Spicy seafood tomato pasta hidden inside Geumjeong Market, Dongnae

I went to Geumjeong Market to do some grocery shopping on my way home from work. Then I saw a crowd of customers pouring into one shop. It was so surprising to find a brunch café and a pasta restaurant inside the market. Turns out it's a well-known spot in Dongnae's Sajik-dong neighborhood. Hungry as I was, I naturally followed the other customers in. I never expected to find a pasta place like this tucked inside a market alley. Let me tell you all about Sasaenghwal's delicious story.

Finding the way to a Western food restaurant near Geumjeong Market

This place is known as a Western food restaurant, so I was excited going in.

A hidden Sajik-dong, Dongnae spot inside the market — a look at the interior

There was a menu board displayed outside the store, which was really handy for checking the menu before going in.

The interior had an elegant, subdued vibe, quite different from the market scene outside. It's fine for a casual meal like mine after grocery shopping, but it would also be great for a reservation on a special day to set the mood.

The space was spacious with plenty of tables — I saw families dining there too, and it looked perfectly suited for group dinners or gatherings. A place like this really deserves to be called a Sajik-dong, Dongnae favorite.

Ordering was easy and convenient through the kiosk.

The charm of this Western food restaurant, seen through its signature menu

There were signature menu items marked separately so first-time visitors could easily pick something good. The spice level of each menu item was also marked in detail, which really helped with choosing.

With pasta, risotto, salad, steak, pizza, and more, there was a truly wide range of dishes and a lot of variety to choose from. Just looking at the menu lineup, it's clear this is a real Western food favorite in the neighborhood.

There were also plenty of side dishes and drinks, so choosing was half the fun.

The pasta spread I ordered

Here's the delicious spread I ordered at Sasaenghwal.

Pickles were set out as the basic side dish, and they were tangy and savory, pairing well with the main dishes.

Seafood tomato pasta, ₩17,900

I ordered the seafood tomato pasta, made with fresh clams and shrimp in a tomato sauce spiced up with peperoncino, priced at ₩17,900.

The noodles were springy yet soft, so they went down really smoothly.

The pasta sauce had soaked deeply into the noodles, and it was so tasty. The menu board showed four pepper icons for this dish, and indeed the flavor was sharp, spicy, and hot — totally my style. It was the kind of flavor that just blows your stress away.

The shrimp were so plump, chubby, and big — the texture was truly amazing.

There were also tons of clams packed in, giving off a wonderful ocean aroma. I've eaten a lot of pasta being a fan, but I've never seen a place put in more clams than Sasaenghwal. The owner's generosity really shows. I'd say this ranks among the top Sajik-dong, Dongnae favorites.

Mentaiko katsu cream pasta, ₩16,900

I ordered the mentaiko katsu cream pasta, which pairs low-sodium mentaiko wrapped in meat and fried into katsu with a soft cream pasta. It cost ₩16,900.

When the dish arrived, the color alone looked upscale and appetizing, making my mouth water instantly.

The cream sauce was thick, nutty, and light, generously poured on, and the flavor was really clean.

I love cream pasta, and this place's version is especially good. Honestly, at other pasta restaurants the portion is always a bit disappointing, but at Sasaenghwal the portion was generous enough to fill me up. As you'd expect from a well-known pasta spot, they gave a hearty amount.

The mentaiko katsu was salty and savory, really whetting the appetite. The umami was incredible.

Side tenderloin katsu, ₩4,900

I also ordered the tenderloin katsu as a side, priced at ₩4,900 — great value for the money.

The katsu was thick and hearty with good chew. There was no gamey smell, it was light in flavor, and the meat quality was good, making it tender and soft. It was so delicious.

Why I want to recommend this Western food restaurant

I loved the elegant atmosphere of the restaurant, the clean flavors, the generous portions, and the reasonable prices. All things considered, I felt this was a Western food restaurant in the neighborhood that I could trust. It was such a satisfying, filling pasta meal that I already want to come back. I ate really well.