Suseong Lake Japanese restaurant lunch with crisp tempura: Ongijeong

My husband and I went to Ongijeong Suseong Lake Branch (온기정 수성못점) for Japanese food at lunch, partly because it had been a while since our last date. It is always a popular lunch spot around Suseong Lake in Daegu, so even on a weekday there were lots of diners. Along with crisp tendon (tempura rice bowl) and full rice bowl sets, there is a large dedicated parking lot right in front, so we could park comfortably in busy Suseong Lake and head in. We also took a walk around the lake and had such a lovely time.

Ongijeong with parking by Suseong Lake

Ongijeong Suseong Lake Branch has a large dedicated parking lot directly in front of the restaurant. It is easy to get stressed when a restaurant near Suseong Lake has limited parking, but this place had plenty of space, which I loved. We parked with ease and went inside.

The exterior has a warm, atmospheric yellow tone, and the wood-style entrance that is so characteristic of Japanese restaurants was pretty. A freestanding sign at the entrance clearly showed the signature dishes, photos, and prices, so it was nice to check the menu before going in.

Seating for dates and family meals alike

Once inside, the warm wood furniture and soft lighting made for a lovely atmosphere. I could see why it is known as a great date spot, haha. It also has an open kitchen, so you can watch the food being cooked.

There was a huge variety of seating, too. From window seats to private rooms farther inside, it is a space that can easily accommodate groups. There are high chairs as well, so dining with a baby is comfortable too.

A best-seller set chosen on the tablet

You order on the tablet provided at each table. We decided to choose only from the best-seller menu.

• Steak & raw salmon rice bowl tempura set ₩20,000
• Pork jowl yakiniku rice bowl tempura set ₩17,000

After ordering, I noticed they were also running a receipt event. If you participate, you can receive a drink or two shrimp tempura pieces, so keep that in mind if you visit, haha.

A generous tempura set, from the main to the fried items

Wow—our food arrived, and the presentation was instantly impressive. Each individual tray was neatly and thoughtfully arranged with a main rice bowl, hot soup, assorted sides, and tempura, and the portions were generous too.

The side dishes were the same with each set: crisp yuzu salad, danmuji (pickled yellow radish), other pickles, and a house sauce. The salad dressing was fresh and tasty, perfect for a bite before the main or in between bites, and I really liked that house sauce. It was delicious with the tempura, and when a rice bowl felt a little lightly seasoned, it was just right to add more and mix it in.

Crisp tendon with sauce served separately

Once I tried it, I immediately understood why Ongijeong Suseong Lake Branch is known for tendon. Tempura can quickly become soggy when sauce is poured over it, but here the sauce comes on the side for dipping, so every piece stayed crisp right down to the last one.

A light dip in the sweet, pleasantly salty house soy sauce gave the tempura such a delicious savory seasoning. The selection included kabocha squash, shishito pepper, lotus root, eggplant, perilla leaf, and enoki mushrooms, and every one had a great texture.

Steak, raw salmon, and pork jowl yakiniku rice bowls

Next, I tried the steak & raw salmon rice bowl that I ordered. It is one of Ongijeong's best sellers: a distinctive bowl that lets you enjoy tender steak and fresh raw salmon together.

The lightly rare steak and soft raw salmon went together better than I expected. And if the rice tastes a little mild, adding the soy sauce makes it just right.

Next was my husband's choice: the pork jowl yakiniku rice bowl!

The signature crunchy-yet-chewy texture of pork jowl really came through, and the rice was seasoned too, so you can simply mix it all up and eat. It tasted a little mild to me after one bite, so I added more sauce and liked it even better, haha.

There was more meat than I expected, and eating it with the green onion meant it never felt rich or tiresome right through to the end. I thought children would probably enjoy this menu too.

Ongijeong Suseong Lake Branch scored highly overall for its flavor, neat presentation, and large dedicated parking lot in busy Suseong Lake! From the tendon that stayed crisp until the last bite to the well-composed rice bowl sets, it was a satisfying lunch date with my husband. Next time, I would like to return with the children for a family meal.