The tteokbokki we know consists of chewy rice cakes, a spicy and sweet gochujang sauce, finely chopped green onions, thin fish cakes, and a halved, soft-boiled egg. However, in Daegu, there is a tteokbokki restaurant that offers a slightly different style, boasting a spicy flavor with an intense pepper taste. It is the current "Yun Ok-yeon Halmae Tteokbokki," which started as "Sincheon Halmae Tteokbokki" in Sincheon Market in 1974. Using the most basic ingredients—just cabbage and wheat rice cakes—they add no sugar and sprinkle a generous amount of pepper. If you want to enjoy an even more intense spiciness, you can add extra sauce provided separately. Since it is a soup-based tteokbokki, a spoon is provided, but it is not easy to scoop up a large amount due to the considerable spiciness. What neutralizes that spiciness are the fried fish cakes and fried dumplings. As the tteokbokki, fish cakes, and dumplings are all priced at 1,000 won, customers ordering these three items sometimes shout "Cheon Cheon Cheon" (meaning "Cheon, Cheon, Cheon"). Owner Byeon In-ja, who is the second generation to run the shop, has never once raised prices. It is her intention to maintain the same taste and prices as when her mother-in-law, Yun Ok-yeon, first started the business. Those trying Yun Ok-yeon Halmae Tteokbokki for the first time may tilt their heads at the unfamiliar taste, but they soon return to the place.

Type: Snack food

Add 11, Deuran-ro 77-gil, Suseong-gu, Daegu

Tel 053-756-7597

Opening Hours 10:00-21:00, Closed on Mondays

Edit Jihyun Cho

Photograph Kihun Jung