Daegu pasta restaurant for two: shrimp amatriciana + steak set, Dana

I went to Dongseong-ro for pasta today, which I hadn't done in a while. There are SO many Western restaurants in Dongseong-ro, right? Then you say "let's have pasta today!" and end up agonizing forever over where to go, haha.

This time I went to Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch (다나 동성로본점). Dana is a casual Western restaurant that has been running in Dongseong-ro since 2017. The menu is wide, from pasta to pizza, pilaf and steak, and above all the multi-level, glass-front space has a really nice atmosphere. The prices weren't as heavy as I expected either, so if you're looking for tasty pasta in Daegu and want good atmosphere too, it's worth bookmarking.

Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch: location and opening hours

Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch is on the 2nd floor at 12-24 Dongseong-ro 2-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu. It's open 11:30-22:00, with a break time of 15:30-17:00. It's in the heart of Dongseong-ro, so it's easy to stop by for a meal while shopping, and it's a decent walk from Banwoldang too.

Dongseong-ro has restaurants tucked into every alley, so a first-timer can have trouble finding a place, but the Dana building itself stands out quite a bit. It's easy to reach whether you're searching for pasta in Daegu or just a Western restaurant with good atmosphere in Dongseong-ro.

What kind of restaurant is Dana in Dongseong-ro?

Dana is a casual Western restaurant that has held its spot in Dongseong-ro since 2017. Stores in Dongseong-ro change so fast these days, right? Go back after a few months and there's often a new shop. So the fact that it has stayed put for so long caught my eye first.

Dana's concept is closer to Western food anyone can enjoy comfortably than something formal and fussy. There are lots of familiar dishes, from pasta to pizza, pilaf and steak, and the prices aren't too heavy. But it isn't a place that only plays the value card, either.

From the plating to the interior, they clearly put care into it, so it felt like a place where you come for a relaxed meal and get atmosphere too. The multi-level space running up to the 2nd and 3rd floors with big glass windows suits a date well. It's also easy to visit on days when you want a bit of mood, like birthdays, blind dates, get-togethers with friends or family meals out.

Put simply, it's a good place for "shall we have pasta and add a little atmosphere today?" haha. Rather than pushing just one of taste, portion, price or mood, Dana's charm seems to be that it balances everything.

Glass-front exterior and two-level interior

The first thing you notice when you arrive at Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch is the glass-front exterior.

The Dana sign is up on the building, and through the huge windows you can see right into the restaurant. At night especially, the soft interior lighting glows through and the mood really comes alive.

Even from outside I thought, "this isn't just a place to eat, is it?" haha. Once you step in, the space is even more fun than the exterior suggested.

Dana has a multi-level layout with a high open ceiling that flows naturally up to the upper floor, so it feels quite airy.

White walls are mixed with wood and black furniture, and props like plants and lighting are placed here and there. Instead of the too-neat feel of a brand-new restaurant, the vibe is more vintage and comfortable.

Love the clever chair lighting!!

The best seats at Dana: by the window

Personally, the spot I liked best at Dana was the window seats! Sit right next to the glass and you look down on the Dongseong-ro alleys. In the daytime natural light makes it bright and fresh, and I imagine the evening lighting changes the mood again.

The tables range from seats for two to ones that suit bigger groups, so it looked fine not just for dates but also for friends' get-togethers or family meals.

When you look for a pasta place in Daegu these days, atmosphere matters as much as the food, right? On that front, there are plenty of photo-worthy corners, and I could see why so many people pick it as a date spot.

Dana menu and prices

All pastas at Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch are ₩12,500, and all pizzas are ₩19,000 with half-and-half available. Pasta is the main act, with a wide range: shrimp amatriciana, bacon cream, cheongyang chili bacon cream, Shanghai jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup-style), vongole and rosé.

Considering pasta prices these days, that's pretty easy on the wallet, haha. Besides pasta there are risotto, pilaf, gnocchi, gambas and flat iron steak, and the pizzas run from Margherita to pepperoni, gorgonzola, bulgogi and more.

Overall the prices aren't heavy and there are plenty of choices, so it works for people looking for pasta in Daegu, and also for a group sharing pizza, steak and a bit of everything.

What we ordered for two: shrimp amatriciana + Signature Steak Set

After a long time staring at the menu, we ordered the shrimp amatriciana and the Signature Steak Set.

We came looking for a good pasta place in Daegu, so we had to eat at least one pasta, and it was our first time at Dana, so we couldn't skip the signature menu, haha. Ordering this way let us try everything from pasta to steak and risotto, which was perfect for two.

Shrimp amatriciana (₩12,500): plump shrimp in tomato sauce

The shrimp amatriciana is ₩12,500, a tomato-based pasta with plump shrimp.

It isn't heavy like cream; it has that tangy, savory tomato-sauce flavor that keeps you reaching for more. With the shrimp in there, it's more satisfying to chew than noodles alone, and overall it's easy to eat without feeling heavy!

And considering pasta prices these days, ₩12,500 felt pretty good. It went especially well with the steak that came later. A bite of steak, then a bite of amatriciana, and the richness is cut, haha. If you like tomato-based dishes and are searching for pasta in Daegu, I'd happily recommend it.

Signature Steak Set (₩43,000): a bit of everything for first-timers

The Signature Steak Set we'd been looking forward to is ₩43,000. As the name says, it lets you enjoy several Dana dishes at once.

It comes with flat iron steak + baked risotto + a soft drink, so it's more generous than I expected. The steak came cut into easy bite-size pieces, which was convenient. You can eat it as is, or add little touches like salt, wasabi or whole-grain mustard, and the same meat tastes a little different each time, which I liked.

If one pasta alone feels a bit lacking and you want meat too, this set is perfect, haha.

The baked risotto that quietly stood out

The baked risotto that comes with the Signature Steak Set is topped with tortilla and cheese and baked.

When you think of risotto, you picture it served moist on a plate, right? Dana's baked risotto is baked, as the name says, so even the look is a bit different. It has bacon and shrimp, plus cheese on top, so it's nutty and filling!

A bite of steak, a bite of risotto, back to pasta, then another bite of steak, haha. Alternating like that, I never got tired of it and finished everything happily.

For two people, I personally thought one shrimp amatriciana + one Signature Steak Set was a good combo. Compared with ordering two pastas, you get pasta, steak and risotto in one go, so it's also good for first-timers who want to sample several dishes.

If you're looking for a pasta place in Daegu for a date, or somewhere to enjoy several Western dishes together, ordering like this at Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch is worth a try :)

When to visit Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch

My strongest impression of Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch is a place where you can have a pasta meal with some atmosphere without feeling any pressure. It's in central Dongseong-ro so it's easy to reach, and the glass-front, multi-level space is much more appealing than a typical casual Western restaurant.

And the atmosphere doesn't send the prices soaring. With pasta at ₩12,500, it felt pretty good given eating-out prices these days. Besides pasta there's pizza, pilaf, gnocchi and steak, so even if everyone in your group wants something different, choosing is easy.

It's great for a date at a window seat with pasta, and also fine for ordering lots of dishes and sharing with friends. And the fact that it has kept its spot in Dongseong-ro since 2017 seems no accident, haha.

You know those days when a restaurant that demands formality feels like too much, but a place with no atmosphere is a letdown? Dana feels like exactly that middle ground, where you watch the price, get some mood, and enjoy a relaxed Western meal.

So if you're searching for a pasta place in Daegu, or a Western restaurant with good atmosphere for a date in Dongseong-ro, keep Dana Dongseong-ro Main Branch in mind :) On a day you want pasta and a little atmosphere too, this is just the place, haha.