Daejeon Chinese restaurant with free parking for parents: Macheonchwi

Looking for a Mannyeon-dong Chinese restaurant to treat my parents

I was trying to figure out where I could take my parents for a nice, upscale Chinese meal, and after looking around, I found Macheonchwi, a well-known spot in Mannyeon-dong.

It's located right next to Hanbat Arboretum, a classic Daejeon travel course spot, so it's easy for travelers to find and also great for gatherings. I went without a reservation. You can park in the building's basement parking lot, which was spacious and easy to use.

Basic info

• Location: Dunsandae-ro 117beon-gil, Mannyeon-dong 376, Seo-gu, Daejeon
• 1 minute walk from Daejeon Arts Center
• Parking is free
• Hours: daily 11:00–21:00, open every day
• Group seating available, great for gatherings or nice atmosphere, baby chairs, separate restrooms, wheelchair accessible
• The owner is very kind

The best part is you can get an affordable course meal for 18,000 won per person. They also have lunch and dinner courses, so keep that in mind.

Atmosphere and seating

The building's exterior is clean with a classic, almost Chinese-mansion feel, and stepping inside I was struck by the upscale, sophisticated interior. The whole place is kept clean and well maintained, and the hygiene is pretty solid too.

The space is spacious with generous gaps between tables, so it works well for group gatherings, and I could enjoy the meal feeling truly looked after, in a comfortable atmosphere. It lived up to its reputation as an upscale Daejeon Chinese restaurant.

There's also a waiting area set up.

There's a self-bar, plus candy and americano set out for you to take on your way out, and even hair ties. These little touches of service were nice.

We sat at a table visible from outside the restaurant. Since I was hosting my parents, I wanted to pick a good seat.

The basic side dishes came out. If you need more, you can help yourself at the self-bar.

The 18,000-won-per-person set menu

We had the 18,000-won set menu.

• Ryu sansul (stir-fried meat, seafood and vegetables in sauce)
• Chili shrimp
• Sweet and sour pork
• Main dish: jjajang (black bean noodles) or jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup)
• Dessert: vanilla ice cream

Ryu sansul

True to a course meal, the dishes we ordered were set neatly on the table one by one. First came the ryu sansul. I liked that the meat and other ingredients kept their texture, and the harmony of vegetables, seafood and meat was really nice. The flavor wasn't overpowering and had a deep richness. They said the sauce is aged for 12 hours before use. Even though it's a set menu, you could tell each dish was made with care.

Sticky rice sweet and sour pork

After we'd eaten a bit, the sweet and sour pork came out. It was made with sticky rice, and they gave the sauce on the side — I poured it over half and dipped the other half. The meat was thick and paired well with the vegetables, and the sauce wasn't too sweet or overpowering, so I think my parents would like it.

Chili shrimp

I was surprised at the size of the shrimp! It wasn't a thick batter making them look bigger — the shrimp themselves were genuinely large. The chili sauce was sweet and tangy in just the right way, and the combination of crispiness and sauce was excellent. I want to eat this chili shrimp again — it was the best dish of the meal.

Main course: jjajang or jjamppong

Time for the main dish — you have to choose either jjajang or jjamppong. I ordered jjamppong, and my family ordered jjajang so we could share. The jjajang had a rich chunjang (black bean paste) flavor, almost like ganjajang.

The jjamppong was packed with seafood, and the refreshing broth was excellent — I enjoyed the squid and clams. None of the dishes were over-seasoned; the seasoning was well balanced throughout, and I never got tired of the food even by the end. The ingredients were fresh and high quality, so I'd recommend this to anyone looking for an upscale Chinese restaurant in Daejeon. It'd also be great for a gathering or a date with someone special.

Dessert: vanilla ice cream

For dessert, we had vanilla ice cream. It was nice for cooling down the palate after all the rich food. I liked being able to finish the meal on such a clean note.

Who would like this place

If you're touring Daejeon Arts Center, the Daejeon Museum of Art, or Hanbat Arboretum, or if you're looking for a Mannyeon-dong Chinese restaurant to treat your parents at, I'd recommend this place. I was satisfied on a previous visit too, and I've recommended it to friends around me since. With free parking and a room-style dining atmosphere, I think this might be exactly the place you're looking for!