Chilgok Vietnamese restaurant, 2 PM lunch with no wait: Raichen

Where is Raichen Chilgok Branch?

Raichen Chilgok Branch (라이첸 칠곡점) is a Vietnamese restaurant on Dongcheon-ro 23-gil, 161 m from Exit 3 of Palgeo Station. It takes less than 2 minutes on foot from the Dongbuk Regional Statistics Office and is very close to Homeplus Chilgok, so it's a perfect stop before or after shopping for this much-talked-about Vietnamese brand. The access is just so good‼️

• Address: 30-23 Dongcheon-ro 23-gil, Buk-gu, Daegu (Unit 108 and 109, 1st floor)
• Transport: 161 m from Exit 3 of Palgeo Station
• Hours: 11:00–21:30 (last order 20:45)
• Closed on Mondays

What time is best to go to Raichen Chilgok Branch without a wait?

I'd strongly recommend going after 2 PM, just past the lunch rush. I wanted to dodge the lunch wait, so I went at 2, and the customers were just finishing up and heading out, so no wait, success! The place felt like a stylish café in Hanoi, haha.

Atmosphere and amenities at Raichen Chilgok Branch

True to its billing as a brand run directly by a Hanoi-born owner, the interior was exotic yet cozy! Vietnamese staff serve and guide you, which makes the mood even more exotic, and it honestly felt like I was on a trip to Vietnam.

• Group room available (6 or more)
• Baby chairs provided
• Self-bar when you need it: pickled onions, pickled chili peppers
• Aprons thoughtfully prepared

The pho here doesn't use ready-made broth; they simmer beef bone and brisket in-house for 24 hours, in the authentic Hanoi style, and they say it's the only place in Daegu and North Gyeongsang that grills over real charcoal for that smoky flavor! Food tastes twice as good when you know the effort behind it, haha.

Review event and reservation perks at Raichen Chilgok Branch

When I visited, a Naver review event gave you 3 shrimp balls or a coconut juice, and takeout Vietnamese condensed-milk coffee was 30% off. If you follow the restaurant on Naver, you also get a Vietnamese condensed-milk coffee coupon when you book through Naver, so definitely reserve before you go‼️‼️

The depth of flavor comes from natural ingredients, so there's nothing off-putting at all, and everyone from small kids to grandparents can enjoy it comfortably. Read the menu carefully to enjoy it properly ✌️ haha

What we ordered at Raichen Chilgok Branch and the prices

This day at Raichen Chilgok Branch we ordered three dishes: banh xeo, cold rice noodles and trotter rice.

• Banh xeo ₩15,500
• Cold rice noodles ₩14,000
• Trotter rice ₩12,500

All 3 dishes came out at the same time, which I loved!!

How do you eat banh xeo?

The banh xeo (Vietnamese savory pancake) here is crispy outside and packed with plump, bouncy shrimp, juicy meat and crunchy bean sprouts!

You put the fillings into the rice paper and lettuce that come with it (it's the local style of rice paper, wrapped dry without soaking in water!) and dip it into the sweet-and-sour nuoc cham sauce. So good 👍🏻👍🏻

Crisp, crunchy crust, then the savory meat, the pop of the shrimp, and the crunch of the sprouts. It's not greasy and has a clean taste, so I was really satisfied‼️‼️

Is the trotter rice free of strong spices?

The trotter rice comes with a big, thick chunk of pig's trotter braised down in a sweet-and-salty special soy sauce, served with rice. There's no strong Southeast Asian spice smell at all, so it's a flavor nobody will dislike.

Touch the meat lightly with a spoon and it's so tender it makes you go "heh-heh-heh~" as it melts away. The skin is chewy and full of collagen, and the lean meat is seasoned deep inside, so it's a wonderfully moist rice thief‼️ It felt like a classier upgraded version of braised short ribs or jangjorim (soy-braised beef).

What do the cold rice noodles taste like?

The cold rice noodles are heaped with smoky flame-grilled pork and fresh, crunchy salad vegetables, and rolling it all up with the noodles tasted so fresh and delicious!!

When I think of Vietnamese restaurants I only ever pictured hot pho, haha, but the cold rice noodles here are truly the best summer treat! I took a sip of the icy broth first, and it was tangy and sweet with a deep savory flavor, refreshing all through my mouth, haha.

My appetite, which had vanished in the heat, came right back. I was happy with all 3 dishes, and the flavors suit Korean tastes with no divisiveness at all, so go without worry!!

Who is Raichen Chilgok Branch recommended for?

Raichen Chilgok Branch in Chilgok, Daegu is a spot with a clean, pleasant interior, friendly Vietnamese staff, and above all flavors made from natural ingredients rather than artificial spices, so it fits Korean tastes perfectly‼️ Crispy, well-stuffed banh xeo, refreshing sweet-and-sour cold noodles on a hot day, and trotter rice that melts in your mouth, haha. I didn't miss with a single dish, a perfect lunch.

If you want proper, healthy and tasty Vietnamese food in a clean, exotic space with family, a partner or friends, I highly recommend it!!