Daegu terrace bar with non-alcoholic highballs: Gyodong Nakwon

It had been ages since I visited a Gyodong bar with a friend. The weather had finally warmed up and I wanted that outdoor terrace bar vibe, so when I heard about a place famous for Gyodong terrace drinking, we went to crush some snacks (ᗒ⩊ᗕ)

Where is Gyodong Nakwon, and how long is the Friday wait?

The storefront sits right on the main road, across from 2.28 Memorial Central Park. I'd made a Naver reservation beforehand, so there was no wait at all, haha. Just know that Friday and weekend nights get busy — once it's past 8pm there can be a wait!!

The terrace seats especially are even more popular, so I'd recommend reserving ahead or doing an opening run 🖤

If you couldn't book ahead, you can write your name and phone number on the waiting list at the entrance and get seated in order •͈˽•͈

Indoor seating and group tables at Gyodong Nakwon

Inside, Gyodong Nakwon is a Gyodong izakaya in downtown Daegu with 2-6 person tables and bar seating. There are also tables for groups of 6 or more, so if you're looking for a meeting spot, company dinner venue, or group bar in Daegu, it's worth reserving ahead!

• The restroom is inside the restaurant (separate men's/women's)

And walking further to the back of the restaurant . . .

When can you get a terrace seat in Gyodong?

There really aren't many bars with an outdoor terrace in Gyodong, but Gyodong Nakwon has one!! At 7pm on a Friday there were still terrace seats open, but by 8pm they were all taken ,,ԾㅂԾ,,

True to an izakaya, the space is decorated in a Japanese style with Japanese songs playing, so it genuinely felt like drinking in Japan 🏮 Highly, highly recommend for that Gyodong atmosphere bar, Gyodong terrace bar vibe

I was worried about mosquitoes since it's outdoor seating, but they'd already lit mosquito coils, and there were plenty of blankets ready in case it got chilly, so we could enjoy the terrace without worrying about the weather at all

What we ordered at Gyodong Nakwon and what it cost

The menu is set on top of every table.

• Crab tomalley pasta ₩16,000
• Chicken nanban ₩17,000
• Non-alcoholic yuzu highball ₩7,500
• Saero ₩5,000

My friend isn't much of a drinker, but Gyodong Nakwon has non-alcoholic highballs too, so we could still clink glasses together (?)

They gave us shrimp chips as a complimentary starter, and even though I don't usually eat that stuff, at a bar I just keep grabbing more... I can't be the only one, right, haha

Non-alcoholic yuzu highball, 7,500 won

The drinks came out before the food. My friend's non-alcoholic yuzu highball had a subtle yuzu fragrance, sweet and refreshing — it tasted better than I expected (╹ڡ╹ ) Great for anyone who doesn't drink to enjoy without any pressure 🍹

Cheers-★ before the main dishes arrived

After a drink or two of chatting, the main dishes we'd ordered started coming out one by one

Chicken nanban, 17,000 won: tartar plus a seasoned sauce

The chicken nanban had crispy!! fried chicken piled high with tartar sauce. The chicken itself was fried crisp and delicious, and there was a spicy seasoning sprinkled over the sauce, so it never felt heavy and I kept reaching for more ㅠㅠ Cabbage salad and tomato came alongside it too, which were nice to pick at in between bites 🖤

Besides the tartar sauce, they also give you a seasoned sauce, and dipping the chicken in that gives it exactly the taste of yangnyeom (seasoned) chicken . . . ♡

Crab tomalley pasta, 16,000 won: Gyodong Nakwon's best dish

Crab tomalley pasta is one of Gyodong Nakwon's best menu items 🦀 You mix all the ingredients together yourself before eating. One bite and the rich, savory flavor unique to crab tomalley paired perfectly with the thick, creamy sauce ㅠㅠㅠㅠ The noodles and sauce were completely unified, nothing felt separate, and it was so, so good.

If you come here, you have to order the crab tomalley pasta ~ @!!

My friend and I scraped every last bit of the food off our plates, and as we were leaving, the staff gave us Chupa Chups matched to our headcount 🍭 We finished off even the dessert properly and wrapped up feeling great

Final verdict on Gyodong Nakwon

The terrace atmosphere was great, the staff were kind, and above all the food was so delicious!!! It's the perfect spot for a drink outdoors on a nice day, so I think I'll be back to enjoy the terrace again 🤍 If you're looking for a Gyodong terrace bar, a great Gyodong restaurant, or a Gyodong atmosphere bar in Daegu, I highly recommend Gyodong Nakwon