Rare beef pho and cha gio at a Dongjak pho spot: Bangbaedong Ssalguksu
In short
Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch is a pho restaurant in Dongjak, Seoul, a three-minute walk from Exit 10 of Isu Station at the end of the Isu food alley. The rare beef tenderloin pho costs 11,000 won, combo pho 12,000 won and bun cha 14,000 won, and cha gio and vegetable spring rolls round out the table, with a broth simmered fresh every day that tastes nothing like store-bought stock. Order any pho at Bangbaedong Ssalguksu and the self-serve bar hands over a free bowl of rice, ideal for soaking in the broth.
Good to know
- Location
- 3-minute walk from Exit 10 of Isu Station, at the end of the Isu food alley (50 Dongjak-daero 25-gil, 1st floor, Dongjak-gu, Seoul)
- Hours
- Daily 11:00–22:00, last order 21:00
- Seating
- One 2-seat table, three 4-seat tables, six single seats (4-seat tables can seat two groups of two)
- Rare beef tenderloin pho
- 11,000 won
- Combo pho
- 12,000 won
- Bun cha
- 14,000 won
- Vegetable spring rolls
- 4,500 won
- Cha gio (fried spring rolls)
- 6,000 won
- Self-serve bar
- Free bowl of rice with any pho order; pickled onions, danmuji (pickled radish) and pickled chili peppers as standard side dishes
as written by the visitor on Sep 21, 2026
Bangbaedong Ssalguksu, already famous for its pho, just opened a branch near Isu Station, so I went straight away!!! The original location was already my favorite pho spot, and when I heard they'd opened one close to home, I had to visit immediately. This is the pho place in the Isu food alley.
Where is Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch, and what are its hours?
Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch is a 3-minute walk from Exit 10 of Isu Station, at the end of the Isu Station food alley — a go-to restaurant near Chongshin University. It's open daily from 11:00 to 22:00, with last order at 21:00.
Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch, tucked a bit into the alley from Isu Station
There's always a wait at this popular spot, so they've even set up a waiting area!!! When I want pho near Isu Station, this is the only place I go.
How many seats does Bangbaedong Ssalguksu have, and is there a wait?
Seating at Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch: one 2-seat table, three 4-seat tables, and six 1-seat spots. The 4-seat tables can also be split for two pairs. It feels like just the right size for enjoying freshly cooked food at its best. It's already known as a local favorite among the neighborhood, so there's a wait even on weekdays.
Menu and prices at Bangbaedong Ssalguksu near Isu Station
There's a pho menu plus sides. They also have Vietnamese drinks, great for pairing. Order a pho and you get a free bowl of rice!
Self-serve bar: free rice and standard side dishes
You can scoop side dishes and rice yourself at the self-serve bar. Ordering pho gets you a free bowl of rice — perfect for soaking in the rich broth. Onion pickles, danmuji (pickled radish) and pickled chili peppers come as default sides.
Sauce and chili flakes are set out at every table, so you can season to taste.
I ordered pho, bun cha and a couple of side dishes to try.
Rare beef tenderloin pho, 11,000 won
Rare beef tenderloin pho, ₩11,000
Pho with fresh, not frozen, beef tenderloin! Bangbaedong Ssalguksu simmers its broth fresh every day, which makes it completely different from places using store-bought stock. Even my parents, who are picky eaters, were amazed at how good it was.
The bowl is packed with meat. Since it's fresh tenderloin, it's really tender.
A bite of tender tenderloin together with crunchy bean sprouts. This pho spot near Isu Station uses a house-made special broth, so the flavor runs really deep. Add fresh tenderloin on top of that, and it's a perfectly hexagonal bowl of pho — everything about it just works.
Combo pho, 12,000 won
Combo pho, ₩12,000
Combo pho loaded with a variety of cuts — brisket, beef belly, tenderloin and more. There's plenty of different beef in there. Since the broth is so good no matter what, you can just pick your topping based on preference.
Bun cha, 14,000 won: pho noodles served mixed, not in broth
Bun cha, ₩14,000
I was curious about something different, so I ordered bun cha. Bun cha is basically like a mixed version of pho — thin noodles with meat and vegetables, dipped in a refreshing special sauce.
The noodles are much thinner than regular pho noodles, served with vegetables and salty grilled beef, meant to be dipped in the sauce.
Dip generously into the refreshing sauce! It's fish sauce-based with a bright, tangy kick — perfect for summer. With the vegetables and meat, it almost feels like a salad pasta. Something light about it.
Sides: cha gio 6,000 won and vegetable spring rolls 4,500 won
Vegetable spring rolls ₩4,500 / Cha gio ₩6,000
Cha gio with meat inside, crispy outside and juicy within.
You can also try the vegetable spring rolls through their review event, so I'd definitely recommend joining that. Freshly fried, crispy and hot, they pair so well with the pho.
Is Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch worth a visit?
The broth is truly on another level at this pho spot near Isu Station — Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch. It's also a great restaurant near Isu Station when you want to cure a hangover haha. That rich, freshly simmered broth never stops impressing me, no matter when I eat it — a real go-to near Chongshin University for lunch or dinner. If you love pho, this is the pho spot near Isu Station you absolutely have to visit!!!
Where it is
50 Dongjak-daero 25-gil, 1st floor, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 동작구 동작대로25길 50 1층
