Skirt steak set with al배추 gnocchi at Plate, Dunsan, Daejeon

Starting my honest review of Plate Dunsan Branch, a spot in Dunsan-dong that left me very happy with both the vibe and the food after a long while. If you're looking for a date course or a meetup spot near Galleria Timeworld in Dunsan-dong, this is a great pick. Here's a visit that exceeded my expectations!

Plate Dunsan Branch: location, hours and parking

• Address: 34 Dunsan-ro 31beon-gil, 2nd floor, Seo-gu, Daejeon, South Korea (Dunsan-dong 1015, Rodeo Building)
• Hours: Daily 11:00 – 21:45
• Convenience: Reservations available, parking available in the Rodeo Building basement lot

Window-seat light and the restaurant's atmosphere

The moment we walked in, the overall cozy yet sophisticated dining atmosphere caught my eye. Once we sat down, the neat and pretty tableware was already set, so it felt like being taken care of from the very start. We happened to sit right by the window where the sun was pouring in, and the good light made both the tableware and the space look even prettier.

Peeking a little further inside, there were also quiet seats set aside, good for group gatherings or a cozy chat.

The steak set and what we ordered

We sat down and read through the menu carefully. A well-put-together set menu caught our eye, so we went with the steak set. For the mains we picked skirt steak and Chungyang gonggolle (clam) cream gnocchi, and on top of that we added bacon cacio e pepe, with a cool grapefruit ade and lemon ade to drink.

Looking through the menu, I noticed they also had a well-curated wine list at reasonable prices. It looked like a great spot to set the mood with a glass of wine.

Pre-meal soup, bushman bread and salad

After ordering, the pre-meal soup, bushman bread and salad came out first. I dipped the warm, savory pre-meal bread into the rich soup — the soup's flavor was deep and smooth, really delicious. The fresh salad got my appetite going, and by then I was even more excited for the mains to come.

How spicy is the Chungyang gonggolle cream gnocchi?

The first main to arrive was the Chungyang gonggolle cream gnocchi! Being cream-based, I worried it might get heavy after a while, but the subtle heat of the Chungyang chili peppers cut right through the richness, so I enjoyed it all the way to the last bite. The gnocchi texture was memorable too — maybe from the potato starch, but the outside was slightly crisp while the inside stayed chewy, which made it fun to eat.

Skirt steak with mashed potato and grilled alba cabbage

Next came the main of the steak set, the skirt steak. It arrived neatly plated with whole-grain mustard, soft mashed potato, and grilled alba cabbage (alba-chu, a mild napa-like cabbage). The doneness was just right, so the meat was moist and tender, and pairing it with the soft mashed potato and the tangy whole-grain mustard made for a great balance of flavors. In particular, the sweet, crisp texture of the grilled cabbage went really well with the meat.

The bacon cacio e pepe we added on

Last up was the bacon cacio e pepe we added as an extra. Honestly I added it without much expectation, just to round out the order, but one bite in and I was genuinely surprised at how good it was! The savory bacon, rich cheese flavor and sharp pepper aroma came together for an explosion of umami. It would've been a real shame not to order it — a hidden gem of the meal.

Would I go back? Final thoughts

We finished the meal on a refreshing note with the sweet-and-tangy grapefruit ade and lemon ade. Thanks to the interior and the light, the atmosphere was great, and every single dish we ordered was a hit, so this is a place I'd love to visit again. Overall the food was thoughtfully prepared and the atmosphere so cozy that next time I'd want to bring family or friends along too. If you're looking for a can't-go-wrong date course or meetup spot in Dunsan-dong, I'd recommend visiting without a second thought!