vegetables included with the meal were excellent too.

If you are looking for properly fire-grilled Korean food with a smoky aroma, or a hearty rice-stealing meal, near the covered-road stretch in Beomeo-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu, I recommend Banwoldang Buja Sikdang Suseong Branch.