Beef brisket oil pasta at Cement, a Daedeok-gu pasta spot in Daejeon

Today I'm introducing a hotspot in Daejeon that foodies just can't stop visiting. It's Cement Hannam-daebonjeom, located on Hannam-ro in Daedeok-gu!! This Western restaurant has visuals and flavor good enough to hold its own for a friend hangout or a date with your significant other. Let's get into this mouth-watering review!!

Where Cement Hannam-daebonjeom is and what the room feels like

Cement Hannam-daebonjeom sits at 21 Hannam-ro 12beon-gil, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon, above and on the ground floor of 'Dongdaemun Yeopgi Tteokbokki.' Walking down the alley, a sleek exterior catches your eye, with a pink door as the accent that gets you excited before you even step inside.

Once you step inside, the place gives off an antique yet hip vibe.

Once you step inside, the place gives off an antique yet hip vibe. Under stylish framed pictures on the walls and soft pendant lighting, there are cozy sofa seats and tables where you can enjoy your meal comfortably. It's not loud in here, and there's no better spot for a relaxed conversation over a meal.

Everything we ordered at Cement, on one table

Finally, our main dishes arrived, filling the table!! Our picks at Cement Hannam-daebonjeom were salad, beef pork belly oil pasta, and rosé tonkatsu.

The moment you see the vivid colors and appetizing visuals, you can't help but gasp. From the plating on the colorful dishes to the overall sense of style, I just couldn't stop taking photos.

The salad that starts the meal

We start off light with a salad to wake up the appetite.

Crisp fresh lettuce and onion, along with sweet-and-sour cherry tomatoes that pop in your mouth, are topped with savory cheese settling like a light snowfall. The tangy-sweet house dressing coats every corner of the vegetables, so with one bite your whole mouth is flooded with freshness. It's an excellent appetizer that fully revives an appetite that's about to face a heavy Western meal.

How does Cement's beef brisket oil pasta taste?

Next up is one of today's stars: the beef pork belly oil pasta. The appetizing look of the meat against the ornate traditional pattern lining the plate is a work of art.

Well-grilled, tender steak-style meat fills one side of the plate, and next to it sits the oil pasta, generously topped with spicy peperoncino and savory cheese powder. The pungent scent of garlic and the nutty aroma of cheese waft up and stimulate the appetite.

After slurping up a mouthful of chewy, well-cooked noodles, the spiciness that follows cuts right through the richness, so you never get tired of it.

Rosé tonkatsu buried in cheese sauce

Next is the rosé tonkatsu, its visuals impossible to look away from thanks to the generous cheese sauce poured over it.

Lift up the thick cutlet with a fork and the cheese stretches out with it, and a rich, thick sauce aroma bursts out. Can you see the moist, thick cut of meat inside the crispy batter? It shows off the true essence of crispy-outside, juicy-inside cooking.

On top of that, the deeply flavored, spicy-sweet sauce soaks all the way through, so eating it with rice is basically a rice thief in disguise.

Cement Hannam-daebonjeom hours, amenities and directions

• Address: 21 Hannam-ro 12beon-gil, 1st floor 'cement', Daedeok-gu, Daejeon, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00 – 21:00 (last order 20:20)
• Amenities: Group seating, takeout, delivery, reservations, Wi-Fi

Overall, this was Cement, a Daejeon spot near Hannam University that has the vibe, the plating, and — most importantly — the taste all covered. If you want to enjoy delicious Western food with your significant other or friends this weekend, I strongly recommend giving it a visit!!