Daejeon Kalguksu Sejong Review: Worth It for Noodle Lovers?

If you're searching for an incredible Kalguksu (칼국수) spot in Sejong (세종) and love a rich, deep anchovy broth, then I highly recommend Daejeon Kalguksu Sejong (대선칼국수 세종점).

My husband first visited with his colleagues and was convinced I'd adore it. He was right! What's even funnier is that a friend from Daejeon (대전) had recommended this very place to me ages ago, praising its deliciousness. It seems great minds (and taste buds) think alike! Haha.

After trying it myself, I can confirm the anchovy broth is both incredibly rich and wonderfully clean. Plus, the noodle portion was incredibly generous.

However, I did find the prices for side dishes like Suyuk (boiled pork slices) or Osam Duruchigi (spicy stir-fried squid and pork) a bit steep. But let me tell you all about the fantastic flavor and quantity of the Kalguksu itself, and my experience trying to mix it with gochujang.

Daejeon Kalguksu is actually a famous Kalguksu restaurant that originated in Daejeon.

We arrived a bit early for dinner, but the place was already bustling with customers. There were many families and diners with children. Luckily, we were seated immediately without any wait!

Even before stepping inside, the enticing aroma of rich anchovy broth wafted from Daejeon Kalguksu, building up my anticipation for the soup! Haha.

A bowl of Kalguksu costs ₩9,000 (~$7)! You can conveniently order and pay right at your table.

While they offered Suyuk and Osam Duruchigi, even the cheapest side dish was ₩27,000 (~$20). My husband and I felt it would be a bit much to order Kalguksu plus another dish, so we stuck to two bowls of Kalguksu.

The basic side dishes included onions, young radish kimchi (yeolmu kimchi), and gochujang (Korean chili paste). It felt a bit unusual to be served gochujang at a Kalguksu place.

The Kalguksu was topped with chives, seaweed, and seasoned ground meat.

I took a sip of the broth first, which I had been looking forward to the most, and it was incredible! The anchovy broth was deeply flavorful yet had a clean finish. Despite its richness, it wasn't heavy or cloying, perfectly suiting my taste.

After the broth, the most impressive thing was the sheer quantity of noodles! Haha.

Each bowl of Kalguksu was packed with a generous amount of noodles. Initially, the noodles were delightfully chewy, but as I continued eating, they gradually softened, offering a pleasant variety of textures.

While enjoying my Kalguksu, I suddenly started wondering about the purpose of the gochujang.