public class NavigationMenu
{

    [Key]
    [DatabaseGenerated(DatabaseGeneratedOption.Identity)]
    public int Id { get; set; }

    public string Text { get; set; }
    public string Action { get; set; }
    public string Controller { get; set; }
    public string Icon { get; set; }
    public bool Selected { get; set; }

    public List<NavigationMenu> MenuChildren;

}

public class NavigationMenuContext : DbContext
{

    public NavigationMenuContext() : base("name=DefaultConnection")
    {
    }

    public DbSet<NavigationMenu> NavigationMenus { get; set; }

    protected override void OnModelCreating(DbModelBuilder modelBuilder)
    {

        base.OnModelCreating(modelBuilder);
    }
}

public class NavigationController : Controller
{

    // GET: NewMenu
    public ActionResult Index()
    {
        NavigationMenuContext navigationMenuContext = new NavigationMenuContext();
        List<NavigationMenu> menuItems = navigationMenuContext.NavigationMenus.ToList();
        return View(menuItems);
    }

    [ChildActionOnly]
    public ActionResult GenerateMenu()
    {

        NavigationMenuContext navigationMenuContext = new NavigationMenuContext();
        List<NavigationMenu> menuItems = navigationMenuContext.NavigationMenus.ToList();

        string action = ControllerContext.ParentActionViewContext.RouteData.Values["action"].ToString() == "Index" ? "" : ControllerContext.ParentActionViewContext.RouteData.Values["action"].ToString();
        string controller = ControllerContext.ParentActionViewContext.RouteData.Values["controller"].ToString();

        foreach (var item in menuItems)
        {
            if (item.MenuChildren != null)
            {
                foreach (var cItem in item.MenuChildren)
                {
                    if (cItem.Controller == controller && cItem.Action == action)
                    {
                        cItem.Selected = true;
                        break;
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        cItem.Selected = false;
                    }
                }
            }
            if (item.Controller == controller && item.Action == action)
            {
                item.Selected = true;
                break;
            }
            else
            {
                item.Selected = false;
            }
        }

        return PartialView("~/Views/Shared/_Navigation.cshtml", menuItems);
    }

}