The 7 Must-visit Cafes & Restaurants In Daegu, South Korea

Today we will be introducing the most popular restaurants and cafes that are all the trend in Daegu right now among Koreans in their 20s.

Daegu is a city popular for its delicious restaurants and cafes. They have earned the title 'City of Taste' (맛의 도시).

Let's go through some of the restaurants and cafes that we visited which will make you wish that you were in Daegu right now!

Restaurants

Let's go through some of their most popular restaurants that are known for their delicious menus!

Yangban Galbi
양반 갈비

Address: 대구광역시 수성구 무학로 101 양반갈비
101, Muhak-ro, Suseong-gu, Daegu

Hours: 11:00-23:00

The first trendy restaurant we visited is Yangban Galbi (양반 갈비) famous for their grilled ribs.

Yangban (양반) is a term that was used in Korea to refer to the traditional ruling class during the Joseon Dynasty.

From its exterior, it feels like visiting a rich Korean grandfather's house!

Most restaurants in Korea use QR codes to check-in when entering a restaurant due to Covid-19.

So we scanned our QR code to enter!

As soon as you enter its spacious interior, you'll be surprised by how clean and luxurious it looks!

It feels like entering a rich man's house from 200 years ago.

In addition, there is also a playroom area for children so it's the perfect place to bring your family.

When we sat down and looked at the menu, we saw that their signature menus Yangban Galbi (양반 갈비) and Yangban Samgyeopsal (양반 삼겹살) were both 15,000 won per portion.

Since we visited with a group of people, we decided to order both of their signature menus.

We were excited to taste their fresh and delicious taste of meat.

When we were ready to order, we saw this saying on the wall.

"이리오너라" which means "come to me", is what yangban (양반) during the Joseon Dynasty used to say to their servants to get them to open the doors for them.

What happens if you say this out loud to call the workers?

A worker wearing a traditional hanbok and hat comes out of the kitchen.

After making our orders, the side dishes were served which filled up most of the table.

There were various vegetables that were served which we could eat deliciously with the meat.

I was already drooling!

Yangban Galbi (양반갈비)
15,000 won

The galbi (갈비), grilled ribs, were marinated in sweet and salty soy sauce.

Look at how delicious it looks on the grill.

If the restaurant is packed, the workers will not be able to help you grill.

But when they are available, they'll cut it into bite-sized pieces so you can eat it right away!

You know that the best part of the meat is the bones right?

Grab the tongs and hold on to the bones while you rip the meat away into your mouth.

Yangban Samgyeopsal (양반 삼겹살)
15,000 won

Next is the samgyeopsal (삼겹살), grilled pork belly!

The thick and juicy pork belly is also one of their most popular items on the menu.

When the outside is browned and the inside is cooked, you should eat it right away before it gets cold!

I had a bite with the side dishes that were previously served.

The combination of salty pork belly and the sweet vegetables was beyond amazing.

This is a favorite dish for many Koreans.

Doenjang-jjigae (된장찌개)
7,000 won

Rice and doenjang-jjigae (된장찌개), soybean paste soup is the ultimate Korean way to finish your meal.

The doenjang-jjigae (된장찌개) here was even more delicious because it was made with hanwoo (한우), a breed of small cattle native to Korea.

Think of the soup as a 'dessert' rather than their main menu!

You can also try wearing a traditional hanbok and gat (갓) which is a traditional Korean hat here.

We decided to put it on for a picture! What do you think?

It was also my first time wearing this traditional hat so it was very memorable.

Pyun Meal Mill
편밀밀 본점

Address: 대구 중구 봉산문화길 24 1층
24, Bongsanmunhwa-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu

Hours: 11:30-21:00

When many people think of Korean food, they think of tteokbokki (떡볶이) and gimbap (김밥) which are affordable.

The next eatery in Daegu we're taking you to is a unique place that combines traditional Korean street foods with Western foods.

When you enter the restaurant, there is a photo zone with plenty of sunlight shining in.

We decided to order first because we came on a hungry stomach.

Since it's a local Korean restaurant, ordering tteokbokki (떡볶이) is a must, right?

Make sure to order their flat dumplings too that are very popular.

We decided to order a variety of foods.

We ordered their arugula tteokbokki (루꼴라 떡볶이), kkanpung flat dumplings (깐풍 납작만두), mandu lasagna (만두라자냐), and Pyun Meal Mill musubi (편밀밀 무스비).

We highly recommend ordering the dishes that we got.

Arugula Tteokbokki (루꼴라 떡볶이)
6,500 won

Spicy and chewy rice cakes are topped with the bitter taste of arugula to minimize the spicy and greasy taste.

It's a highly recommended menu!

Kkanpung Flat Dumplings (깐풍 납작만두)
11,000 won

Next up is the flat dumplings. They are a signature food of the region of Daegu.

It's basically fried dumplings that are pressed flat which is super crispy.

You can enjoy the unique taste by putting sweet and sour sauce on top.

Mandu Lasagna (만두라자냐)
5,500 won

This is a highly addicting meal.

Softer than the regular fried dumplings, it has a layer of tomato lasagna and cheese which is a unique twist of Korean traditional fried dumplings.

Pyun Meal Mill Musubi (편밀밀 무스비)
5,500 won

The rice is wrapped in thick eggs so it goes well with other spicier menus such as the tteokbokki or the dumplings.

It's similar to Japense egg sushi, so if you like sushi, we highly recommend it.

Sum-Eunjib
숨은집

Address: 대구 중구 동성로1길 46-23 1층
46, Dongseong-ro, 1-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu

Hours: 11:00-21:00
Break Time: 15:00-17:00

Next is a restaurant famous for their tomahawk steak (돈마호크 스테이크).

Just like its name which translates to 'a secret hideout' is hidden in the alleys of Daegu.

It's located on Dangseong-ro, the busiest street in Daegu but it's difficult to find.

From the beige walls and its wooden interior, you already know that it's a trendy place!

There aren't many tables inside but it didn't feel too cramped.

They decorated it nicely with beautiful lighting and props so the atmosphere was really nice.

When we choose a seat, they bought us the menu.

They had a variety of pizza, pasta, risotto, and salad.

We decided to order their signature items: pizza, tomahawk steak, and ragu ala bolognese.

Sum-Eunjib Pizza
14,000 won

This is their pizza! Doesn't it look tasty?

Are you curious as to what the white ingredient is in the middle? It's yogurt.

This menu is popular for its unique yet addictive taste served with yogurt and tomato sauce.

Ragu Ala Bolognese
14,000 won

This is a dish made with homemade bolognese sauce and flavored with red wine.

When I tried it, it wasn't much different from other bolognese, but regardless it was still delicious.

Tomahawk Steak
24,000 won

Last but not least, is the tomahawk steak that I looked forward to the most.

This is steak made with Jirisan black pork that resembles an ax. It's a popular menu of the restaurant that you must post on Instagram!

I cut the tender parts with a knife and chewed on the leftover bone.

I understood why it's such a popular menu!

Just a heads up, we arrived at 11 am when the restaurant opened so we were able to find seats comfortably.

There is usually a wait time, so we recommend arriving close to the opening hours.

Cafes

After a satisfying meal, you can find a trendy cafe to relax in!

Naricomo
나리꼬모

Address: 대구 수성구 달구벌대로 2683
2683, Dalgubeol-daero, Suseong-gu, Daegu

Hours: 12:00-18:00

Naricomo is a cafe that has recently risen to popularity on Instagram for their homemade donuts filled with delicious fillings, that are selling out fast!

As soon as you enter the cafe, you'll see so many mouth-watering desserts.

The smell of delicious freshly baked pastries fill the air.

The cutest donuts are displayed everywhere.

Do you see all the fillings that are coming out of the donuts? It looks so delicious.

In addition to their donuts, there are plenty of drinks to choose from.

Since there are so many options, it can be difficult to choose. So we ordered their most popular items.

Here is what we ordered!

From left to right we ordered their grapefruit ade, squirrel ice cream latte, injeolmi donuts, creme brulee donuts, and s'more apple jam crumble cookies.

Injeolmi Donuts
4,200 won

The first donut we ordered is one of their steady selling desserts.

You can enjoy the savory taste in the injeolmi flavor filling, which is a type of rice cake in Korea.

We highly recommend it.

Creme Brulee Donuts
4,200 won

This donut had plenty of soft filling inside that's a great option for those with a sweet tooth.

On the outside, it's coated with hard sugar so if you have sentive teeth, be careful!

S'more Apple Jam Crumble Cookies
3,500 won

S'mores are tasty, and so is apple jam. So if you combine the two, there's no way it won't be delicious.

The s'mores are nicely melted so you can enjoy it while it's still warm.

Grapefruit Ade
5,500 won

Ice Cream Latte
6,000 won

We also highly recommend ordering their beverages with a donut.

Usually, they put a squirrel-shaped cookie on top of the ice cream for the latte, but they sadly ran out.

We hope that you can get their cookie when you visit so you can get a nice picture.

There are also a lot of those who order it to-go, and they'll give you a cute container with your order.

We ordered another injeolmi donut to-go.

They gave us this cute container!

Monolig
모노릭

Address: 대구 동구 아양로10길 22
22, Ayang-ro, 10-gil, Dong-gu, Daegu

Hours: 12:00-21:00
Thu: Closed

Their concept is a 'fishbowl', but if you're thinking of a normal fishbowl, you're absolutely wrong!

Let's have a look.

The exterior is already very stylish and modern.

We were excited to see what its interior will be like.

The interior was very clean and monotone.

There are plenty of seats to choose from such as a chair or a comfortable sofa.

But as we looked around, the ceiling caught our eye.

It's a giant fishbowl.

You can sip your coffee while looking up at all the fishes swimming freely.

On the 2nd floor, there is a rooftop.

We couldn't use it when we visited because it had rained but it would be nice to get some fresh air when the weather is nice.

After choosing a nice seat, it's time to order.

We went up to the counter to make our order.

There are various drinks available from coffee, milk tea, to ade.

There were also a lot of beautiful cakes and pastries on display.

Especially these scones look delicious.

We ordered their basque cheesecake, chocolate latte, and grapefruit black tea.

We took a picture right below the huge fishtank above so it had plenty of sunlight.

It's a very quiet, chill cafe where you can mindlessly look at the fishes while you sip your coffee.

Chocolic (Chocolate latte)
6,500 won

The chocolic, which is a chocolate latte, wasn't too sweet. It had a rich dark chocolate flavor.

Grapefruit Black Tea
6,000 won

The black tea had rosemary so it helped me relax!

Basque Cheesecake
6,500 won

Another highly recommended menu, the basque cheesecake which is becoming a major trend in Korea.

Their cheesecake that was slightly burnt was delicious! It's a very popular item that you should order with a drink.

Factory 09
북성로 공구빵

Address: 대구 중구 서성로14길 79
79, Seoseong-ro, 14-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu

Hours: 12:00 -20:00
Mon: Closed

This cafe is located on Bukseongro which is a street lined with tool stores.

It is said that the owner of this place started making tool-shaped madeleines to revive this street as there were fewer people looking for tools.

A fun idea that comes from great intentions!

First, you have to go through Gyeongsang Gamyeong Park in order to find this cafe.

After walking around this park, you can head towards the cafe.

You'll notice its unique exterior right away when you walk through the alley.

I was confused on whether it was a cafe or a tool store at first but we decided to make our order.

Tool Set - 1 Set
4,500 won

The cute sizes and tool-shaped madeleines looked too cute to eat.

The set consists of a madeleine in the shape of a monkey spanner and different bolts.

This is the monkey spanner-shaped madeleine cut in half.

It tasted like a basic madeleine.

It wasn't too oily so it was a good combination with an Americano or milk.

The cute toolset was perfect to take it to-go as well.

They put your order in this box that makes it look like an actual toolset.

On the way out, I happened to see them making the madeleines and saw the tool-shaped molds.

When I asked the owner, he said that this mold was made by a famous tool craftsman in Daegu.

Cafe Hyangchon
카페 향촌

Address: 대구 중구 서성로14길 74
74, Seoseong-ro, 14-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu

Hours: 11:00-20:00
Mon: Closed

The last hot spot in Daegu we wanted to introduce is this cafe.

You already know it's going to be a beautiful cafe from its exterior.

The word hyangchon (향촌) means a fragrant village.

This cafe also runs a boutique that you can rent out pretty clothes from so there are plenty of things to look at here.

It's also located within a 1-minute walking distance from the previous Factory 9 cafe so you can stop by both places.

On the 1st floor you can make your order and then grab a seat on the 2nd floor.

We ordered right away when we walked in.

There are various drinks from Americano, Dutch coffee and other teas such as chrysanthemum tea and lemon black tea.

After making your order, you can wait on the 2nd floor as you look around.

When I walked up to the 2nd floor, I was surprised to see the warm and traditional hanok-style interior rather than the Western-style interior on the 1st floor.

It felt like I came to an old traditional hanok.

Yellow Chrysanthemum Tea
5,500 won

Dutch Cube Latte
5,500 won

Doesn't it look like it's missing something?

Well, it turns out that all drink menus here are brewed yourself.

Brew your tea and pour milk directly into the Dutch coffee.

It was a memorable experience! Not only were the drinks amazing but it was fun to brew it ourselves and take pictures.

Today we introduced 7 of the most trendy restaurants and cafes in Daegu.

After visiting ourselves, we could understand why it's so popular.

We hope that you get to visit these places the next time you're in Daegu!