Dongdaegu Korean restaurant for mackerel rice: Hyangtaek

There’s a great Korean restaurant near Dongdaegu Station that I often find myself thinking about. I was in the area for something and stopped by Hyangtaek (향택) -

Hyangtaek near Dongdaegu Station: location and visit tips

It is on the first floor at 158-7 Dongbu-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu, South Korea, 264 m from Exit 2 of Dongdaegu Station on Daegu Metro Line 1 and the Daegyeong Line. It is down a side street, so walking is more convenient than driving ••

Apparently, it was also selected for the 2026 K-Excellent Brand Award! I first came last year and this was my first visit this year, and it had become even more popular - There was a waiting machine, too; if there was a wait, you could join the queue through the Tabling app -

An interior for solo meals through to group gatherings

Inside, there were tables for two, tables for four, and counter seats, making it a nice place to come alone, as a couple, or with a group.

Hyangtaek menu and what we ordered

• Samchi gondre-bap (mackerel and Korean thistle rice) ₩14,000
• Gaji doenjang deopbap (eggplant soybean-paste rice bowl) ₩13,000
• Yukhoe bibimbap (raw beef mixed rice) ₩14,000
• Chamnammul ojingeo deopbap (minari-leaf and squid rice bowl) ₩13,000
• Herring roe bibim noodles ₩13,000
• Deodeok and grilled mushrooms ₩9,000
• Hanpan beoseot (mushroom pancake platter) ₩6,000
• Hanpan galbi (short rib platter) ₩10,000
• Cheongsong-style spicy chicken bulgogi ₩9,000

We ordered their signature dishes: samchi gondre-bap and gaji doenjang deopbap ••

Weekday receipt review event

They were running a weekday-only event, excluding weekends and public holidays. Apparently, you get a hanpan beoseot with an N receipt review!

After ordering, we waited while carefully reading the guide on how to enjoy the food -

How to enjoy Hyangtaek’s dishes

• Mix the toppings evenly into the rice or noodles. For the mackerel or eggplant, tear it into small pieces and mix; enjoy the natural flavor and aroma before adding the house sauce.
• Try it with gopchang gim (crinkled roasted seaweed) and bibim jeotgal (mixed salted seafood).
• Add the house sauce for another flavor.

I really recommend this combination of signature dishes ✌🏻

How did we eat the mackerel gondre rice?

The basic spread for the mackerel gondre rice came with chive soy sauce, bibim jeotgal, and pickles. It was piled high with gondre, so the aroma was incredible! Mackerel gondre rice is my absolute favorite dish at Hyangtaek haha. My number-one pick 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

Tearing the mackerel into little pieces and mixing it all together made it easy to eat. Since the mackerel has a mild flavor, I recommend having it with the bibim jeotgal ⭐️ Add all of the chive soy sauce that comes with it—the seasoning is just right that way!

When you start wanting a different flavor, wrap it in gopchang gim and you can just keep eating -

The chewy texture of eggplant doenjang rice

The basic spread for the eggplant doenjang rice bowl came with Dashida vinegar, bibim jeotgal, and pickles. With plenty of eggplant and sauce over the rice, it was easy to finish a whole bowl neatly without any extra side dishes :)

I never really liked eggplant because of its particular texture, but I became an eggplant fan after having Hyangtaek’s eggplant doenjang rice bowl lol. There was none of that squishy(?) texture at all—it was chewy and almost like eating meat. That said, I would not recommend it to anyone who really, really dislikes eggplant, even its aroma!!

The gopchang gim and bibim jeotgal feel like Hyangtaek’s all-purpose side dishes - They go with every menu item ㅠ

After enjoying the eggplant doenjang rice bowl as it was, I added Dashida vinegar once I was starting to tire of it, and it gave it a different flavor. The doenjang flavor is a little strong, so adding a bit of Dashida vinegar made it taste cleaner! Dashida vinegar is definitely divisive, so try adding it little by little ☺️

How was the mushroom pancake platter as a rice side?

The hanpan beoseot was a mushroom pancake made with shiitake and enoki mushrooms on one platter. Every bite of shiitake had its distinct fragrant, chewy texture, while the fine enoki added an overall springy chew.

The mushrooms’ mild, nutty flavor really came through, so it was not as rich as I expected and I kept reaching for it. A light dip in soy sauce added a savory saltiness, making it perfect alongside rice :)

Final thoughts

For a Korean restaurant near Dongdaegu Station, it was great for a mild, clean Korean meal. I recommend Hyangtaek to anyone looking for dishes with a non-spicy, home-cooked feel ⭐️