Soft crab pad pong curry with no wait in Seongsu: Thanon55

Looking for something different in Seongsu, I found Thanon55

Trying to figure out what to eat in Seongsu, I was craving something different from my usual go-tos that day haha

Seongsu has so many good restaurants that after digging around, I ended up at Thanon55, known for Thai food! I like Thai food anyway, and this place isn't just the usual Thai dishes you see everywhere — it has some distinctive menu items, so I was curious.

Why there was no wait even on a weekend

Even though I visited on a weekend, it wasn't crowded, maybe because it's set a bit further inside. Going to Seongsu usually means a wait as a default, so this was such a relief.

No wait doesn't mean the food is just so-so, though..! I met up with a Seongsu local that day and they said this place is actually well-known. A real hidden gem that only Seongsu residents know about — recommended if you're looking for a quiet spot.

An exotic interior

Walking in, the interior felt even more exotic than I expected. Neatly arranged but with Thai touches everywhere, just sitting there gave me a slight travel feeling haha. Seongsu's usual hip vibe mixed with the exotic feel unique to a Thai restaurant, and I liked the atmosphere quite a bit.

Also, since the seating is sectioned off, it was good for conversation. Looking around, a lot of the guests seemed to actually live nearby — mostly families and couples.

What we ordered: gamjatang pho + pad pong curry

Thanon55 doesn't just have regular Thai pho — they have items like gamjatang (spicy pork bone soup) pho, a name that makes you curious right away. I ordered it immediately. And since ordering just one felt like a waste, I also got the pad pong curry! It comes with tender soft crab, so I figured it'd pair well with the pho.

Plates and side dishes are self-serve

Small plates and any utensils you need are set up for self-service, and the side dishes are also help-yourself. There was pickled radish, plus Thai-style side dishes that go well with the food, so you could grab whatever suited your taste.

There wasn't just one type of small plate either — several different kinds were available, so it was fun picking whichever one I wanted haha. Even these small details made it feel like an authentic Thai restaurant, and I ended up just looking around.

Finally, both dishes arrived together! Once the food was laid out on the table one by one, it looked far more generous than I expected haha. One noodle soup with broth and one curry that goes well with rice — I think the combination worked out pretty well haha.

How was the soft crab pad pong curry?

With soft crab in it, the dish looked appetizing right from the moment it arrived. There was a generous amount of curry sauce with the soft crab inside, making it perfect to eat with rice. Since it's soft crab, the shell isn't hard, so I could eat the whole thing without the hassle of picking it apart.

Taking a bite, the curry was softer and nuttier than expected. You could still taste the distinct Thai curry aroma, but it wasn't overwhelmingly spiced, so it wasn't too much to handle. Mixing the curry sauce into rice was genuinely delicious haha.

The soft crab had both a crispy fried part and tender flesh, so the texture was great. Eating it together with the curry, rather than just the curry alone, added a crunchy texture in between bites that made it even tastier. The curry itself was mild, slightly sweet, and nutty haha. It also paired well with the rich, salty broth of the gamjatang pho.

What does the gamjatang pho taste like?

From the first look, it was clearly different from a typical Thai pho haha. Meat and various ingredients were piled generously over the broth, so the portion looked quite large. I was curious how gamjatang and pho would combine, and taking a bite, I was surprised at how well they actually went together.

That said, it doesn't taste exactly like Korean gamjatang either. There was a slight hint of that distinct Thai spice as well, making the flavor oddly addictive. If you like pho, this is a taste that'll feel refreshingly different haha.

Above all, the broth was rich, so eating it with the noodles really brought out the flavor. The noodles soaked up plenty of the broth too, and once I started slurping, I couldn't stop haha.

There was meat in it too, which made it much more filling than just noodles. Taking a sip of broth, then noodles, then meat, it felt like a proper full meal in one bowl. At first I wasn't sure whether gamjatang and pho would go together, but eating it, the combination turned out surprisingly good. If you want to try something a little different from regular pho, this is worth trying at least once.

There was plenty of meat on the bone too, so it was fun picking it apart, and the meat itself was tender, going well with the pho. The meat was tasty on its own, but dipping it in the sauce on the side gave it a whole different flavor haha. The sauce had a slightly savory kick that paired well with the meat, so I kept dipping it in. I picked every last bit of meat off the bone haha.

To sum up

That day I had a proper, filling meal of gamjatang pho and pad pong curry haha. Overall, the restaurant's atmosphere was exotic, and the menu ranged from common Thai dishes to Thanon55's own distinctive items. It's a solid place to visit when you want to eat something different in Seongsu. If you're looking for restaurants in Seongsu and want to try something new, I'd recommend it!