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Cafés, restaurants and places in Gyeongbuk, written by bloggers who went there.
Sonsi Sushi Yeungnam University Main Branch is a Japanese restaurant near Yeungnam University Station in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, serving aged sushi and sashimi rice bowls. The writer ordered the 30,500-won set for two that gathers the restaurant's most popular dishes — a sashimi rice bowl, an assorted sushi platter, shrimp tempura and mini udon. It was generous enough to explain the waiting line at Sonsi Sushi in a single meal.
Cafe Dongi Yeungnam University Art Center Branch is a Korean restaurant serving single-person set meals on the 2nd floor of the Cheonma Art Center Grand Hall at Yeungnam University in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk. On a rainy Sunday evening a family of four with two children ordered the spicy baby octopus set, the beef brisket doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) set and the shoulder-cut Japanese-style curry set, adding a small nuruk-aged tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork) and kimchi jeon (kimchi pancake); the unlimited self-bar of fried eggs (grade 2 eggshell number), five-grain rice, seaweed and barley candy let the younger child finish a full bowl of rice without a separate kids' meal. With 4 hours of free parking and floor-to-ceiling window views, Cafe Dongi is a safe bet for eating out with kids.
Buja Hodu is a takeout-only walnut pastry (hodu-gwaja) shop in an alley near the central parking lot on Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju. The writer bought a 24-piece mix box of low-sugar red bean, pea cream cheese, matcha and almond praline and ate them by flavor at the outdoor table in front of Buja Hodu, finding them tastier than the famous walnut pastries she had tried in Cheonan. Half walnut, half filling, with Korean rice dough, Buja Hodu also works as a Gyeongju souvenir.
Irojeong Gumi Geumosan Direct Branch is a hanjeongsik (Korean set-meal) restaurant on Bakjeonghui-ro in Gumi, Gyeongbuk. Visiting with both parents, the writer ordered a half plate of snow-flower wild ginseng black goat suyuk (boiled sliced meat) and a seafood pancake with a whole octopus, then spotted Milyang apple makgeolli (rice wine) on the menu to go with them. With a self-serve bar, a kids' play room and a café corner for dessert, Irojeong works well for a family meal out with parents.
Bibibidang Gyeongju is a tea and coffee café on the 1st floor of the Uyang Museum in Bomun, Gyeongju. Arriving right at the 10:00 opening with family, we took an outdoor terrace table and ordered a café latte (7,500 won), cheongwol cream matcha (8,500 won) and iced tea (7,000 won), each served with yanggaeng (sweet red bean jelly) and chocolate. The matcha latte was rich without being bitter so the kids drank it happily, and with free Hilton Hotel parking Bibibidang Gyeongju is an easy first stop on a Gyeongju trip.
Hyoeunok Gyeongju Branch is a Korean restaurant on Bukgun 3-gil, near the Bomun Tourist Complex in Gyeongju, serving beef bone hot pot and galbitang (beef rib soup). On a family trip, the writer ordered the mountain-high Ppyeoberest beef bone hot pot at the regular spice level for lunch with the kids and worked through it in order: beef rib meat, minari and mushrooms, beef, then kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and gondre (thistle) porridge. Hyoeunok is worth remembering for a filling meal after a long day of walking around Gyeongju.
Goyu is a new fusion Korean dining spot on the main Hwangnidan-gil lane in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. Arriving right at opening time on a family trip, we ordered pork kimchi jjim for two (30,000 won), mackerel perilla oil buckwheat noodles (15,000 won) and potato pancake (12,000 won), and even the beef radish soup and fresh kimchi served before the meal beat expectations. Goyu fills up with a queue quickly, so come early.
Gyeongju Tokyo Pie is a takeout-only handmade pie shop one block in from the main street of Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju. I chose the 3-flavor premium gift set of 6 (4 apple + 2 red bean), took it home and shared the pies one at a time with my child, and the pastry was crisp outside, moist inside and not too sweet. The neat box makes Gyeongju Tokyo Pie a good gift to bring back from a Gyeongju trip.
Gallilli Daegae Hoe Sikdang is a live-fish sashimi center and snow crab restaurant on Jukdo Sijang-gil at Jukdo Market in Pohang, Gyeongbuk. After watching live fish and blue crabs in the tanks out front, the takeout sashimi platter arrived big enough to fill the table, served with abalone, sea squirt, whelk, conch and bullet squid, plus spicy fish stew and perilla leaves for wrapping. Gallilli Daegae Hoe Sikdang is an easy pick for fresh sashimi with the buzz of a traditional market.
Ppwang Mulhoe is a mulhoe (raw fish in cold broth) restaurant in a pink building a short walk from Yeongildae Beach in Pohang, Gyeongbuk. Visiting with her mom who loves mulhoe, the writer ordered flounder mulhoe for 20,000 won, squid pancake for 15,000 won, and shrimp fried rice for 8,000 won, eating by a window that opens wide onto the sea; the self bar side dishes were ordinary but mixing noodles into the mulhoe worked well. Between the flounder's texture and the ocean view, it's a solid pick for a family meal.
Bapeul Jitda Gyeongsan Main Branch is a Korean set-meal (hanjeongsik) restaurant right next to Daegu Haany University in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk. The autumn and winter 1-person sets arrived as a full table of beef brisket mushroom hot pot, chilled pork, steamed abalone, deodeok (bellflower root) skewers, abalone porridge, and hijiki bibimbap, all mildly seasoned enough for kids and grandparents alike. With private rooms, large group seating, and a wide parking lot, it's a place worth coming back to with parents.
Dongyang Baekban Gyeongju Hwangridan-gil Main Branch is a Korean restaurant on Hwangridan-gil in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. At a window seat looking out on the grass yard, the writer ordered a medium tomato-based sumi dakbokkeumtang (chicken stew) for ₩28,000 along with mentaiko rice and gondre rice. Between the tender boneless chicken, the thick tomato broth, and the neat banchan, it's a table even parents would love.
