Private-booth bluefin tuna course for two in Daegu: Jongno Darang

I was looking for a good tuna restaurant on Jongno in Daegu with a friend, and so many people strongly recommended I give Jongno Darang a try. I already like tuna, so I went in with expectations, but the clean, tidy interior, the warm and friendly service from the owner and staff, and above all the food — every single dish suited my taste — exceeded expectations. If you like tuna, I really recommend making a trip to Jongno Darang.

Where is Jongno Darang, and what are its hours?

Jongno Darang is at 46-1 Jongno, Jung-gu, Daegu, and is open daily from 15:00 to 01:00 the next day (last order 00:00). There's no parking support, but you can reserve by phone or through Naver Reservations.

The big signboard is visible from far away, so it was easy to find, and it's close to both Hyundai Department Store and Daegu Department Store, which made it convenient to stop by after running errands. I also liked that the standing sign out front showed real photos and prices of the bluefin tuna course, with other menu items pictured too. And since it's open daily from 3pm to 1am the next day, there's plenty of time to eat anywhere from a late lunch to the middle of the night.

Private tables divided by partitions

The inside of Jongno Darang is spacious, and every table is screened off by partitions. Thanks to that, you get a private meal no matter where you sit.

Walking in, the wide interior and neatly arranged tables caught my eye. What impressed me most was that every table was screened with partitions, so no matter where you sat, you could eat privately — and it seemed like it would work well even for a bigger group. My friend and I settled in comfortably and got ready for dinner.

Jongno Darang menu: courses and à la carte

The Jongno Darang menu ranges from course meals to à la carte bluefin tuna. I ordered the bluefin tuna course for two.

The menu had a wide range of options, from course meals to bluefin tuna you can order à la carte — you can enjoy it as a course or order individual dishes. Since so many people recommended I try the bluefin tuna course, that's what I ordered, for two.

What comes in the bluefin tuna course for two?

The Jongno Darang bluefin tuna course starts with side dishes served one by one — herring roe tofu and salad, chawanmushi (Japanese steamed egg custard), yakisoba (stir-fried noodles). Of these, the abalone stood out especially.

After a short wait, the course dishes came out one by one — herring roe tofu with salad, chawanmushi, yakisoba, and more, each served clean and neat, which was satisfying.

Of all of them, the abalone with its chewy yet rich flavor was especially satisfying. It instantly sharpened my and my friend's appetite before the tuna arrived, and it suited my taste so well that we finished it in no time.

How does the bluefin tuna taste?

Jongno Darang's bluefin tuna came in a generous portion with a glossy sheen. The balance of light, clean, and nutty flavors across every cut was thoroughly satisfying.

As we worked through the course dishes, the bluefin tuna arrived before long — the generous portion and glossy look built up my expectations, and I couldn't help but let out a gasp.

The bluefin tuna I'd been looking forward to had every cut balanced perfectly between light, clean, and nutty flavors — satisfying enough to give it an automatic thumbs up, and it made complete sense why so many people had so strongly recommended the bluefin tuna course at Jongno Darang.

Grilled tuna, conger eel tempura and a seafood ramyeon finish

Later in the course came grilled tuna and conger eel tempura, finishing with seafood ramyeon (instant noodle soup). The grilled tuna was pre-trimmed, which made it easy to eat.

While we were still eating the bluefin tuna, they also brought out grilled tuna and conger eel tempura. The grilled tuna was trimmed into easy pieces, making it comfortable to eat, and the conger eel tempura was crispy yet chewy with an excellent nutty flavor — even though I was already quite full, I couldn't put my chopsticks down.

And finally, the seafood ramyeon they served had a spicy yet clean broth packed with seafood — the broth especially was perfect for a refreshing finish.

Is Jongno Darang worth a return visit?

I visited Jongno Darang with high expectations since so many people had strongly recommended the bluefin tuna, and every single dish still exceeded expectations without a single miss. Above all, the bluefin tuna with its outstanding nutty flavor was truly excellent — good enough that I want to bring my parents back next time.