Daejeon Chinese restaurant for garlic kaoyu: Bantiannyao

I heard that Bantiannyao Kaoyu, which had only been in Seoul, had finally opened in Daejeon, so I went straight away. I had been disappointed not to try it on a previous trip to Qingdao, so the moment I heard it was opening, I knew I absolutely had to go.

Where is Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch?

Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch is on the second floor of the building directly behind ZARA at Dunsan-dong Galleria. It is really easy to find because it is near Galleria Department Store, and it is quite accessible for making plans in Dunsan-dong. If you are looking for a good place to eat in Dunsan-dong, this one is worth noting.

Is parking easy in Dunsan-dong?

Parking is always the issue with restaurants in Dunsan-dong, right? But this place has its own private parking lot, so it was really convenient. Parking around Galleria can be difficult, so being able to visit without that stress was a huge plus. If you want a great Dunsan-dong restaurant without worrying about parking, I highly recommend it.

We used the Galleria parking lot because we were going to browse around Galleria, but you should definitely use the private parking lot~~!

Spacious interior and self-service bar

The restaurant itself was very spacious and pleasant, which I loved.

We had made a reservation, so we were shown to a window seat. So good!

And the self-service bar here is seriously such a great deal: for just ₩2,000 per person, you can have unlimited bowls of rice, drinks, sauces, snacks, and more. Considering the value, I definitely recommend using it.

Another plus was being able to bring over whatever sauces we wanted from the sauce bar and adjust everything to our tastes. I did not go, but according to my boyfriend, the restroom even has toothbrush supplies!?! It seems like it would be great for a Dunsan-dong date too, haha. The owner was kind as well, so overall it was a very satisfying visit.

There are high chairs too. It seems like a nice Chinese restaurant in Dunsan-dong to bring a baby to as well.

This is at Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch, and you should all join in. Hahahaha.

Ordering Ningbo fish garlic-flavor kaoyu

We ordered the Ningbo fish garlic flavor, and it was ₩43,000. It was my first time trying Ningbo fish, and the flesh was tender, delicious, and had no fishy smell at all. We chose garlic flavor for my boyfriend, who is not very good with mala, and I highly recommend it: it has a flavor that suits Korean palates and is unlikely to be divisive.

Bubble, bubble. That is one substantial fish, right? I think the garlic-and-Cheongyang chili version comes piled high with Cheongyang chilies. Ours was piled high with garlic instead, haha.

Spread the garlic around so the flavor soaks in nicely.

We did not know what to do and were just sitting there, so the owner came over and gave us a fish-cutting show. He explained what cheek meat was and which parts had the best flesh—he was so kind!!!! Later, I told my boyfriend, who had arrived afterward, what I learned from the cutting show, and he asked how I knew so much, hahaha. I only learned it today too.

This was my sauce: lots of crushed peanuts, mala 1... what was it again? Anyway, it was the recommended sauce. I wanted something with more punch, so I added mala oil and chili oil, and it was totally so good.

These are dim sum. They were called premium, so we ordered them to try. A plate like that is in the ₩7,000 range, which is great value... Maybe they tasted even better because they were dim sum rather than ordinary dumplings? You can order several individual items too, but since it was my first time, I got the set.

Mixing rice into the garlic broth

Mix a bowl of rice from the self-service bar into the garlic-filled broth, then top it with tender fish flesh—it is seriously heavenly.

My boyfriend completely fell for this combination and ate three bowls of rice. We were satisfied enough for him to say, “Let’s come back again next time!”

I had been disappointed that I did not get to try it during my Qingdao trip, but having it this deliciously in Daejeon may have been even better. If you are looking for a fish restaurant near Dunsan-dong or Galleria where you can enjoy a meal without parking worries, I really want to highly recommend Bantiannyao Kaoyu Daejeon Branch. Next time, I am planning to take on the mala flavor too!