Gung-dong Western spot, Daejeon: Toowoomba pasta by the window, Ciment

Today I'm introducing a hot spot near Chungnam National University in Daejeon that nails both value and atmosphere. It's Ciment Gung-dong branch (씨멘트 궁동점).

I'd been curious about this place every time I walked past because of its hip exterior, and I finally visited. It has a clean, trendy feel, so it's easy to drop in with friends without any pressure. Let me give you my honest review after actually eating there.

What's the interior of Ciment Gung-dong like?

Ciment Gung-dong is a hip Western restaurant with vintage exposed-concrete-style walls, tattoo-style framed art, and Edison bulb lighting. The first thing that caught my eye as I walked in was the stylish interior. A flashy tattoo-style frame reading "Nothing To Lose" hangs on the wall, which gave the place a really hip vibe. On the ceiling, clean black track lighting contrasts with unique Edison bulbs that hang as if on ropes, adding a warm feel.

After a short wait, the dishes we ordered were set out one by one until the table was full. The look of it makes your mouth water, right? Everything came neatly plated in pretty dishes, so a photo before eating was a must. The combination of fragrant pizza, spicy-savory pasta, and pilaf with a faint charcoal aroma was truly perfect. As you'd expect from a university-area favorite, the portions were generous too, and I was satisfied.

A tree-lined view through floor-to-ceiling windows: good for a date too?

Ciment Gung-dong has floor-to-ceiling windows, so the open feel was wonderful. Fresh green street trees are visible outside, so I never felt stuffy while eating and enjoyed the open, airy mood the whole time.

The place was clean and bright enough to work well as a date spot.

How is the Tuomba shrimp pasta (₩12,000)?

The Tuomba shrimp pasta (a spicy cream pasta) at Ciment Gung-dong is ₩12,000, and it was excellent: slightly spicy with a rich, thick cream flavor. I'd call it a signature pasta among Gung-dong restaurants. It's loaded with plump, bouncy shrimp, and twirling them up together with the noodles gave a great texture. The sauce had soaked right into the noodles, so I enjoyed it down to the last bite without getting tired of it.

Which half-and-half pizza (₩14,000) combination did I get?

The second dish was the half-and-half pizza at Ciment Gung-dong, ₩14,000, and being able to enjoy an American cheese pizza and a chipotle shrimp pizza at the same time was the best choice. The cheese pizza had cheese piled generously on a thin, crispy dough for maximum savoriness, while the shrimp pizza had whole shrimp and garlic chips on a spicy chipotle sauce. The sweet-salty, spicy-sweet interplay was very appealing. The dough is light, so the slices went down easily.

Is the beef brisket & beef belly pilaf worth adding as a rice dish?

Finally, I was craving some rice, so I added Ciment Gung-dong's beef brisket and beef belly pilaf, and it was a stroke of genius. It was loaded with savory, tender brisket and beef belly, and every grain of rice was stir-fried loose and fluffy, with a real smoky wok aroma. The fresh, crunchy salad on the side cut through the richness of the meat nicely. Topped with tomato and grated cheese, it was a Gung-dong Western dish that looked and tasted perfect.

Overall verdict on Ciment Gung-dong

Finishing up with a cold Coca-Cola Zero made it a truly perfect meal. The prices are very kind for college students, yet the food quality and atmosphere are higher than I expected, so I think I'll keep coming back whenever I crave Western food. If you want tasty pasta, pizza, and pilaf near Chungnam National University or Gung-dong in Yuseong, I strongly recommend Ciment Gung-dong!