Restaurants & Cafes

There are various areas throughout Daejeon, and everyone is sure to find their “Cheers-esque” watering hole and fun places around their home or work. There are, however, three main areas where you can find foreigners: Dunsandong, Eunhaengdong and downtown, and Gungdong. The places listed below are either geared toward foreigners specifically, or they are very foreigner-friendly.

Dunsan dong: This area is also referred to as “new downtown.” It is one of the most expensive areas of the city to live in, and it is quite happening at night. The best landmark to use when talking to a taxi driver is “Dunsan dong, Galleria Time World.”

Restaurants

• Baskin Robbins – located on the street perpendicular to the main drag of Timeworld about two blocks up and on the right.

• Bennigans - this is a little expensive for what you get, but it’s nice if you want to sit down and have some decent western food. Their selection is generally American style and their menu ranges from cheese fries to salads to Tex-Mex to Steak. It’s located on the main drag two blocks away from Timeworld going towards Outback. It’s on the same side of the street as Timeworld.

• Bon Bon- A nice little Italian restaurant with tasty risotto, spaghetti and “pizza” (more of a french tart with croissant for a crust).  The Mediterranean salad is delicious.  Great casual atmosphere.  From the Timeworld Galleria, walk across the street  to the left of of the Galleria, past Sponge and Lucky Strike bars until the road dead-ends (about 2 blocks) turn right and walk 1 1/2 blocks.  You can’t miss the large yellow and black signs.

• Brown Sugar – this is a little place that I stumbled upon just before I left Daejeon. It’s located on the main street that runs perpendicular to TimeWorld. It’s on the second floor of the corner building on the second block on the left.

• KFC -From the City Hall subway station walk away from Timeworld .  KFC will be on the corner on your left.
  

• McDonald’s (Emart) -located on the second floor of Emart in the food court. It’s a little tricky, though, because you actually have to go into the Emart store and up to the second floor to access the food court. The escalators outside the cashiers go directly from the first to third floors, as do the elevators.

• McDonald’s (Timeworld) – located behind the gap between Galleria and Timeworld. Walk between the two and McDonald’s is right in front of you.

• Olive Hill- This is a nice place to go for a special date or any other reason that calls for a place with ambiance. Their menu is more or less upscale Italian, and their Caesar salad in particular is very good. I forget exactly where this is located, but it is two blocks back on the opposite side of the main drag from Time World. It’s located on the ground floor.

• Outback Steakhouse - located a bit of a walk from Timeworld. It sits on the far side of the next big intersection

• Papa John’s Pizza- A bit expensive for pizza, but this is definitely not like the Papa John’s Pizza you’re used to back home.  Instead, it’s more of an Italian restaurant that happens to serve Papa John’s pizza.  Located above Dunkin’ Donuts at the City Hall subway station.
  

• T.G.I. Friday’s -This is the standard Friday’s with all their signatures including enormous hamburgers and Jack Daniels’ Ribs. They have a nice lunch set menu if you’re ever inclined to check it out. located kitty corner to E-Mart in Dunsan dong. Just tell the taxi driver “Dunsan-dong, Emart”

• Time World Basement - the basement of Timeworld has a variety of establishments with some international cuisine available. A lot of people like the Turkish kabobs available from the little stand near the center. They also have a store with a nice little wine selection and tobacco products. These are available for a fairly steep price, though.

Cafes

• Dunkin’ Donuts- located behind the gap between Galleria and Timeworld. Walk between the two and it’s on the right, next to the McDonald’s.

• Krispy Kreme Donuts – The American classic just opened a location near City Hall. Giant neon sign beckons when the original glazed are coming off the conveyor belt, and you always get a freebie while you wait- even if it’s just for a coffee (that’s a free donut to go with your coffee). Across the street from City Hall on the East side, located near exit 8 from the City Hall subway station.

• Starbuck’s Coffee – located between Galleria and Time World on the left.

Eunhaeng-dong: This area is also referred to as “old downtown.” It is the area around the train station, and is generally populated by younger people. The nice thing about it is that most of the streets are pedestrian only (or at least in theory), and it’s pretty easy to get around. The downside is it’s equally easy to forget which one of these streets the place you want to go is on. The easiest way to get to Eunhaeng-dong by taxi is to say “Eunhaeng dong, Mee-la-no.” Milano 21 is a large department store situated at the end of the main pedestrian street. Some people say “shi-ne-yo” or “downtown,” but the former direction always works for me. Koreans also say, “Ee an gyeong won” which is Lee’s Optical, and although there are probably dozens of glasses shops run by someone named “Lee,” there’s only one that taxi drivers think of and they will let you out in front of the Eunhaeng-dong Starbucks on the main pedestrian road.

Restaurants

• Baskin Robbins – located on the main pedestrian street. It sits on the left, three blocks up from Milano 21. There is another one across from Outback Steakhouse/Envy Department Store.

• Cin-cin’s – This is a nice Italian place situated a few blocks back from Milano 21. The place has ambiance, and the menu includes brick oven thin-crust pizzas, pastas, a variety of meat and seafood dishes, and fresh salads. The staff speaks basic English, and the manager speaks excellent English. You can even get a little stamp card to get a free salad or pasta after so many purchases. From Milano 21: Follow the main pedestrian street , and turn right at the third street. Cin-cin is on the right after you turn. (042)222-5577.

• McDonalds – located on the main pedestrian street, on the right two blocks up.

• Outback Steakhouse – located in the basement of Envy Department Store. From Milano 21: go down the main pedestrian street and make the second left. Follow the street until the next block. You should see the Outback sign just across the way.

Cafes, Bars, and Nightlife Venues

• Cinderella Coffee shop
  

Gung-dong: Gungdong is situated around Chungnam University, and I find it to be a little more bohemian (for Korea at least) than any other part of Daejeon. It’s easy to find little start-up places and some novelties that can’t be found elsewhere in the city. To get to Gung-dong, tell a taxi driver “gung-dong lotteria.” The Lotteria isn’t there anymore, but it still usually serves well as a landmark. An eyeglass shop stands where it once did. The Santa Claus Bar is below this store. [Kim says: You can also try "Gung-dong Pa Chul So," which is the little police box half a block down. The Lotteria is gone, but the police box probably isn't going anywhere.]

Restaurants

• Ali Baba’s Treasure (International Fine Cuisine). Ali Baba’s offers fine fusion cuisine from the French, North African and Schezuan traditions. It’s a welcome break from kimchi bokkumbap, and it won’t set you back as much as a night at Outback. The couscous is divine and vegetarians can be accommodated on request. Wait times are long, and booking ahead -especially on weekends- is highly recommended. From the Taegeuk Glasses shop: Head down the street into Gung-dong with the glasses shop and Santa’s on the right. It’s about two blocks down over a KTF shop with a big orange sign.

• Santa Claus: this place is actually more of a bar, but it has a menu ranging from quesadillas to a western-style breakfast. Almost all the western recipes have come through customers and have a very authentic North American style. Mr. Ho’s computer has an enormous music library, and everyone more or less choose their own music every night. They have comfortable chairs, a pool table, and if you’re feeling spunky, soju pitchers. Located under the Taegeuk glasses shop in Gung-dong. Tell the taxi driver “Goong dong, Lotteria.” The Lotteria is gone (Taegeuk glasses is there now), but the landmark still usually works.

• Subway Sandwich Shop: There used to be two locations in the city, but the one near City Hall was closed about a year ago and replaced with yet another bread store. This one is not the easiest to find, but they do offer delivery in the neighborhood (823-7794). Their veggies aren’t as fresh as I’d like, but when you’re craving home food, this one really hits the spot. Come in off the river road on Rodeo street (see map above) to the second intersection (Red Mango is on one corner). Turn left and head down one block.

Cafes, Bars, and Nightlife Venues

• Alex’s Bean and Vine: Beans roasted on site, and coffee nearly without peer in the city. Wine (reportedly) mediocre, but atmosphere comfortable and welcoming. Open 10am-3am M-F, 1pm-3am Sat, 1pm-2am Sun. Happy hour on coffee from 10am-1pm daily, all the coffee you can drink for 3,000won. Located on the opposite side of the street from Santa Claus, two doors before the Shisha house.

• The Shisha House: If good hookas and decent cheap coffee in a friendly atmosphere are your kind of thing, you should head over to the Shisha House. They have a limited but tasty menu of light fare as well as beer and a few cocktails available. Try the caramel vodka. Located about two blocks in from Santa Claus on the opposite side of the street.

Other:

Pho Chao Franchaise

Ganamji- Doryong-dong (Between Expo and Mokwon Arts & Culture Center)

Gone:

• KBens