Cham Sikdang Saeng Daegu Jeonmunjeom
참식당생대구전문점
About
Historic Mapo specialist since 1989 serving clean, deeply flavorful fresh codfish stew and crispy potato pancakes alongside artisanal seafood-infused kimchi.
Tucked along Tojeong-ro in Mapo’s Yonggang-dong food street, Chamsikdang Saengdaegu Jeonmunjeom has anchored itself as a neighborhood institution since 1989. The ground floor serves merely as an entranceway; diners ascend a steep flight of stairs to reach the second-floor dining room, an intimate, retro space adorned with vintage lace curtains and the cozy, unhurried air of an elderly couple cooking in their home kitchen. The kitchen’s singular focus is fresh, never-frozen Pacific cod (saengdaegu). Served either as a clear broth (jiri) or a peppery red stew, the soup arrives at the table with large, tender cod fillets that yield instantly on the tongue. Because the fish is truly fresh, staff advise diners to eat promptly once the pot bubbles up, ensuring the delicate roe and creamy milt (goni) do not dissolve into the liquid. Ordering an extra addition of cod entrails is a standard local move, imbuing the naturally clean, brisk broth with a rich, savory depth that local office workers rely on for morning-after hangovers or evening rounds of soju. For variety, tables frequently split the spicy braised cod cheeks (saengdaegu bboljjim), heaped generously over bean sprouts and scallions, alongside a freshly grated gamjajeon. Crisp on the outside and chewy within, the potato pancake offers a mild, starchy contrast to the sharp warmth of the broth. Equal craft goes into the banchan spread, which showcases deep coastal fermentation. Alongside a refreshing kkakdugi flecked with tot seaweed and chili seeds, the restaurant serves an intensely fermented gill jeotgal and deeply matured kimchi—cured with fish like hairtail or aged with abalone—that packs a funky, complex salinity. Chamsikdang operates from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM with an afternoon break, taking Sundays off, delivering an unadulterated taste of old Mapo dining.
Menu
- Fresh Cod Stew₩25,000
- Fresh Cod Clear Soup
- Potato Pancake₩15,000
- 생 대구지리탕(1인분)₩25,000
- 생 대구뽈찜(대)₩83,000
- 생 대구조림(3~4인분)₩95,000
- 민어탕(1인분)
- 민어지리(1인분)
- 민어조림(3~4인분)
- 한우양지편육(200g)₩58,000
Local tips
- Do not overboil the raw cod soup, as the delicate cod roe and milt can dissolve quickly.
- Add extra fish innards (milt/roe) to deepen the stew's richness.
- Pair the fresh cod stew with their freshly grated, crispy potato pancake.
- Dining area is on the second floor accessed by a steep flight of stairs.
Details
- Mapo Station
Opening hours
- Sunday
- —
- Monday
- 11:00–21:00
- Tuesday
- 11:00–21:00
- Wednesday
- 11:00–21:00
- Thursday
- 11:00–21:00
- Friday
- 11:00–21:00
- Saturday
- 11:00–21:00