4 Best Restaurants in Daegu, Side Trips from Busan

Just a short walk from city hall, Dongin-dong Jjimgalbi Alley is packed with restaurants perfecting the art of braised beef short ribs, a Daegu specialty. Bongsan Jjimgalbi is considered to be one of the best of the bunch, delivering a knockout punch with bowls full of spicy goodness. If you appreciate chili and garlic, this place is for you, though the kitchen staff will happily oblige if you request that they turn down the heat.

This local institution is known for its Pyeonyang-style mool naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles), topped off with slices of thin pork. Once occupying a tiny house in the alley, the restaurant has now moved into a much larger brand-new hanok on the main road, and is the perfect antidote to the blazing heat of Daegu summertime.

This award-winning café not only features terrific coffees and desserts, but also spins classic jazz, soul, and other oldies on vinyl. They roast their own beans, and whip up a mean cream latte that may have you coming back for more. 

Serving many styles of dumplings since 1972, this celebrated local joint sets the standard in town. Their house specialty is meat-filled gun mandu (fried dumplings), oil-crisped so thoroughly that the set of ten arrives at your table fused together.