Daegu Vietnamese restaurant with charcoal-grilled bun cha: Raichen

Lunch calling for a warm bowl of soup

The weather has gotten noticeably cooler lately, so I’ve been craving warm, soupy dishes more often. I visited Raichen Chilgok Branch for a hearty lunch.

Raichen is a Vietnamese food brand run by a representative from Hanoi. Since launching in 2019, it has presented a range of Vietnamese dishes based on recipes developed directly by its local representative. The Chilgok Branch is about a two-minute walk from Palgeo Station on Line 3 and near Homeplus, so it is convenient to reach by public transport, too.

Group seating for family meals and get-togethers

It is in Units 108 and 109 on the first floor at 30-23 Dongcheon-ro 23-gil, and there is no break time.

There is group seating in a separate area, so it looked like a good fit for family meals, gatherings with friends, or meals with a larger group.

There was also a self-service bar for side dishes, small plates, and anything else needed during the meal. You can take as much pickled onion and pickled chili as you want, and it was nice being able to refill side dishes without feeling self-conscious.

From pho to banh xeo and bun cha

At Raichen Chilgok Branch, you can try a variety of signature Vietnamese dishes, from pho to banh xeo and bun cha. There are also Vietnamese spring rolls with plentiful vegetables and meat, making it easy to enjoy familiar Vietnamese flavors.

Pho with beef-bone broth

The pho has a clean, warming broth made with beef bones, along with soft rice noodles and meat, making it just right for lunch. The broth is not heavy, and before you know it, you will have slurped up the whole bowl.

When you think of a Vietnamese restaurant, spices can make you hesitate to bring children along. Raichen uses local-style recipes as its base without relying heavily on artificial spices, so it felt less intimidating and suitable for everyone from children to adults.

One characteristic of Raichen Chilgok Branch is its authentic Hanoi-style pho: rather than using ready-made broth, the restaurant simmers beef bones and brisket in-house for 24 hours.

Crisp banh xeo wrapped in rice paper

Banh xeo is a crisp Vietnamese savory pancake, filled with bean sprouts, vegetables, and meat. Its nutty flavor and crunchy texture are especially appealing.

It is delicious on its own, but wrapping it in rice paper with vegetables brings together the chewy rice paper, crisp bean sprouts, and juicy meat. The textures are fun, and it tastes great.

The crisply cooked banh xeo is enjoyed with vegetables and meat, giving it a charm quite different from pho.

One nem, a crispy fried spring roll, comes with an order of bun cha. Adding the crisp nem made the meal feel even more generous.

Bun cha with charcoal aroma and sweet-tangy sauce

Bun cha is one of my favorite dishes—I fell for it when I first tried it in Vietnam. This is authentic Hanoi-style bun cha with plenty of charcoal aroma, grilled over real charcoal, said to be the only one of its kind in Daegu and Gyeongbuk.

It pairs gently charcoal-scented grilled meat, rice noodles, and vegetables with a sweet-tangy sauce. The smoky meat and refreshing sauce make for a charm entirely different from pho~

If you are looking for Vietnamese food for lunch in Chilgok District 3, I recommend it. There is a wide range of menu choices and you can have a filling meal here.