Daegu Warm Mat · 25 stories

Warm Mat, Honam and Chungcheong Diners

Writes about small restaurants and cafes across Gwangju, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan. · Writes about: Restaurants · Cafés

PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Late Japanese lunch in Daejeon: pork jowl rice bowl set, Choi Dining

Choi Dining Daejeon Gwanpyeong is a Japanese restaurant tucked inside the Gwanpyeong-dong food alley in Yuseong, Daejeon, near Daejeon Hyundai Outlet. For a late lunch for two, Couple Set A brought aged salmon futomaki (5 pieces), maze soba and dontoro-don (pork jowl rice bowl), and the leftover maze soba sauce was mixed with a free bowl of rice. Choi Dining's Couple Set A is a satisfying choice for two people who want three generous Japanese dishes in one meal.

Written Jul 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon octopus restaurant with level 3 and level 1 spice: Boksakkot

Boksakkot Pineun Jip Daejeon Branch (복사꽃피는집 대전점) is a restaurant specializing in fire-grilled stir-fried octopus (nakji) and baby octopus (jjukkumi) near Sutonggol in Yuseong, Daejeon. After a walk at Sutonggol, the writer and her husband had a late lunch of level 3 fire-grilled stir-fried octopus, level 1 fire-grilled stir-fried baby octopus and king shrimp tempura, along with the pepperoni brick-oven pizza served with orders for two or more and after-meal tea at the outdoor Dohwawon. Even level 3 at Boksakkot Pineun Jip was a manageable heat that didn't upset the stomach, making it a good pick when spice lovers and spice avoiders eat together.

Written Oct 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Daewangam, Ulsan Chinese restaurant: 3-flavor jjamppong set for 3

Ulsan Daewangam Dol Jjamppong is a Chinese restaurant in Ilsan-dong, Dong-gu, Ulsan, near Daewangam Park and Ilsan Beach. Its signature dishes are nurungji (scorched rice) stone-plate jjamppong and jjajang, cooked on a 250°C amphibole stone plate. Three of us ordered the set for 3 with a large stone jjamppong and handmade donchitang (dontang and chitang). The jjamppong moved from chicken-broth soup to crunchy bean sprouts to a yaki udon-like flavor, ending with scorched rice scraped from the plate. Ulsan Daewangam Dol Jjamppong is a hearty pick for groups of three or more after visiting Daewangam Park.

Written Jul 18, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Ulsan Korean eatery for Gyeongsang-style loach soup: Jeontong Sigol

Jeontong Sigol Chueotang Ulsan Mugeo Branch is a Korean restaurant in Mugeo-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan, near the back gate of Ulsan University, known for Gyeongsang-style chueotang (loach soup) made from domestic loach that the restaurant prepares in-house. The writer ordered chueotang and iron-plate spicy pork, stirred jepi (Korean sancho pepper) powder, chopped chili and garlic into the soup, and was happy with the 6 side dishes and generous portions. Jeontong Sigol is an easy recommendation near Ulsan University for anyone after Gyeongsang-style chueotang.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanRestaurants

Suam-dong, Ulsan pork BBQ with meaty kimchi stew, bracken: Biniljip

Biniljip Suam Branch (비닐집 수암점) is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Suam-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan, styled like a vinyl greenhouse with an outdoor street-stall feel. At dinner the writer ordered the 500g Biniljip platter with a stew set featuring a meat-packed kimchi stew, eating the pork belly, pork neck and chewy pork neck with bracken, salted squid and grilled kimchi, then enjoyed free kimchi jeon, chive jeon and Yeul Ramyeon from the self-bar. Biniljip Suam Branch is a good-value pork belly spot where the mixed platter and free self-bar leave you properly full.

Written Jul 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonBars

Late-night bar in Bongmyeong-dong, Daejeon: skewers and chive chicken

Kkojip (꼬집) is a charcoal-grilled chicken skewer bar tucked inside the food alley of Bongmyeong-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, open until 3 a.m. The writer and her husband wrote their order on the table notepad: the 5-skewer combo and chive fried chicken. The tender, smoky skewers and the chicken dipped in chives and mustard sauce paired well, and leftover chicken taken home stayed crisp the next day. For a late second or third round in Bongmyeong-dong, Kkojip is a satisfying choice.

Written Jul 28, 2026Sponsored
PlaceNam-gu, UlsanCafés

Ulsan City Hall dessert café at sunset: Basque cheesecake at Benetto

Benetto is a brunch and dessert café on Jungangno 213beon-gil in Nam-gu, Ulsan, near Ulsan City Hall. After an early dinner, the writer ordered Benetto's Basque cheesecake (₩6,000), an egg tart (₩4,500), two iced café lattes and a strawberry latte, and lingered over dessert at sunset in the wood-toned café. Benetto is a good Ulsan City Hall café for unwinding after a meal with a nutty latte and moderately sweet desserts.

Written Jul 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonCafés

Café in Sutonggol, Daejeon: plain vs cinnamon chimney bread, Luonto

Luonto Sutonggol Branch is a large three-floor roastery café at the entrance to Sutonggol in Yuseong, Daejeon. On a first chimney bread outing with her husband, the writer compared the plain (8,500 won) and cinnamon (9,500 won) versions alongside a café latte and a decaf iced café latte; after about a 10-minute wait, both breads arrived freshly baked, crisp outside and moist inside. Her verdict: Luonto's cinnamon chimney bread suited her taste better than the plain one.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeo-gu, DaejeonRestaurants

Daejeon hanwoo BBQ revisit, 1++ ribeye and beef gukbap: Wonangmyeongga

Wonangmyeongga Dunsan City Hall Branch is a hanwoo (Korean beef) butcher restaurant specialising in cow beef in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, near Daejeon City Hall. After a satisfying first visit, the writer returned with her husband, picked 1++ hanwoo ribeye at the butcher counter and grilled it over charcoal. The meal came with a side spread including beef sashimi and spicy marinated crab, plus hanwoo gukbap (rice in beef soup) and soft-serve ice cream for dessert. With a large private parking lot and private rooms, Wonangmyeongga Dunsan City Hall Branch is a great choice for hanwoo at family meals and gatherings in Dunsan-dong.

Written Aug 1, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYuseong, DaejeonRestaurants

Jijok-dong, Daejeon eel buffet with perilla pickles: Songrimbok

Songrimbok Jangeo Unlimited Eel Daejeon Direct Store is an all-you-can-eat freshwater eel, pork belly and chicken neck restaurant in Jijok-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. After Chobok and Jungbok, the first two dog days of summer had passed, the writer and her husband went for a stamina meal at ₩29,900 per adult plus a ₩3,000 table fee. They paired the eel with shredded ginger and pickled perilla leaves and went back to the self-bar for more eel and chicken neck. Even as a buffet, Songrimbok Jangeo serves firm eel with no fishy smell, making it a satisfying summer stamina meal.

Written Jul 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDaedeok, DaejeonRestaurants

Korean BBQ in Songchon-dong, Daejeon: aged pork in 5 cuts at Hanmaeum

Hanmaeum Jeongyuk Sikdang Daejeon Songchon branch is an aged-meat Korean BBQ restaurant in the Songchon-dong food alley in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon. The 500g aged half-pig set, aged twice for 144 hours at 2℃, covers five cuts (pork belly, five-layer pork belly, pork neck, hangjeongsal and gabrisal), with a shredded green onion and jjolmyeon (chewy noodle) salad and refillable doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) that ends as doenjang rice. With a private parking lot, private rooms and a kids' play room, Hanmaeum Jeongyuk Sikdang is a good Songchon-dong pick for family meals and group dinners.

Written Aug 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDong-gu, DaeguRestaurants

Daegu Texas BBQ restaurant with nachos and tomato beef soup: Modak

Modak Texas Barbecue Palgongsan Branch is a Texas barbecue and tomahawk steak restaurant on Palgongsan-ro in Dong-gu, Daegu. The two-person Memphis Platter set arrived as one full spread: 150g brisket, 250g spare ribs and 150g pulled pork, plus nachos, tomato beef soup, buffalo wings, fries, tortillas and dinner rolls. All three meats were tender and juicy, making Modak a solid choice for a family dinner or a date after a Palgongsan drive.

Written Aug 11, 2026Sponsored