Pho restaurant in Haeundae, Busan: window ocean view with your dog

Not long ago my husband, our dog Hani and I visited Cheongsapo Rice Noodles Main Branch (청사포쌀국수 본점), a tasty Vietnamese pho restaurant in Cheongsapo, Haeundae, Busan, where you can eat while looking out at the sea.

Cheongsapo Rice Noodles Main Branch sits right in front of the Cheongsapo shore, so if you get a window seat you can enjoy a picture-perfect ocean view with your meal.

Opening hours and parking at Cheongsapo Rice Noodles Main Branch

The restaurant is at 6 Cheongsapo-ro 128beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan, and is open 10:00 to 18:00 (last order 17:15). It is closed every Wednesday!

• Pets allowed, high chairs, waiting area, reservations, separate men's and women's restrooms
• 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.: free parking on the road in front of the restaurant
• After 2 p.m. and other times: use the free roadside lot by the shore or the paid Cheongsapo public parking lot
• No parking fee support is offered

Is Cheongsapo Rice Noodles Main Branch dog-friendly?

Yes, you can come in with your dog if you use a kennel or a carrier. As a dog lover, I was especially happy to find a restaurant that lets dogs in.

Since Hani could come in with us, it was easy to visit even while traveling.

Parking depends on the time of day. We came around 1:30 p.m., so we could park on the road in front of the restaurant, because they don't enforce the rules during lunchtime.

Southeast Asian interior and window seats with an ocean view

The moment we walked in, the Southeast Asian-style interior caught my eye.

Even though we were in Busan, it felt like a trip to Vietnam, and I was excited before the food even arrived.

We sat at a window seat and started our meal looking out at the Cheongsapo sea.

There is also a well-stocked self-service bar, so we could help ourselves to side dishes and sauces.

What did we order at Cheongsapo Rice Noodles Main Branch?

This time we ordered chicken rice-crust pho, flame-grilled beef pho, butter shrimp fried rice and banh xeo (Vietnamese crispy pancake). I especially liked that they are running an event giving free banh xeo when you order pho for two or more.

Chicken rice-crust pho: hearty like samgyetang

The chicken rice-crust pho (nurungji, scorched rice) had a different charm from ordinary Vietnamese pho. With well-simmered chicken and nutty scorched rice, it was as hearty as eating samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup),

and the crunchy texture of the scorched rice made it a unique treat. It soothes your stomach too, so I think anyone could enjoy it without hesitation.

Flame-grilled beef pho: spicy kick and smoky flavor

The flame-grilled beef pho reportedly uses beef bone broth simmered by hand every morning. The broth was really clean and refreshing!

We ordered it spicy, and the broth was fiery yet deep, which I loved. The flame-grilled beef had a subtle smoky aroma that went really well with the broth.

Butter shrimp fried rice

The butter shrimp fried rice was better than I expected too. ^^

Plump shrimp and the rich flavor of butter blended well, making it a perfect dish to eat alongside the pho.

Free banh xeo and how to wrap it in rice paper

And the one that satisfied me most was the banh xeo! It was my first time trying it, and they told me it's a Vietnamese-style pancake. A crispy fried Vietnamese pancake...

You put it on rice paper, add the vegetables, pineapple, pickled onion and pickled chili that come with it, roll it up and dip it in the sauce. It was a real treat.

It was hard to believe it was a freebie, given how generous the portion and how good the quality.

Are noodle and bean sprout refills and extra cilantro available?

I was also impressed that they give free refills of noodles and bean sprouts when you order one bowl per person. (Nice~^^)

We also asked for extra cilantro, and they gave us plenty, so cilantro lovers will be very happy.

Cheongsapo Rice Noodles Main Branch: overall verdict

Both the staff and the owner were kind throughout our meal, and I could see why such a mix of people comes here, from foreign tourists to families, couples and locals.

If you want a relaxed meal looking at the Cheongsapo sea in Haeundae, and you'd like to try northern Vietnamese-style pho that's a bit different from usual, it's worth a visit. I liked the food, the atmosphere and the service.