Daejeon pizza and pasta restaurant for kids in Ojeong-dong: Cement

We recently took the kids to the Hanbat Education Museum. It was surprising to find a museum like that right inside a school campus — there was so much to see, and as we walked through the history of Korean education with the kids, lunchtime slipped by before we knew it.

"So what should we eat before heading home?"

While searching for nearby spots, I suddenly remembered Cement, a pasta place in Daejeon we'd enjoyed with the kids before. When I asked them, they immediately said, "Let's go there again!"

It's not far from the Hanbat Education Museum, and with pasta, pizza, and risotto — all kid favorites — on the menu, we didn't hesitate to go back. We ordered different dishes than last time, but the bottom line is: it was a hit again!

The kids ate really well, and both the price and the taste were satisfying — reminding me all over again why it's such a popular spot with students near Hannam University in Daejeon.

Where is Cement Hannam-daebonjeom, and what are its hours and parking?

Cement Hannam-daebonjeom is a Western-style restaurant on Hannam-ro 12beon-gil in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon. It's open 11:00–21:00 with last order at 20:20. There's no dedicated parking lot, so use the nearby alleys or Hannam University's campus parking.

• Hours: 11:00–21:00 / Last order: 20:20
• Parking: No dedicated lot; use nearby alleys or Hannam University's campus parking

Cement's exposed-concrete interior: is it comfortable with kids?

Cement's pink door is a nice landmark, making it fairly easy to spot from a distance. It's well known among Hannam University students, so it gets busy during lunch and dinner peak times. It's a great pizza spot in Daejeon to visit whether you're near Hannam University or just around Ojeong-dong looking for good-value pasta or pizza.

The restaurant isn't huge, but once inside, you notice the hip atmosphere created by exposed concrete paired with stylish posters. It has that young, casual vibe typical of a university neighborhood, so it works well for meals with friends or even a date. That said, it wasn't an intimidating atmosphere to bring kids into at all — we had a comfortable meal with ours.

Cement's menu and how tablet ordering works

Orders go through a tablet at the table, and the menu spans pasta, risotto, pilaf, pizza, and salads, so you can pick whatever suits your taste. It's a good pick for anyone looking for a casual Western-food restaurant in Daejeon. We ordered a half-and-half pizza, seafood tomato pasta, and bulgogi cream risotto.

Seafood tomato pasta: the safe choice when kids are eating

First up was the seafood tomato pasta. Tomato pasta is a low-risk order when going to a Western restaurant with kids, so we get it often. Cement's version turned out way better than expected — the tangy-sweet tomato sauce combined with the savory depth of seafood.

The tomato sauce wasn't too sour or sharp, and it coated the noodles nicely and evenly. The seafood pieces you'd bite into now and then gave it more depth than an average tomato pasta. The kids ate it up too — a dish I'd recommend for a family visit.

Top pick of the day: Cement's bulgogi cream risotto

Personally, my top pick of the day was the bulgogi cream risotto. Cream risotto can taste great at first but often turns heavy after a few bites. Not this one — the thick, nutty cream paired with the sweet-salty bulgogi kept my spoon going back for more.

Piling bulgogi onto the moist risotto and taking a big bite really delivered that combo of creamy softness and savory bulgogi flavor. Alternating a bite of seafood tomato pasta with a bite of bulgogi cream risotto — the tang and the richness took turns, and the pairing was excellent. I liked it enough that I'd order it again on a future visit.

Half-and-half bulgogi and pepperoni pizza at Cement

With pasta and risotto already on the table, it'd feel incomplete without pizza. We ordered a half bulgogi, half pepperoni pizza to share with the kids, and being able to enjoy two flavors at once made it feel like a smart choice.

The bulgogi side was sweet and salty, which the kids loved, while the pepperoni side had that distinctive salty savoriness that suited the adults' palates perfectly. The cheese was generous too, so eating it warm brought out a rich, nutty flavor. If you're visiting as a family or with a group, try a half-and-half pizza so everyone can pick a different flavor to share instead of settling on just one. It also went well alongside the pasta and risotto.

The seasonal salad from Cement's receipt-review event

If you visit Cement, make sure to check out the receipt-review event too. We wrote a receipt review and got a seasonal salad in return. Since it's a complimentary dish, I didn't expect much, but I was surprised at how generous and fresh it was. The crisp vegetables with a refreshing dressing were great to pair between bites of the cream risotto or pizza. Ordering pasta, pizza, and risotto together can get a bit heavy midway through, but the seasonal salad refreshed the palate and actually made the whole combination work even better.

Is Cement in Ojeong-dong, Daejeon worth a return visit?

We came back because of a great memory from before, and this time the seafood tomato pasta, bulgogi cream risotto, and half-and-half bulgogi-pepperoni pizza were all a hit again. Most of all, considering today's dining prices, I liked being able to enjoy a good variety of pasta, pizza, and risotto at a fairly reasonable price.

It's a place that suits family meals with kids, meals for Hannam University students, hangouts with friends, and dates alike. If you're looking for a good-atmosphere, good-food Daejeon restaurant near Hannam University and Ojeong-dong, I highly recommend Cement Hannam-daebonjeom!