Daejeon Western restaurant risotto and gnocchi lunch set: THE MUA

Tanbang-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon restaurant THE MUA :: a special Western-food lunch set with great atmosphere

📍Daily 11:00–21:00 📍Break time 15:00–17:00 📍Last order 20:20

What kind of restaurant is THE MUA in Tanbang-dong, Daejeon?

I'm a blogger who records good restaurants. I got to enjoy a relaxed lunch and a coffee afterward in a great-atmosphere spot. From pasta to risotto, gnocchi, and steak, every dish is apparently prepared with real care, bowl by bowl. A good place to visit for a lunch that's a little more special than usual — I went to THE MUA in Tanbang-dong. 👐

I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a pasta place in Tanbang-dong, a good-atmosphere Western restaurant for a date, or a clean, relaxing lunch spot in the area.

THE MUA in Tanbang-dong. The owner chef studied in Australia and worked alongside local chefs there, and now develops the pasta and other dishes here based on that experience. Pasta and risotto of course, but also gnocchi that's crisp outside and soft inside, jambon that's cured and sous-vide in-house, and salmon and steak they age themselves — every menu item is apparently made with care.

One especially special menu item you can only get here is the lobster croquette — made by picking the meat from lobster they boil themselves, finished with a technique the chef learned from a British chef. That made me even more excited.

Inside THE MUA: sunlit dining room and private room

The interior was clean and cozy. Overall the calm color palette blends naturally with wood tables and chairs, giving off a comfortable yet stylish vibe. Track lighting on the ceiling softly lights each table, making the whole space feel warm and snug.

There's a large window by the wall, so during the day sunlight pours in and makes the space even brighter and more atmospheric. It's perfect for a date or blind date, but also for family meals or gatherings with friends. There's also a private room, so on days you want to eat quietly you can use that instead. If you're looking for a good-atmosphere Western restaurant in Tanbang-dong, I'd strongly recommend this place.

What comes in THE MUA lunch set, and which drinks to pick

I ordered the Lunch Set.

• 2 lobster croquettes
• Choose 2 of Gnocchi, Risotto, Pasta
• 2 drinks of Fruit Ade or Coffee

That's how the lunch set was structured. I chose halloumi rosé gnocchi, saffron salmon risotto, and for drinks, cold brew and a cold brew latte. Being able to pick two mains for lunch, plus taste the lobster croquettes too, made for a really full spread.

The cold brew and cold brew latte let me enjoy a moment of leisure after the meal. The cold brew had a clean, deep coffee flavor, while the cold brew latte added milk's smoothness for a nutty, easy drink. Sipping coffee by the sunlit window felt like a relaxing afternoon.

Lobster croquettes, 2 pieces

Lobster croquette. The first thing to catch my eye was the adorable lobster croquette. Plated round and cute, with a green leaf on top, it looked clean and pretty.

The outside had a savory, crispy breading texture, while the inside was soft croquette. Most of all you could taste the lobster's flavor, giving it a clearly different feel from an ordinary croquette. The MVP of the lunch set — nice to taste before the mains.

Saffron salmon risotto: how does it taste?

Saffron salmon risotto. This was the standout dish. Saffron is known worldwide as an expensive spice, and this risotto apparently uses it to bring out the risotto's flavor.

With aged salmon, onion, garlic, shrimp, and even chive-garlic mixed into the risotto, the visual and colors were really pretty. A big chunk of salmon sits on top of the yellow-tinted risotto. The salmon had a soft texture and clean flavor, and with shrimp added too, the seafood umami built up richer with every bite.

Halloumi rosé gnocchi: how does it taste?

Halloumi rosé gnocchi. This was the dish I was most looking forward to — halloumi rosé gnocchi. It's made with halloumi cheese and prosciutto, gnocchi topped with pecorino, basil leaves and basil oil, and finished with tomato sauce, cream, and milk.

The rosé sauce's signature soft, savory taste combined with the tomato's tangy acidity made it rich without being heavy. The outside was slightly chewy and soft, and the sauce soaked in well between the gnocchi pieces, so you could taste the rosé sauce's flavor throughout. The halloumi cheese added its distinctively chewy, clean, savory taste, and the prosciutto gave salty accent points here and there, giving the whole dish a really good balance of flavors.

When THE MUA is worth a visit

THE MUA.

• Various Western dishes developed by the owner chef himself
• Wide range of menu items — pasta, risotto, gnocchi, steak, and more
• The special lobster croquette menu item
• Private room & a comfortable hall
• Recommended for dates, blind dates, family meals, and gatherings
• The lunch set is worth trying

If you want a special lunch, THE MUA is a place that will satisfy you. It felt like somewhere you could enjoy both the food and the space at a relaxed pace. With the calm, cozy interior plus carefully prepared food, it's a great place to visit on days you want to eat slowly.

The lunch set in particular, with lobster croquettes plus a choice of two from gnocchi, risotto, or pasta, plus drinks, felt like a really full lunch option. On days when you want something a little more special than an ordinary lunch, in a place with great atmosphere — if you're looking for a good pasta spot, a good lunch spot, or a good Western restaurant in Tanbang-dong, I'd recommend enjoying a relaxed meal at THE MUA. 🙌