Daejeon is not a terribly large city, but it is still home to over 1.5 million people. While I had never been there before July, I found it to be a cute city with the amenities of Seoul, but without the massive crowds. While Daejeon is not home to many unique cuisines, I wanted to go to a restaurant not available to me in Seoul. On July 30 I joined my significant other and a friend in Daejeon to Robocook’s Dunsan branch for brunch.

South Korea has 9 provinces, but what many people don’t know is that some of the most famous cities are not technically a part of any province. Seoul, the capital, is surrounded by Gyeonggido Province, but is technically a “special city” (특별시). Sejong is a “special self-governing city” (특별자치시) which was created for housing government agencies outside of the capital. Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Gwangju, Ulsan, and Daejeon are all “metropolitan cities” (광역시).

Despite its name, I saw no robots inside of Robocook. When my friend Ms. I told me the name, I asked if the food was prepared by robots. She laughed and asked me if I was joking. I told her that I was kidding, although I do not think that it is such an outlandish question: Daejeon is a city renowned for its scientific acumen, after all.

The interior of Robocook is similar to the aesthetic in a lot of newer yangsik restaurants: low lighting and an intentionally industrial atmosphere. Perhaps I am jaded after going to so many restaurants like this, but I expected a little more given not only the name of the restaurant, but also the puzzling silver trailer home in front.

Ms. I, Ms. R, and I ordered two dishes to split between the three of us. We chose one dish from Europe–carbonara spaghetti–and one from Asia–the Mongolian pilaf. Most of the food at Robocook is intended to be shared.

The carbonara pasta dish consisted of a light cream sauce on spaghetti. The sauce was bland and unseasoned, except for the small bits of bacon. While none of us had ever been to Mongolia, the Mongolian pilaf was the more interesting dish. It contained beef, bok choy, bean sprouts, and red chili peppers. Be warned, however: I can handle my spices well and even I thought that this was genuinely spicy.

The Robocook branch in Daejeon serves decent dishes best suited to be eaten in groups. While we went for brunch, I wish that we had gone at night and had paired our food with alcoholic drinks. Daejeon has better food to offer, but this restaurant might be a good choice on a night out with friends.

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Rating: 

Tasteless  |  Bad  |  >> Okay <<  |  Good  |  Tasty

Name (Korean): 로보쿡
Name (Official English): Robocook
Name (Romanized): Robocook
Name (Translated): Robocook
Website www.robocook.co.kr
Phone 042-471-5009

Credit Cards? Yes
Apple Pay ^[?]? No
Bathroom? Yes
Reservations? ???
Take out? ???
Delivery? No
Wifi? Yes
Outside seating? No
Wheelchair friendly? No
Alcohol? Yes
Dogs allowed? ???
Bike parking? Yes
Car parking? Yes

Date night? No
English-speaking staff? No
English menus? Yes
LGBTQ friendly ^[?]? ???
Information updated on: December 10, 2017
Prices ^[?]: ₩₩₩₩

Hours:
Monday: 11:00 – 22:30
Tuesday: 11:00 – 22:30
Wednesday: 11:00 – 22:30
Thursday: 11:00 – 22:30
Friday: 11:00 – 22:30
Saturday: 11:00 – 22:30
Sunday: 11:00 – 22:30

Address (Korean) 대전 서구 둔산로 15
Address (English) 15, Dunsan-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon