Seongsu pho restaurant: large beef pho, first bun cha & hot wings, Noi

What is Noi Seongsu like?

Noi Seongsu is a pho restaurant on Seongsui-ro 12-gil in Seongsu, and it was pretty full even on a weekday evening. Pho is what I crave when I want something hot and healthy! I happened to be out walking around Seongsu, so I dropped in at Noi Seongsu, a well-known pho spot nearby. It was a weekday evening and there were quite a lot of customers. It seems to be a pretty popular place in Seongsu.

Interior and atmosphere

Noi Seongsu is decorated in brown and vivid green. Even from outside it looked clean and stylish, and the overall color palette was totally my taste.

I think this is the first pho place I've seen decorated in such a cute, stylish way..! There are little props here and there that are fun to look at, and I bet the photos turn out great.

With this many plants, it feels like sitting in a garden. Calm and stylish vibes,, I feel like anything would taste good in a place like this.

Are there counter seats for solo diners?

Noi Seongsu has plenty of both spacious tables and counter seats that are great for eating alone. Lots of comfortable, cozy spots.

You can also grab a candy on your way out.

Menu and prices at Noi Seongsu

The menu at Noi Seongsu is varied: appetizers, pho, stir-fried noodles, fried rice, special dishes and more. Spring rolls, cha gio (fried spring rolls), beef pho, pad thai, mie goreng, nasi goreng... I'd heard lots of good things, and there were many dishes I still haven't tried.

• Beef pho (L) ₩14,000
• Bun cha (grilled pork with cold noodles) ₩18,000
• Buffalo hot wings ₩8,000
• Total ₩40,000

As soon as we ordered, they brought pickled onion, pickled radish and jalapeños. Rice-type meals just taste right with pickled veggies. The staff were really kind and even refilled them for me.

There are also various sauces and ground peanuts on the table.

A spread that was a little too ambitious... I had no idea each dish would come out this big.

Are the buffalo hot wings spicy?

Despite "hot" in the name, the buffalo hot wings at Noi Seongsu (₩8,000) aren't really spicy. Salty buffalo wings are always a winner, though. They'd be great with a drink, the portion was big, and they were well fried, crispy outside and juicy inside.

How big is the large beef pho?

You can choose small or large for the beef pho at Noi Seongsu, and the large is ₩14,000.

I got the large and it's really a lot,, unless you have a big appetite, the small is probably plenty.

The beef pho has a rich, clean broth that's really good. It was a bit chilly in the evening, and the hot soup soothed my stomach, so I enjoyed it so much. The beef is very tender with no gamey smell at all. Bean sprouts, noodles and beef are all generous.

Bun cha at Noi Seongsu: how was my first time?

The bun cha at Noi Seongsu (₩18,000) is vegetables, charcoal-scented pork and soft rice noodles, all dipped in a sweet and sour nuoc cham (fish sauce) dressing.

It was my first time trying bun cha, and dipped in the nuoc cham it was so fresh,, a perfect summer dish and totally my taste. It felt a bit like a salad pasta, and they gave a ton of meat, so it was very filling.

The bun cha comes with cha gio too, and these are crispy outside and juicy inside. Super crunchy wrapper and a packed meat filling! They're tasty on their own, but even better dipped in the nuoc cham or the vinegar sauce on the table.

Toward the end I just dunked the noodles in and fished them out to eat. Another favorite dish added to my list… so sweet and sour, I love it.

Can you add extra cilantro?

At Noi Seongsu you can add extra cilantro for ₩1,000. If you like it, I recommend getting it. I didn't, and I regretted it a little haha. A bit comes on top by default, but I think it would have been even better with heaps of it.

Noi Seongsu in a nutshell

Noi Seongsu is a clean, stylish pho restaurant in Seongsu! The beef pho (L) with its hot, rich broth that soothes your stomach, the sweet-and-sour, fresh and filling bun cha, and the salty buffalo hot wings you keep reaching for were all really good. The portions were generous overall, and I nearly burst. If you're looking for a pho place in Seongsu with a good vibe, I highly recommend it.