Delicacies of Daegu

Hello Friends! Today I would like to introduce you to six of Daegu’s unique, yet delicious food!

1. Ttarogukbap

This Daegu speciality is a spicy beef and vegetable soup served with rice. ‘Ttaro’ meaning ‘separate’ and ‘gukbap’ meaning ‘soup and rice’ this dish is literally translated as ‘soup and rice served separately.’ This dish gained popularity in the 1950’s during the Korean War as it keeps you warm with the spiciness of the red pepper and garlic with the succulent taste of beef.

2. Dongin-dong Jjimgalbi

   

In the 1970’s many restaurants began to emerge as lunch time demand from civil servants increased in the Dongin-dong area near the Daegu City Hall. Among the restaurants one menu stood out, jjimgalbi. These restaurants become popular because they were both in great locations and it allowed for the diners to enjoy beef ribs at a relatively affordable price during this time of economic hardship.

This dish boasts a distinctive hot flavor which is accented by garlic, red pepper and herbs. The traditional way to combat this spice is to eat the meal with a piece of refreshing ‘White Water Kimchi.’ The price varies greatly depending on the beef as dishes served with Hanoo (Korean Beef) cost up to 25 USD and those using foreign beef cost approximately 15 USD per serving.

3. Napjak Mandu

This flat dumpling is certainly a Daegu specific food, and is very different compared to other
dumplings in Asia. This crispy dumpling is filled with sweet potato noodles and the occasional green onion and then fried in oil.

It is customary to eat this dumpling with as spicy homemade sauce consisting of soy sauce, pepper, green onion and garlic. This low cost snack is also served with our infamous Shincheon Ddeokbokki which I will tell you about later on.

4. Muchimhwi

Though Daegu is a land locked city there is still a high demand for seafood. With transportation from the sea to Daegu being difficult in the past, distributers developed a way to keep the food fresher longer. The restaurants would steam squid and octopus and mix them with hot pepper powder, garlic, dropwort, and ginger.

This dish is a favorite local appetizer and generally costs less than 10 USD per plate. If you have hankerings for this meal visit the ‘Naedang-dong Bangogae Muchimhwi Street’ which consists of 15 restaurants specializing in this dish.

5. Makchang

This dish might frighten off some individuals after they find out that it is made from pork intestines, but is much like chitterlings in the United States. The preparation is a bit different as it is cooked on a grill/griddle right at your table. This is a favorite nighttime food and is normally accompanied by Soju or beer.

To properly prepare Makchang you must make sure that when you grill it is both crispy on the outside while staying soft like a marshmallow on in inside. After it is finished pluck it from the hot grill and eat it with a slice of garlic, green onion, and soybean sauce.

Because of it’s popularity there are many Makchang restaurants in Daegu, costing normally 4~6 USD per serving. If you decide to have Makchang while you are in Korea, Daegu is surely the place to try it.

6. Shincheon Ddeokbokki

  

Ddeokbokki is a dish well known throughout Korea, especially by high school and university students, due to its affordability. This classic food is prepared by boiling rice cakes in a combination of cabbage and red pepper paste. This snack was originally reserved as a Royal Food but it is now enjoyed by everyone.

Unlike other versions on Ddeokbokki, Shincheon Ddeokbokki has no sweet flavor, only spicy. This version is very unique in Korea and many people become addicted to its hot and spicy flavor. Shincheon Ddeokbokki is normally served with Odeng (Fried Fish Cakes), Kimbab, Napjak Mandu, and a cool fruit juice.

Ok-Yeon YOON (71) has been preparing and selling Shincheon Ddeokbokki for over 30 years now and has become somewhat of a local celebrity and now has over 20 restaurant branches around the city. She is the only one who knows the secret family recipe for the signature red pepper paste. This is odd because she is not keen on spicy foods. Her shop has since disappeared due to redevelopment and has decided not to sell the dish on her own, but she still makes the original sauce every day.

In addition to the food that I have introduced today, there are many other unique and delicious foods to try in Daegu. You can find more information about our delicacies at http://www.daegufood.co.kr/.

  

I hope you enjoy our food and culture during your stay!