Black vinegar beef noodles at Seongsu Taiwanese spot Bao Seoul Seongsu

Bao Seoul Seongsu is a Taiwanese restaurant at 110 Yeonmujang-gil, 1F 103, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It's open 11:30 AM–9:00 PM, last order 8:20 PM, and you can reserve through Naver Reservation.

Hi, I'm Jina : ) Today I was out in Seongsu-dong, Seoul and tried Taiwanese food, which I don't eat all that often! I heard there was a quirky place in Seongsu that felt like a mini trip to Taiwan, and that's exactly where I ended up — Bao Seoul Seongsu, haha. If you're around Seongsu or Ttukseom looking for Taiwanese food, it might be worth a visit, so let me honestly walk through everything I ordered!

What kind of restaurant is Bao Seoul Seongsu?

Located in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, Bao Seoul Seongsu serves Taiwanese-style bao, beef noodle soup, rice bowls, and more. Even the exterior has this exotic feel, like you've actually landed in Taiwan — it definitely had that Seongsu hotspot energy, haha.

Arriving at the 11:30 opening: seats and waiting

I showed up right at opening time. It's a cozy-sized place, but there were actually more seats than I expected. Still, as soon as the doors opened, people started pouring in and the place was basically full almost instantly! It really lived up to its reputation as a popular Seongsu restaurant. If you're planning to visit around lunchtime, there might be a wait, so keep that in mind : )

Bao Seoul had all kinds of menu items. I ended up ordering the classic bao, Taiwanese beef noodle soup, and braised pork rice bowl! Since a lot of these were completely new to me, I waited excitedly wondering how they'd taste, haha.

How is the braised pork rice bowl at Bao Seoul Seongsu?

The first thing I tried was the braised pork rice bowl! Shredded braised pork and seasoned vegetables sat on top of the rice. It's a dish I'd never had before so it's a bit tricky to describe, but honestly, it was way better than I expected! Mixing the meat, vegetables, and rice together made the rice moist and brought out this big burst of savory flavor.

There was also a subtle hint of spice, which made it noticeably different from your typical rice bowl. It wasn't overpoweringly spiced though — everything just came together well overall. A full spoonful had this great balance between the meat's savoriness, the rice, and the vegetables. Personally, this was probably the dish that stuck with me most out of everything I ate that day. If it's your first time at Bao Seoul, I'd say the braised pork rice bowl is worth ordering!

Taiwanese beef noodle soup and the black vinegar option

Next up was the Taiwanese beef noodle soup! It came loaded with big chunks of beef shank, so it looked pretty hearty. The noodles were a bit different from what I pictured for beef noodle soup — more like thin udon noodles. I haven't eaten a ton of beef noodle soup so I can't compare it precisely, but this was another first-time flavor for me, and it was tasty, haha.

I noticed a slightly tangy taste in the broth, and it turns out black vinegar goes into this dish. Apparently black vinegar is an optional add-in, so if you're sensitive to sour flavors or strong aromas, it's worth keeping in mind when you order! The beef shank was tender too, and eating the noodles and broth together felt filling enough to work as a solid lunch.

Classic bao: steamed bun and braised pork together

Last up is the dish I'd actually been most excited for — the classic bao! It's bao filled with braised pork. The bao bun itself was a bit different from regular bread, almost like a flower-shaped steamed bun. It had this chewy yet soft texture that paired really well with the braised pork. And with plenty of meat stuffed inside, that first bite really delivered the meat-and-bread combo, haha.

With the bao's signature chewy softness plus the rich flavor of the braised pork, it ended up feeling surprisingly filling rather than like a light snack. Next time I come back, I'd love to try the lamb bao or shrimp bao that I didn't get to this time : )

Is Bao Seoul Seongsu worth it for a different lunch in Seongsu-dong?

I visited Bao Seoul Seongsu wanting something different from the usual food you'd eat around Seongsu! From the exterior alone, the exotic atmosphere made me feel like I was on a little Taiwan trip within Seongsu, haha. Everything I ordered tasted different from what I usually eat, which honestly made the meal more fun. If you're looking for Taiwanese food or a quirky place to eat in Seongsu, Bao Seoul Seongsu might be worth checking out. Next time I visit, I'm definitely trying the lamb bao and shrimp bao I missed this round, haha. This is a place I'd want to come back to whenever I'm craving something different in Seongsu : )