Daegu Warm Mat · 25 stories
Writes about small restaurants and cafes across Gwangju, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés
Buggy's Gwanpyeong is a handmade burger restaurant in Gwanpyeong-dong, Yuseong, Daejeon, near Daejeon Hyundai Outlet. The blogger ordered the Double Classic Pepper, a limited item for the 2026 American Burger Week, and the avocado burger set, and the buttery brioche bun and 100% beef patty stood out most. Buggy's Gwanpyeong is an easy recommendation for a handmade burger before or after shopping at Daejeon Hyundai Outlet.
Yongja 1 Gwanpyeong Branch (용자1 관평점) is a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) restaurant with house-made noodles in Gwanpyeong-dong, Yuseong, Daejeon, in an alley across from Lotte Mart. On a chilly day around 5 p.m., right after the break time ended, the writer and her husband ordered steamed dumplings, kalmandu-guk (kalguksu with dumplings) and bibim kalguksu (spicy mixed noodles); the portions surprised even her big-eater husband, and the kimchi-and-meat dumplings were slightly spicy. With big portions and good flavor, Yongja 1 is the place she would return to for kalguksu in Gwanpyeong-dong.
Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro Main Branch is a Korean set-meal restaurant serving single-person trays, on the 2nd floor of a building on Dongseong-ro 3-gil in Jung-gu, Daegu. The writer and her Mom ordered the Eonyang-style beef bulgogi set, the stir-fried jjukkumi (baby octopus) set and a sampler-size mini tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork). Her picky Mom praised the bulgogi, and the self-bar's fried eggs with nuruk (Korean fermentation starter) salt and free multigrain rice refills were highlights. For a neat single-tray Korean lunch near Dongseong-ro or Banwoldang, Cafe Dongi Dongseong-ro Main Branch is a safe choice.
Seoreojeong Munji Branch is a steak set-meal restaurant in Munji-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. The writer had lunch there with her husband: a smoky, fire-seared chop steak set and a 180g sirloin steak set served with fresh wasabi, both with corn soup, rice, side dishes and plum tea, which made for a filling meal. Seoreojeong Munji Branch is a reasonably priced, cozy spot for a family meal or a date.
Jangjak Saenggalbi Jongno Main Branch (벽돌생갈비 종로점) is a charcoal-grilled fresh and marinated galbi (beef short rib) restaurant in Jongno, Jung-gu, Daegu. The writer arrived right at opening time and ordered 250g of fresh galbi, 250g of marinated galbi and doenjang stew (soybean paste stew), and was impressed that staff grilled the meat from start to finish, that a cypress-steamed platter comes free, and by the self-bar random box. With spacious seating from the 1st to the 3rd floor, Jangjak Saenggalbi is a galbi restaurant worth recommending for family meals or group dinners in Jongno and Dongseongno, Daegu.
Horse Taco Soje (홀스타코 소제) is a Mexican restaurant with no break time, set in Soje-dong in Dong-gu, Daejeon, right by Daedongcheon Stream and about a 7-minute walk from the east square of Daejeon Station. Arriving at opening time with a younger sibling, the writer ordered the Horse Taco Soje burrito set (birria taco, chili burrito, Horse Snack and 2 drinks) without cilantro. The highlights were the birria taco soaked in hanwoo (Korean beef) broth and the chili burrito topped with plenty of chili sauce. Horse Taco Soje is a good place near Daejeon Station for two people to try several Mexican dishes at once.
Boksakkot Pineun Jip Daejeon Branch (복사꽃피는집 대전점) is a restaurant near Sutonggol in Yuseong, Daejeon, serving fire-grilled stir-fried octopus (nakji bokkeum), fire-grilled baby octopus (jjukkumi) and wood-fired pizza. The writer and her husband ordered the fire-grilled octopus set for 2 at the hottest spice level, topped the set's pepperoni pizza with corn salad from the self bar, and afterward took a café latte to the rest area outside. Even at the hottest level, Boksakkot's octopus tasted smoky and savory rather than harsh, and having the meal and dessert in one place made the visit satisfying.
Jeonbotdae Sutbul Ogyeop (전봇대 숯불 오겹) is a Korean BBQ restaurant on a side street in Yongun-dong, Dong-gu, Daejeon, that has pre-grilled domestic aged pork over charcoal for 20 years. At Jeonbotdae Sutbul Ogyeop, the writer ordered the mixed pork platter (pork belly, pork neck, pork jowl and whole skirt meat), which came with complimentary kimchi stew, kimchi pancake and steamed egg, and wrapped the meat in gim (roasted seaweed) with pollock roe mayo and pickled chili peppers. With smoky, juicy charcoal-seared pork and a generous spread of sides, Jeonbotdae Sutbul Ogyeop suits everything from a weekday lunch to an evening get-together.
Songrimbok Jangeo Unlimited Eel Daejeon Direct Store (송림복장어) is an all-you-can-eat freshwater eel restaurant in Jijok-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, where diners take eel and chicken neck from a self-serve bar and grill them at the table for 2 hours. The writer went back during the unsettled change of seasons for an energy boost and enjoyed freshwater eel the restaurant says it prepares every morning, lightly seasoned grilled chicken neck and complimentary bokbunja (black raspberry) wine. Songrimbok Jangeo broke the idea that buffet eel is low quality and is recommended for a Jijok-dong group dinner or anyone looking for an eel restaurant.
Widaehan Jogae Jeongol (위대한조개전골) is a clam hot pot restaurant in Yongun-dong, Dong-gu, Daejeon, near Daejeon University. The writer, her husband and her younger sibling shared the clam hot pot for 3. The meal started with banchan (side dishes) of silkworm pupae, sea squirt and fried snacks, moved on to a hot pot with abalone, pen shell clams and red scallops, and finished with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles). Widaehan Jogae Jeongol's seafood was fresh enough for someone sensitive to fishy tastes, and its cool, deep clam broth stood out.
Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch (촌길낙지 탄방점) is a nakji bokkeum (spicy stir-fried small octopus) and yeonpo-tang (octopus soup) restaurant in Tanbang-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, between Daejeon City Hall and Tanbang Station. The writer ordered the Chongil Assorted Special, a limited-quantity stamina special, at the spicy level and enjoyed its whole octopus, small octopus, scallop and beef to the last bite with somyeon (thin wheat noodles), lettuce and perilla leaf wraps, and bean sprout and radish salad bibimbap, while cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew) and bulbaek (bulgogi plate) came as standard for a generous start. For a spicy, hearty seafood meal, the Chongil Assorted Special at Chongil Nakji, Tanbang branch is a satisfying choice.
Worang Myeongga Daejeon Yuseong Main Branch (워낭명가 대전유성본점) is a butcher-style hanwoo (Korean beef) restaurant in Bongmyeong-dong, Yuseong, Daejeon, near Yuseong Oncheon Station Exit 8, serving only 30–40-month-old 1++ grade hanwoo cows. The writer booked a table with her husband, picked 1++ hanwoo ribeye (kkotdeungsim) from the display case, seared it rare, and liked the hanwoo ugeoji (dried cabbage leaf) soup from the basic table setting so much that she ordered extra rice. Verdict: with its ribeye, neat side dishes and dessert, Worang Myeongga Daejeon Yuseong Main Branch is a satisfying choice for family dinners or group meals.
