Cheonan Corner Diner · 28 stories
Writes about small restaurants and meals around Daejeon and the Chungcheong region. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés · Bars · Things to do
Ganghan Sushi Cheonan Buldang Branch (강한초밥 천안불당점) is a sushi restaurant in Buldang-dong (Sinbuldang), Seobuk-gu, Cheonan. On a Sinbuldang restaurant crawl, the writer ordered two plates of the 12-piece Ganghan Sushi set at ₩14,000 each, which came with mini udon, salad and a croquette that filled the table, and every piece of fish was fresh. Ganghan Sushi is a satisfying lunch spot for both its set and its price.
Planet Egg Tart is a takeout-only egg tart shop in Galma-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. Planet Egg Tart sells Hong Kong-style tarts with a cookie crust and Portuguese-style tarts with a flaky pastry crust in vanilla, cinnamon, raspberry, blueberry and cream cheese, at ₩3,000 each; the writer took home the Hong Kong-style, vanilla, cinnamon and cream cheese tarts plus a milk tea for ₩3,500. Verdict: crisp pastry, moist custard and cinnamon and cream cheese flavors that are hard to find elsewhere make Planet Egg Tart worth adding to a Daejeon bakery tour.
Huni Gejang Cheonan Main Branch is a Korean restaurant on Taejosan-gil in Yuryang-dong, Cheonan, on the way to Gakwonsa Temple, specializing in soy-marinated crab (ganjang gejang) and spicy marinated crab (yangnyeom gejang). Two orders of the crab set (₩25,000 per person) brought soy crab, spicy crab, soy-marinated shrimp, stone-pot rice and side dishes, and the crab-shell bibimbap mixed with butter and flying fish roe stood out most. With a spacious dining room, parking for about 50 cars and a ₩100 baby meal, Huni Gejang is a good spot for a hearty family meal.
Euljiro Yeontan Gui Cheonan Buldang Branch is a briquette-grill Korean BBQ restaurant and bar on the Sinbuldang restaurant street in Cheonan. Two people ordered the ₩36,000 dwaeji hangeun pork set (pork belly, neck, dwitgogi, jowl, skirt meat and pork rind), finished every piece and were full, ending with the rind dipped in soybean powder from the self bar. Low prices and good-quality meat explain why Euljiro Yeontan Gui was almost fully booked.
anc. Tanbang is a bakery dessert café in Tanbang-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, offering madeleine and cookie gift sets, French-style gâteaux and celebration candles. The writer ordered the Moulin Rouge, a homemade lemonade and a passion fruit ade, and found the Moulin Rouge especially delicious, with its pistachio and raspberry layers and crunchy base eaten in one bite. anc. Tanbang is a good fit in Tanbang-dong, Daejeon for anyone looking for pretty desserts and baked goods to give as gifts.
Damon Dak Kalguksu (담온닭칼국수) is a newly opened Korean restaurant on Notaesan-ro in Dujeong, Cheonan, specializing in chicken kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken). Two people ordered the 3–4 person dakbokkeumtang (32,000 won), asked for it less spicy, and added a chicken-free Damon kalguksu (8,500 won), and the portions were so large they could not finish everything. Generous servings, an addictive sauce and a spacious, clean dining room are Damon Dak Kalguksu's strengths.
Jindotgabi Buljjukkumi Yuseong Guam branch is a newly opened webfoot octopus (jjukkumi) restaurant on Yuseong-daero 680beon-gil in Yuseong, Daejeon, with the dining room on the 2nd floor and a self-serve bar on the 1st floor. Two friends shared the Bul-jjuk brisket rice bowl set for two in the non-spicy version, which came with shrimp tempura and a seafood pancake, then had ice cream, misugaru (roasted grain drink) and old-fashioned Korean snacks for dessert at the 1st-floor self-bar. With good octopus, generous portions and a well-stocked self-bar, Jindotgabi Buljjukkumi Yuseong Guam branch is a Daejeon octopus restaurant that suits family meals too.
Okdoenjang Cheonan Bulddang Branch (옥된장 천안불당점) is a Korean restaurant specializing in suyuk jeongol (boiled beef hot pot) near the cram-school district of Bulddang-dong, Cheonan. Two people shared the lunch special mixed suyuk hot pot set at 13,000 won each: the beef shank and tendon were tender, the peppery broth was loaded with minari (water dropwort), and the free lunch add-on brought sujebi (hand-torn dough flakes). For a good-value hot pot lunch in Bulddang-dong, the Okdoenjang Cheonan Bulddang Branch lunch special is a solid pick.
Ori The Chadol Cheonan City Hall branch (오리더차돌 천안시청점) is a newly opened duck BBQ restaurant in Baekseok-dong, Cheonan, near Cheonan City Hall and Cheonan Sports Complex. The writer ordered the 55,000 won couple course of duck chadol BBQ (thinly sliced duck), fresh duck jumulleok (marinated duck), fried rice and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew). Grilled with minari (water parsley), scallion kimchi and mushrooms, the duck chadol tasted deeper than regular beef chadol. With a spacious hall, private rooms, a self-serve bar and a kids' playroom, Ori The Chadol is worth a visit for anyone curious about duck chadol.
Usul (우슬) is a fusion Korean restaurant in Daeheung-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, near Jungangno Station. Two diners ordered Usul's best-selling gochujang yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) & yubu (fried tofu pouch) rolls for 19,900 won and the pork bracken rice bowl with gochujang butter for 15,900 won. Topping the yubu rolls with the gochujang yukhoe was especially tasty, and both dishes came in generous portions. With its clean, calm atmosphere, Usul is a good fit for a date or a wedding invitation meal.
Imdaejang Daejeon Dunsan Branch (임대장 대전둔산점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Dunsan-dong, Daejeon, that serves pork belly, pork neck and pork skin fully grilled. The writer and a friend shared the Hanpan-gui set (for 2–3 people, 610g, 48,000 won) and a beef brisket doenjang stew. The owner grilled the meat well, the chewy pork skin was especially good dipped in injeolmi (roasted soybean) powder, and their clothes barely smelled afterward. Imdaejang Daejeon Dunsan Branch is a good pick when you want tasty pork belly without doing the grilling yourself.
Hanppong (한뽕) is a Korean restaurant in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, specialising in galbitang (beef short rib soup), gamjatang (pork bone soup), doganitang (ox knee soup) and suyuk (boiled sliced meat). Two bowls of Hanppong's Mountain-Piled Galbitang (12,000 won each) held about five ribs apiece in a clear broth with glass noodles, scallions and tender rib meat, which made for a filling meal. Hanppong is a good-value galbitang restaurant in Dunsan-dong for anyone who cares about how much rib comes in the bowl.
