Daegu Korean restaurant: fried burdock side and squid-pork, Banwoldang

After stopping by my grandmother's place in Daegu for the first time in ages, I couldn't bear to just head straight home, so I'm sharing a hidden Daegu gem I found nearby. This is my review of Banwoldang Bujasikdang (반월당부자식당), the perfect spot near Banwoldang station in Daegu when you're craving hearty, savory Korean food that warms you up from the inside.

Banwoldang Bujasikdang is a place where the fire-grilled dishes hit your nose with that irresistible smoky char the moment they land on the table, paired with a deep, savory doenjang (soybean paste) stew that tastes like it was simmered by a country grandmother in an earthenware pot. Every single side dish came out neat and carefully prepared — the kind of spread that has you emptying a whole bowl of rice before you even notice.

Where is Banwoldang Bujasikdang, and is there parking?

Banwoldang Bujasikdang is located at 13-13 Gwandeokjeong-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu. If you're taking public transportation, it's tucked inside a small alley behind the Nonghyup building, right in front of exit 21 of Banwoldang station. There's a parking space in front — not huge, but enough for a comfortable park.

Inside Banwoldang Bujasikdang and the weekday lunch wait

Walking in, we were greeted by so many celebrity signatures on the wall.

I visited on a weekday for lunch, and there was a wait, so we waited a bit.

Living up to its reputation as a signature Korean restaurant in Banwoldang, the place was buzzing with energy when we arrived right at lunchtime, already full of people enjoying their meals. Even amid the crowd, there was a warm, familiar air about it, so we settled in comfortably, like regulars at a neighborhood spot.

Menu at Banwoldang Bujasikdang and the new dish we ordered

The main menu at Banwoldang Bujasikdang had three options: stone-grilled rib, squid stir-fry, and pork stir-fry. All three require an order of two or more servings. For solo diners, there's the rustic cheonggukjang stew and bibimbap, and you could also add on the rustic cheonggukjang stew or the Bujasikdang bibimbap separately. My husband and I were torn between the squid stir-fry and pork stir-fry while looking at the menu, and then, glancing at the ordering tablet, we saw it — the squid-pork stir-fry had just appeared as a new menu item, like fate.

It felt like destiny that we were meant to eat the squid-pork stir-fry, so we ordered two bowls of rice and two servings of the fire-grilled squid-pork stir-fry ❤️

The ssam (wrap) vegetables are self-serve — take as much as you like.

Fire-grilled squid-pork stir-fry for two: the full table spread

The side dishes at Banwoldang Bujasikdang come out beautifully arranged too, and the fried burdock root was a real standout.

The spoons and chopsticks here also come individually wrapped, which felt nice and clean!

Finally, the main dish I ordered arrived: two servings of fire-grilled squid-pork. It came sizzling, and the moment it hit the table, that heavy smoky char hit my nose! The spicy squid and pork were even better eaten with the ssam vegetables.

On the sizzling hot plate, the squid and pork in their red seasoning coat looked absolutely perfect.

The special sauce, reduced down and clinging thickly to the meat and squid, was pure rice-thief material piled on top of a big bite of white rice. The savory smoky flavor that comes through with each chew is outstanding. My Korean-food-loving husband happily polished off a full bowl of rice too.

After lunch: a Banwoldang walk to The Hyundai Daegu for dessert

With the bubbling rustic doenjang stew on the side, lunch felt truly complete. Eating the spicy squid and pork stir-fry made it feel like I was really in Daegu. Since The Hyundai Daegu is right nearby, we crossed over and finished things off with delicious dessert and coffee — the perfect Banwoldang date course ❤️ I highly recommend Banwoldang Bujasikdang to anyone who loves pork stir-fry or is looking for a great Korean restaurant near Banwoldang station.