Chilgok 3-jigu Vietnamese restaurant: smoky bun cha with mom, Raichen

⏰ Tue–Sun 11:00–21:15 / Last order 20:30 / Closed Mondays

Where to eat at 2 PM on a weekend in Chilgok 3-jigu

Raichen Chilgok Branch is a Vietnamese restaurant in Chilgok 3-jigu where you can still get a meal at an awkward hour, even after 2 PM on a weekend. I hadn't been to Chilgok 3-jigu in a while, and while hunting for a good place that serves food during the awkward break time, I found it!

We arrived after 2 PM, past normal mealtime on a weekend, and there were still quite a few customers, haha. The charcoal-smoky bun cha especially left an impression, and the portions were generous overall, so the three of us left full and happy ❤️

Where do you park at Raichen Chilgok Branch?

Raichen Chilgok Branch has the Dongbuk Regional Statistics Office parking lot, free on weekends, and the building's own lot (Heat Town), so getting there was easy.

It was past 2 PM on a weekend and the place was busy, but two seats happened to be open, so we sat right away without waiting! Seeing so many customers at such an odd hour made me even more excited, haha.

Atmosphere and seating at Raichen Chilgok Branch

Even the outside of Raichen Chilgok Branch is full of mood and has a great-atmosphere feel, so it seemed like a good spot for a date ^_^

There's a standing sign out front for waiting-list info, which tells you lots of people come here regularly!! >,< We went in full of anticipation.

The lighting inside is daylight white, which gives a local Vietnamese feel while blending nicely with the stylish interior. The atmosphere was really pretty, haha.

The window seats have floor-to-ceiling glass, so the view outside is wide open and the place feels airy.

Above all, many families were visiting, and it felt like locals naturally come here to eat out, so it gave off the vibe of a well-established restaurant~!! 👍👍

There are also rooms inside, and some people had reserved them for a gathering. It looked like a good space for a family meal and also for larger groups, haha.

There's a self-serve bar in the middle of the hall, so just help yourself to the side dishes.

Events and menu at Raichen Chilgok Branch

Raichen Chilgok Branch was offering either 3 shrimp balls or a coconut juice for a Naver receipt review. They also prepare a discounted menu of the month (October's was running), so there were several deals to enjoy.

It was our first visit, so we mostly ordered familiar dishes that anyone who likes Vietnamese food has probably tried at least once.

I also saw the owner come out to explain to the next table, who were ordering lots of dishes, that the portions might be big. That left an impression too, haha.

Bun cha: traditional style or meat on the side

At Raichen Chilgok Branch you can choose between traditional-style bun cha, with the meat served in the sauce, or the meat on the side, so you can enjoy it your way.

How to eat banh xeo and bun cha is explained in detail too, so even first-timers can follow along easily, haha.

What we ordered: banh xeo (crispy Vietnamese rice-flour crepe), seafood rice noodle soup, and charcoal-grilled bun cha (grilled pork with cold noodles).

Charcoal-grilled bun cha: the best dish of the day

My personal favorite at Raichen Chilgok Branch that day was the charcoal-grilled bun cha.. ❤️ No exaggeration, the meat and the sauce themselves have a really strong charcoal smokiness, and the aroma burst out from the very first bite!! >,<

The meat was tender and easy to eat, and there was a lot of it, right?? Maybe that's why the flavor hit differently... The sauce served with it was tangy, which made the meat's flavor blend even better, haha.

It also came topped with a nem (fried spring roll), which was crispy but also chewy and springy, and I ate it thinking, this place is really good.. lol

Banh xeo, mom's top pick

The banh xeo at Raichen Chilgok Branch was even bigger than I expected!! The edges were thin and grilled crispy, and that texture made it even better, haha. Inside it was packed with shrimp, meat and bean sprouts.

Put the banh xeo on lettuce or dry rice paper, add pickled radish and sauce, and wrap it up. The tang makes it fresh and delicious, haha.

Mom, who usually loves leafy wraps, enjoyed the banh xeo most!! ✅ Being able to add ingredients to taste seems to be part of banh xeo's charm.

How does the seafood noodle soup broth taste?

The seafood rice noodle soup at Raichen Chilgok Branch has a clear, refreshing broth with shrimp, squid and mussels. The seafood noodle soup happened to be part of an event, and I was curious how it would taste, so I ordered it.

With shrimp, squid and mussels in it, the broth was relatively clear yet refreshing, with that clean seafood feel, haha. The seafood smell wasn't strong, so I could also taste the signature aroma of rice noodles 💙

The noodles were wide and flat, so they filled my mouth and felt hearty, haha. Thanks to the refreshing broth, it tasted like a good hangover soup too >,<

+ You get cilantro free once, so I asked for some separately and added it to the broth. Sure enough, cilantro brings out the noodles' signature aroma and goes so well. Good stuff!