Thai date dinner in Mapo: chili sea bass, tom yum pho, Saeng Augustine

I visited Saeng Augustine in Hapjeong. Went on a date, just the two of us.

This place has been a well-known Mecenatpolis restaurant for a long time, so at lunchtime it was hard to even find an empty seat.

How to walk to Saeng Augustine from Hapjeong Station, and where to park

Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch is about 200m from Exit 9 of Hapjeong Station, a 2-minute walk. If you drive, parking is free for up to 3 hours 30 minutes, so you can eat leisurely and even look around the area afterward. Whether you come by public transit or car, finding this Hapjeong Station restaurant shouldn't be much of a hassle.

Even if there's a wait because it's crowded, you don't need to rush too much. If you're coming by bus, there are stops near Exits 1, 2, and 9 of Hapjeong Station, so keep that in mind.

Inside Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch: mood and menu lineup

Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch is set up as one big open space.

Tables, sofa seats, and regular table seats sized for different group counts were all visible at a glance, which made it easy to pick the seat we wanted.

It seemed like a great spot for family gatherings, date nights, and also for larger group meetups.

You check and order the menu through the table order system.

Set menus, lunch specials, and the drink menu were shown on separate menu boards. It's worth looking through those to find a good value combo.

True to being a Thai restaurant that's a well-known Mecenatpolis spot, the drink and alcohol selection was quite varied too. Mangosteen, fresh coconut drink, Chang sparkling water, Chang beer — the authentic, local-feeling drinks were impressive, and there was a good range of wine too, so I'd definitely recommend checking before ordering.

The three Thai dishes we ordered at Saeng Augustine

That day we ordered chili sea bass, tom yum goong pho, and giant prawn pad thai.

Giant prawn pad thai: how to mix it with fresh bean sprouts

The giant prawn pad thai came out first, and besides the two big, eye-catching prawns on top, there were more peeled shrimp mixed into the noodles, so there was no shortage of shrimp to enjoy.

The staff showed us how to squeeze a bit of lemon and mix it in with the bean sprouts, which let us really taste the pad thai the way it's meant to be eaten here.

The noodles and sauce were exactly the flavor I expected, and what stood out was the raw, uncooked bean sprouts — a bit unfamiliar at first, but the texture was fresh and the aroma came through much more clearly, which I liked.

Chili sea bass: a whole fried fish with no bones to worry about

The chili sea bass is made with an entire fish cooked whole, so I was already excited before we even got there. It comes out as a whole fried sea bass topped with chili sauce, and the chili wasn't too spicy while still having a rich, savory depth, which I loved.

The salad on the side and the bits of pineapple mixed in made the flavor even richer.

It tasted great, of course, but what made it even better was being able to enjoy it comfortably without worrying about bones.

Tom yum goong rice noodle soup: is it very sour?

Last was the tom yum goong pho, and it completely changed how I think about tom yum goong. I usually don't enjoy it much because it tends to be too sour and sharp,

but here the sour notes weren't overpowering, and with the meat and rice noodles both in the bowl, everything balanced out smoothly and was easy to enjoy.

It really lived up to the reputation of being a great tom yum goong spot.

Fine-dining-style service at a Mapo Thai restaurant

What stood out to me was that all the staff were kind and paid attention down to the small details, so we never felt uncomfortable throughout the meal.

In particular, every time a dish came out, they explained how to eat it, which really helped us taste the dishes the way they were meant to be enjoyed.

Where is the restroom? Outside the restaurant

There's a sign for the restroom to the right, just outside the store, so keep that in mind. It might feel a little inconvenient at first since it's outside,

but with no other customers coming and going during the meal, it actually turned into an advantage — we could enjoy the meal fully undisturbed.

Worth it for a date near Hapjeong Station?

I'd recommend Saeng Augustine, a well-known Mecenatpolis restaurant where you can enjoy a variety of Thai dishes along with drinks that pair well with them.

They also have set menus and lunch specials, so it might be worth stopping by at least once.