Mapo Thai restaurant new dish khor moo yang: Saeng Augustine Hapjeong

Last week I went to Saeng Augustine to end the week with something delicious. It was too hot to go far, so I headed to Mecenatpolis Mall, connected to Hapjeong Station. Did you know this mall is packed with good restaurants too?

Location and hours of Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch

• 🏡 B1 1118-ho, 45 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• 🚉 3-minute walk from Hapjeong Station (Lines 2 & 6)
• 📍 Open daily 11:30–22:00 / Break time 15:00–17:00
• 👍🏻 Southeast Asian restaurant
• ✅️ Naver Reservation recommended

This place is already famous as a Mecenatpolis go-to. It's located inside Mecenatpolis Mall, connected directly from Hapjeong Station, so access is great. By 6pm a waiting line had formed. There's a waiting sofa outside the restaurant so it's comfortable enough, but if you're visiting during peak hours, I'd recommend booking through Naver Reservation.

What's on the menu?

The main dishes are listed big on the side. There's chili sea bass, poo pad pong curry, and also the newly launched kai yang and khor moo yang. Kai yang is Thai-style grilled chicken thigh, and khor moo yang is Thai-style grilled pork jowl. The chili sea bass is pretty distinctive too, isn't it?

The menu covers both Vietnamese and Thai dishes — pad thai, pad see ew, pho, fried rice, plus poo pad pong curry and laab. This place is also famous for its laab, so I'm planning to try it next time! The set menus and kids' menus are well put together too, so it's worth reading through before ordering. Hapjeong branch is also currently running a drink promotion, which is great news if you're into gaoliang liquor.

We picked pad thai and nasi goreng, and while browsing the side dishes we chose khor moo yang!! The fried shrimp looked amazing too, but new menu items just pull me in more, haha.

Giant prawn pad thai

First up, the giant prawn pad thai. As the name says, the shrimp really are giant-sized. The portion is quite generous too.

The huge shrimp had that proper smoky wok-hei flavor. Just a shame there was only one...

The pad thai noodles were chewy, loaded with plenty of egg and seafood. The flavor had great depth too, so it really was a delicious pad thai!! Officially confirmed as a pad thai spot worth its reputation.

Nasi goreng loaded with seafood

Nasi goreng is Thai-style fried rice. It has a slight kick of spice, and it's loaded with seafood too — squid, mussels, and shrimp all packed in generously.

The seasoning was just right, and it kept making me want another bite, haha.

A fried rice dish tailor-made for seafood lovers.

What does the new khor moo yang taste like?

And finally, the khor moo yang! Khor moo yang is a Thai-style grilled pork jowl dish. Crispy on the outside, soft and juicy on the inside!

Look at that glossy sheen on the meat! Since it's pork jowl, it's chewy but with a crispy exterior — really delicious! It also goes perfectly piled on top of the nasi goreng, haha.

The portion was plenty for two, and they serve a tangy sauce alongside that pairs really well.

The plating was so pretty too, haha. A dish that really nailed the Southeast Asian feel.

It seemed like a nuoc mam-style sauce with a spicy-tangy taste. When the pork jowl starts feeling a bit rich, dip a bite in the sauce and you'll want more right away.

The texture of the meat was incredible! Kind of like crispy bossam. Highly recommend if you love meat. It made me want to order the kai yang too — it looked so good.

How is it as a Hapjeong Station gathering spot?

I could tell from the serious waiting line before entering that this was a true Mecenatpolis go-to. The pad thai and khor moo yang are must-order recommendations! All three dishes we tried were delicious, and the interior atmosphere was great too. It's a Mecenatpolis restaurant loved by everyone — elders, families, friends. For a Hapjeong Station gathering, Saeng Augustine Hapjeong Branch is a great pick thanks to its easy access!