13,000-won lunch pho and nasi goreng in Hapjeong: Saeng Augustine

I've been craving Thai food for lunch for a while, so I looked around and ended up at Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch, a well-known spot in Mecenatpolis near Hapjeong Station.

Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch / B1118, B1F Mecenatpolis, 45 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Open daily 11:30–22:00, break time 15:00–17:00, last order 21:20. Parking, baby chairs, mobile payment (Naver Pay), Zero Pay, group seating available.

Where is Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch, and where do you park?

It's easy to find, right at the entrance of the food street inside Mecenatpolis mall, connected to Hapjeong Station Exit 9.

If you use the Mecenatpolis basement parking lot, you get 3.5 hours of free parking for any vehicle. There aren't many free parking options around Hapjeong Station, so getting 3.5 hours just for a meal felt like a real perk.

What the dining room and seating are like at lunch

The interior of Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch is spacious, with a mix of tables for two and tables for four or more.

I visited during lunchtime, and there were plenty of office workers from around Hapjeong Station, along with solo diners and families — a really diverse crowd, including quite a few foreign visitors.

Baby chairs are available too, so dining with kids isn't a problem. It's such a popular Hapjeong lunch spot that it's nearly full during lunch hours, so you might have to wait — booking ahead via Naver Reservations makes things easier.

Lunch menu at Saeng Augustine: pho for 13,000 won

There was a wide range of options, from set menus to lunch menus.

I always order pho when I come for Thai food, and during lunch hours from 11:30 to 14:20, you can get it for just ₩13,000 — pretty easy on the wallet for a lunch dish.

It's great for solo dining, and also good for a group who wants to try a bit of everything. Wanting to sample a variety, I ordered giant shrimp pad thai, nasi goreng, and pho.

They brought out red radish pickles and cold water,

and if you order a soda, they give you a cup of ice too. When I ran out of ice, I asked a staff member and they brought more right away.

Giant shrimp pad thai (stir-fried rice noodles)

Giant shrimp pad thai is a must-order whenever I come to Saeng Augustine.

True to its name, big shrimp were piled generously on top, along with smaller shrimp mixed in, so I got to enjoy plenty of shrimp.

The noodle portion was bigger than expected, so one plate alone was pretty filling!

After tossing the bean sprouts and noodles together and squeezing on plenty of lemon, the fresh citrus scent really came through, and mixed with the savory ground peanuts, the distinct flavor of Thai food felt even richer.

For the chili flakes served on the side, I'd recommend adding only about half rather than all at once. I used half, and it was just spicy enough to bring out more savory depth. If you add it all, it seems like it would get quite spicy. The pad thai had a nice balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors with chewy noodles that kept me coming back for more bites!

Nasi goreng (Southeast Asian fried rice)

The nasi goreng was fried rice with a light smoky aroma, cooked to a nice fluffy texture. It had a rich, savory saltiness, and the Thai spices weren't overpowering, so it seemed like something anyone could enjoy easily.

Popping the soft-boiled fried egg and mixing it in made the yolk coat the fried rice smoothly, adding a nice savory richness.

Pho, the 13,000-won lunch noodle soup

The giant shrimp pad thai and nasi goreng came out first, and the pho arrived a little later.

I tried the broth first — it was clean and light, an easy-going flavor to sip on.

There was a generous amount of bean sprouts too, giving a nice crunchy texture, and the chewy rice noodles soaked up the broth well, so I could enjoy it piping hot.

It has a clean, light style, so it's easy to enjoy as a Hapjeong lunch dish,

and it seems like even those trying Thai food for the first time would find it agreeable.

With generous free parking and a good fit for solo dining, office lunches, dates, and family meals alike, give this Hapjeong Mecenatpolis favorite, Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch, a try.