Tanbang-dong, Daejeon weekday lunch pasta with smoked paprika: THE MUA

I was looking for somewhere I could eat quickly in a nice atmosphere and came across a pasta place called THE MUA with a lot of good reviews and a high rating. It shows up near the top whenever you search for pasta restaurants in Tanbang-dong, so I went in hoping it would live up to the reviews 💙 Here's my subjective review!!

Where is THE MUA in Daejeon, and what are the hours and parking?

THE MUA is a pasta and steak restaurant tucked in an alley off Munjeong-ro 122beon-gil, at 899 Tanbang-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. It's open Mon–Sun 11:00–21:00, with a break time of 15:00–17:00 and last order at 20:20.

• 🏠Address: 899 Tanbang-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon
• ⌚️Hours: Mon–Sun 11:00–21:00
• ⏸️Break time: 15:00–17:00
• 🧭Last order: 20:20
• Reservations available via Naver
• A coffee or ade with a receipt or Instagram review
• Closed during Chuseok holiday

There's no dedicated parking lot, but when I visited on a weekday lunch there were plenty of spots in the alley. Phew, what a relief. They also serve steak and wine, so it seems like a good spot for an evening visit too. The atmosphere is nice enough that it'd be perfect for a dinner date or a day you want to feel a little fancy!

The white-and-wood interior is dotted with wine bottles and sentimental framed pictures, so there's fun in just looking around. There are antique touches here and there too, but overall it never feels heavy or old — it's clean and warm at the same time!

Everything here is made by hand, but on the weekday lunch I visited, I didn't have to wait long.

THE MUA's signature starter: lobster croquettes

The lobster croquettes are apparently THE MUA's first signature dish, one you can't find anywhere else. They come with lobster and shrimp alongside nasturtium leaves, chives, and tartar sauce.

Such a cute presentation!!! The nasturtium leaves cut through what could otherwise be a heavy, rich taste from the lobster and shrimp. The fragrant, slightly bitter nasturtium pairs really well with the clean flavor of the seafood, so the overall balance was great.

I especially liked that the sauce is layered underneath the ingredients rather than poured over top. That way you can taste the lobster on its own first, then dip into the sauce for a different flavor — good for adjusting to your own taste.

It came out freshly cooked right after ordering, so I could feel the warmth straight through. The gentle steam rising off the plate already looked delicious, and it tasted even better while hot!!!

What does the chamnamul (water dropwort) vongole pasta taste like?

THE MUA's chamnamul (water dropwort) vongole pasta is made with surf clams, chamnamul, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, white wine, pepperoncino, and lard. It's already a great vongole, and then there's chamnamul on top? 😍 I ordered it with high expectations, and I loved it. I immediately understood why this place comes up whenever people search for pasta in Tanbang-dong.

The dish looked great even before tasting it — plenty of fresh surf clams with chamnamul piled on top.

The clean, savory taste from the surf clams soaked well into the whole pasta, making it easy to eat without feeling heavy. Vongole usually doesn't come with leafy greens — maybe a few sprouts for decoration at most — but chamnamul turned out to pair really well with it!!

The distinctively fragrant, gentle aroma of chamnamul blended well with the refreshing clam broth, and the pepperoncino added a light kick that kept the finish clean!!! I think Korean diners in particular would love this.

Smoky mare pasta: how the smoked paprika tastes

The smoky mare pasta comes with mussels, squid, shrimp, onion, and garlic, plus smoked paprika, tomato sauce, pepperoncino, and wild arugula. I love anything with a tomato base and seafood, so I gave it a try.

Such a pretty dish 📷 After taking a photo, I started picking out the mussel shells and digging in. The tomato sauce was quite rich and deep, and it paired well with the seafood!!

This was the first time I really appreciated smoked paprika!! I'm not usually a fan of paprika so I hadn't had much chance to try it smoked, but this hit the spot!!! It's not an aroma that comes on strong — instead, the smoky note lingers subtly with each bite, which I loved. It made the rich tomato sauce feel fuller and more layered, and the seafood's savory flavor came through even better.

The shrimp had a springy texture that got more satisfying the more you chewed, and the pepperoncino added a light heat that kept the rich sauce from feeling heavy. The bitter, fragrant wild arugula rounded it all out, and the overall balance was really good~~~

Service and overall verdict on THE MUA

If you're looking for a good pasta place in Tanbang-dong, I recommend THE MUA, where everything is handmade. I personally also liked how kind the staff were. Good food matters, but for a place like this, I think you're going there for the atmosphere as much as the food — and if the service isn't warm, it just feels like wasted time, ugh.

The staff member explaining the menu was comfortable and attentive, and naturally took care of extras like plates or pickles when needed, so I had a relaxed time overall. Food, space, and service all came together well, making it a good spot to visit on a day you want a leisurely evening.

Next time, I want to come back in the evening with a friend who loves wine and atmosphere, and try the wine and pasta together. Wrapping up my subjective but satisfied review of THE MUA in Tanbang-dong, with the location attached 🩷