Dongnae Western restaurant for a lunch date: chop steak, Sasaenghwal

Lately I've gotten pretty picky about the mood of the place where I eat. Going somewhere that's just tasty isn't enough. If the time you spend sitting there feels good, it finally feels like a proper date. So for this lunch I looked around Dongnae and went to Sasaenghwal (사생활), which had good reviews as a Dongnae pasta spot.

Where is Sasaenghwal in Dongnae, and what are the parking and opening hours?

Sasaenghwal is at 78 Yeogo-ro 113beon-gil, A-dong 2F, Dongnae-gu, Busan, near Dongnae Station. For parking, use the Dongnae public parking lot at 202 Yeogobuk-ro, which is free for 1 hour. I heard there's no parking enforcement in front of the restaurant after 7 PM.

• Address: 78 Yeogo-ro 113beon-gil, A-dong 2F, Dongnae-gu, Busan
• Parking: Dongnae public parking lot, 202 Yeogobuk-ro (1 hour free)
• No parking enforcement in front of the restaurant after 7 PM
• Hours: 11:00 - 21:00
• Break time: 15:00 - 16:30
• Last order: 20:00

Sasaenghwal is on the second floor of a building near Dongnae Station, and from the outside the building looks a bit run-down, which threw me off for a second, haha.

What is the black-toned interior at Sasaenghwal like?

Despite the worn exterior, Sasaenghwal is decorated calmly in a black tone. The moment I opened the door, it was a total twist.

The black-toned interior caught my eye as soon as I walked in. It doesn't feel overdone, and the props are placed just right, so the whole space felt calm.

There's an object made of stones and moss right in the middle, and it felt like I'd landed in some café in central Seoul, haha.

The tables are spaced generously, so you can talk quietly without worrying about the conversation next to you. The lighting is soft too, so food photos come out with a nice mood.

Food on the black tables makes the colors pop, so the photos looked pretty even without any editing.

Even at lunchtime there were lots of women customers, and I saw deliveries going in and out steadily. Sasaenghwal seemed to already have a big reputation as a Dongnae pasta spot.

What we ordered at Sasaenghwal and what it cost

This day at Sasaenghwal we ordered chop steak (₩18,900), countryside oil pasta (₩16,900) and a grapefruit ade (₩6,000).

Sasaenghwal chop steak with mashed potatoes

Sasaenghwal's chop steak comes with a thick cut of skirt-style beef (부채살, flat iron) on salad greens, piled with grilled mushrooms. The chop steak came out first, and it looked pretty hefty from the start.

A staff member told me it's tasty eaten together with the mashed potatoes, so I tried it that way, and the meat, mushrooms and potatoes went together oddly well.

The cream sauce was rich and nutty too, and I didn't stop eating until the very last bite.

How is Sasaenghwal's countryside oil pasta different from aglio e olio?

Sasaenghwal's countryside oil pasta (시골오일파스타) has pork belly, garlic, mushrooms, tomato and perilla leaves, so it tastes different from a typical aglio e olio. Maybe because it's a combination of Korean ingredients, it was a flavor I'd never had before, yet somehow familiar and easy to eat.

If you're deciding on a Dongnae pasta place, I think the countryside oil pasta would suit you well.

Does grapefruit ade go well with oil pasta?

Sasaenghwal's grapefruit ade had plenty of grapefruit, and its fresh tang went well with the oil pasta. Sipping it between bites, I could enjoy the meal to the end without it feeling greasy.

Is Sasaenghwal worth visiting for dinner?

Sasaenghwal also sells draft beer and highballs in the evening. I only noticed after I'd finished eating.

It seems like you could enjoy it as a brunch spot by day and a moody bar by night. I thought I should come back in the evening and try other dishes.

Sasaenghwal pros and cons

What I liked at Sasaenghwal is that the price wasn't a burden given the atmosphere of the space. A plate of pasta runs ₩15,000 to ₩17,000, which is reasonable for two people eating.

If I had to name a downside, it's the break time (15:00 - 16:30). If you're visiting after 3 PM, check ahead.

Who Sasaenghwal in Dongnae is best for

• People who want a quiet date in a atmospheric space
• People who want a proper pasta or Western meal in Dongnae

On the flip side, if you prefer a lively vibe, Sasaenghwal might feel a little mellow. On a day when you want a Dongnae pasta spot with atmosphere too, give Sasaenghwal a visit. This lunch was a pretty great choice, haha.