Chinese restaurant with kids near Hanbat Arboretum, Daejeon

A Hanbat Arboretum restaurant find: Macheonchwi Daejeon Mannyeon.

We missed lunch walking around Hanbat Arboretum

On this Daejeon trip we visited Hanbat Arboretum. We walked so much through the arboretum that we didn't even notice we'd missed a meal. A bit past lunchtime, my stomach started growling. The snack stands and restaurants inside the arboretum weren't quite satisfying, so I searched for good restaurants nearby in Daejeon. That's how I found Macheonchwi, a well-known spot in Mannyeon-dong, Daejeon. Chinese food the kids can eat too — the perfect menu 👍

Macheonchwi Daejeon Mannyeon / 11:00–21:00 / Break time 15:00–17:00 / Last order lunch 14:30, dinner 20:30 / Parking available / Baby chair available / Private room seating

Why the private rooms make it great for family gatherings or dinners with coworkers

Macheonchwi in Mannyeon-dong, Daejeon is a fairly famous Chinese restaurant in the area. With lots of office workers nearby, it tends to be busier on weekdays than weekends, and on weekends there were many families coming in for a relaxed meal. There's a solo course menu so you can try a variety of dishes affordably, and with such a wide menu selection plus private room seating, satisfaction here runs high. There isn't just one or two rooms either — they come in a range of sizes, from small family groups to large extended families. Book ahead and it's perfect for anything from a work dinner to a family gathering. The main hall has floor-to-ceiling glass windows looking outside, with the space nicely divided up. The tables in the hall are also spaced generously apart.

Is it easy to visit with kids?

The upscale interior at Macheonchwi in Daejeon really elevates the whole dining experience, and I was curious about the food even before arriving. Since we came with kids, I checked out what was available for them — a baby chair and kids' tableware were both ready and waiting.

On top of that, there was a self-service bar, candy to take on the way out, and even hair ties so you don't get bothered while eating. It's the small touches of service that make this place stand out. The candy was mint, but since our kids are young and mint is too spicy for them, the staff brought out green grape candy for them separately :-) Macheonchwi in Daejeon — kind service to match the food.

We ordered jjajangmyeon, jjamppong, and haemul nurungjitang

Now for the part I was curious about — the taste. Setting aside the various course menus, we ordered jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup), jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles), and haemul nurungjitang (seafood scorched-rice soup). For some reason I was really craving the seafood nurungjitang that day.

Jjajang, jjamppong, seafood nurungjitang

We ordered the most basic dishes as the base and added the haemul nurungjitang since the kids could eat it too. The nurungjitang, bubbling away as it cooks, stays hot for a long time, so we could take our time savoring it.

Visiting with kids? Try the half-size noodles

The basic jjamppong and jjajangmyeon were both delicious too. There's a half-size noodle option on the menu, which is really great if you're visiting with kids. Rather than ordering a double portion, having a menu item sized for kids made things even better.

How generous is the haemul nurungjitang portion?

Today's main dish was, of course, the haemul nurungjitang. Loaded with various vegetables and seafood, it had great texture to chew on and we scraped the broth clean too.

They didn't skimp on ingredients at all, so we ate really well and felt full. I had actually thought about ordering one more half-size noodle dish, but once we started eating, the portion turned out to be plenty. For a family of four, it was more than enough.

A great stop on the way to Hanbat Arboretum, and also good for a weekday lunch. Most of all, with its private room seating, it's a fitting recommendation for family gatherings or work dinners. Another delicious meal today. Traveling really is about the food ❤️