Tanbang-dong handmade Western restaurant: saffron risotto, THE MUA

What kind of place is THE MUA in Tanbang-dong?

THE MUA is a newly opened Western restaurant in a residential part of Tanbang-dong, Daejeon. It is open daily 11:00–21:00, with a break from 15:00 to 17:00 and last order at 20:20.

I found a new Western restaurant in Tanbang-dong! Like its name, it aims to be a space where you set complicated thoughts aside and just enjoy a relaxed meal. The mood was calm and tidy, so I thought it would be great for a date or a blind date too! If you're looking for a pasta place with a nice atmosphere in Tanbang-dong, here's one worth visiting.

Where is THE MUA, and what about parking?

THE MUA sits in an alley in a Tanbang-dong residential area, and its black-toned exterior looked neat. Since it's an alley, parking may be a little inconvenient, but I could park in front of the shop and in the gaps along the alley!

Those who know, know: this part of Tanbang-dong has lots of great restaurants, which is so nice!

Inside THE MUA: atmosphere and seating

I liked that the tables inside THE MUA are spaced widely apart, and the wood-toned interior and soft lighting made the whole place feel relaxed.

There are window seats too, with a lovely sunlit feel in the daytime, so it seems popular for office workers' lunches!

At the back there are private, room-like tables as well, so it would be good for dates and for group get-togethers.

THE MUA menu and the lunch set

The THE MUA menu covers a range of Western dishes: croquettes, pasta, risotto, gnocchi (potato dumplings), steak, salads and more, and there are lunch and dinner sets too. The lunch set comes with a croquette, two mains and a drink, so it looks like good value.

For weekday lunch they take same-day pre-orders for office workers, so if your lunch break is short, it's worth knowing!! THE MUA says its biggest strength is making all its food by hand. They make everything from the croquettes to the ricotta cheese themselves, so you can feel the care in every dish.

When I visited, they were running an event giving one extra piece when you order the lobster croquette, but you'd need to check whether it continues in July.

Order by QR, and the sweet-and-sour house pickles

You can order from the THE MUA menu by QR code too, which was convenient.

These are the pickles served by default. I liked that the sweet-and-sour flavor wasn't overdone.

Lobster croquette ₩9,900: why is there a nasturtium leaf on top?

The lobster croquette (₩9,900) is THE MUA's signature dish. A nasturtium leaf sat cutely on top of crispy-looking round balls, a charming presentation.

Eaten with the tartar sauce underneath, it was packed with filling, crispy yet soft. Above all, I was impressed that the croquette is handmade.

They explained that the nasturtium leaf comes along to cleanse your mouth after the fried, rich bite, and I thought that was a thoughtful touch!

Salmon saffron risotto ₩16,900: is the saffron strong?

The salmon saffron risotto (₩16,900) wasn't strongly saffron-scented or very exotic, so it was an easygoing, crowd-pleasing flavor. The salmon was seared golden on the outside for a nice texture, and moist and tender inside!

I also bit into pieces of shrimp here and there in the risotto, which added a seafood flavor.

Shrimp ricotta pomodoro pasta ₩15,900: how to mix in the ricotta

The shrimp ricotta pomodoro pasta (₩15,900) came with a generous, appetizing heap of THE MUA's own homemade ricotta cheese on top of the tomato pasta. They told me to mix the ricotta into the pasta.

Mixed with the ricotta, it turned into a soft tomato sauce with a slightly rosé-like feel.

The shrimp were plump and went well with the tomato sauce. I especially felt that making even the ricotta in-house is what sets THE MUA apart.

Drink: Coke Zero

The Coke Zero came in a glass of ice with a slice of lemon, a thoughtful touch 😊

Who would I recommend THE MUA to?

THE MUA is a Tanbang-dong Western restaurant that stresses handmade items like croquettes and ricotta cheese. With so many places these days using ready-made products or store-bought sauces, it felt like a meal made with a bit more care. The quiet, tidy atmosphere also suited a date, a blind date or a family meal, anything where you want a relaxed time.

If you're looking for a pasta place with good atmosphere in Tanbang-dong, or want to try handmade Western food, it's worth a visit. For office lunches, I'd also suggest checking out the lunch set!!