7 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Daegu

Bungle Bungle Jjim-galbi is one spot in Daegu that’s famous for its jjim-galbi (steamed short ribs), beloved by people of all ages. It’s located in Dongin-dong in Daegu, also known as the 'steamed ribs district', where you can find many places serving sweet and spicy jjim-galbi marinated in red sauce. These are different from the more common galbi-jjim (braised short ribs) marinated in sweet soy sauce.

At Bungle Bungle Jjim-galbi, the steamed short ribs are thoroughly cooked, then deboned and ready for you to eat with vegetables or rice. The sweet and spicy flavour will easily win you over.

Dangol Sikdang, or 'Favourite Restaurant' in the local tongue, is situated within Daegu’s Chilseong Market and indeed has many regular patrons, as its name suggests. A prominent grill can be seen outside this restaurant, cooking the only 2 things on the menu: dwaejibulgogi (grilled marinated pork slices) and gochujang bulgogi (grilled red chili paste pork slices).

The grilled marinated pork slices are made with a superb sweet and salty blend of seasoning and are smoked on briquettes, while the grilled red chili paste pork slices kick up the flavour profile another notch with spiciness. The prices are more than reasonable, so expect this place to become your 'favourite restaurant' after just one visit.

Silla Sikdang is a must-visit for those craving authentic spicy Korean dishes in Daegu. Located in the buzzing downtown district of Jung-gu, this local joint is best known for its delicious stir-fried octopus.

The octopus here is tender and perfectly cooked, offering a delightful texture that's not too tough. The sauce has a strong peppery taste that does a great job in balancing the spicy and sweet flavours, making the spiciness manageable. If you’re not such a huge fan of spicy food, try the 'not too spicy' version; it's still got a kick, but one that most people can handle.

Somalttug is a charming and quiet beef steak restaurant located in the Dalseo District of Daegu. Known for its mouth-watering steaks, this diner is every meat lover’s dream.

The restaurant prides itself on using high-quality beef and the freshest ingredients. Be sure to try the flat ribs, which come highly recommended by meat enthusiasts. In addition to their famous steaks, Somalttug also serves bibim naengmyeon, which are spicy cold noodles), cold noodles in chilled broth called mul naengmyeon and bean paste stew. At Somalttug, you can treat yourself to a delicious meal at reasonable prices.

Samsong Bakery and Café is Daegu's own famous bakery, which is currently located in the Dongseong-ro shopping district, having originally started in Nammun Market. Their corn buns and baked croquettes, both launched in 2008, are all the rage throughout the country. 

Break open a corn bun and be greeted with whole corn kernels mixed with sweet and savoury cream. The kernels pop in your mouth, adding another layer of texture to the experience. There isn’t a hint of heaviness to their croquettes because they’re baked rather than fried, and they make perfect casual gifts.

La Finca was once known throughout the country under the name Coffee Myungga and is in a place where cafes serving freshly-roasted coffee, bakeries, and dessert shops are just a few steps away from each other. The famed strawberry layer cake, which is made only during strawberry season, is renowned throughout the country and constantly sold out. 

Hot coffee and cake in the winter and shaved ice in the summer. No matter the season, there’s always some delectable dessert waiting for you here.

Established in 1979, Jungang Tteokbokki is famous for its sweet and spicy stir-fried rice cakes (tteokbokki) and flat dumplings (napjak mandu), a match made in heaven. 

The stir-fried rice cakes here are made of fresh rice cake with a chewy texture unlike any other. The flat dumplings are very popular and sell out quickly, so it’s a good idea to get there early to enjoy the 2 together.