While in Daejeon, I found the best restaurant to eat 칼국수 (kalguksu). There were no other foreigners there, but Koreans definitely knew about it, as we waited for 45 minutes to be seated.
It’s a bit of a walk from Daejeon subway station, but I recommend taking the journey to find 오씨칼국수. Koreans traditionally eat these handmade, knife-cut wheat flour noodles served in a large bowl with broth and various ingredients. The restaurant serves the noodles, 손칼국 (5,000₩) with small clams, but also seafood pajeon 해물파전 (8,000₩), a bowl of clams 물총 (9,000₩), and clam soup 조개탕 (25,000₩).
If you go, don’t forget to grab a ticket right away, and wait for your number to be called. Have fun pulling your kimchi out of a large pot and cutting it at your table! (No, seriously, it’s fun.)
Address: 304-36 Samseong-dong Dong-gu, Daejeon
Phone: 627-9972