Suwon Vietnamese restaurant: local-style bun cha with mint, Madam Hao

Today I'm writing about Madam Hao (마담하오) in Suwon, where I could really taste authentic Vietnamese food. If you're hunting for a good pho place near Ajou University, this is a spot where you can enjoy bun cha and brisket pho together, so keep it on your radar. In particular, the bun cha sauce tasted a little different from the sweetened-up versions made for Korean tastes. I went with my child, so I'll be honest about everything: the taste, the parking and what I noticed while using the place.

Where is Madam Hao, and what is the parking like?

Madam Hao is a Vietnamese restaurant on Woldeukeop-ro 193beon-gil in Yeongtong-gu, near Ajou University in Suwon. The exterior already felt like a local restaurant in Vietnam. The sign and the decorative lights at the entrance caught my eye and made me curious about the inside.

Parking was a bit disappointing. There is a lot at the building, but when we visited it only fit about 2–3 cars. In the end we had to park on the roadside. It's near a university, so if you're coming by car, plan for parking in advance.

Madam Hao's atmosphere and how ordering works

Inside, Madam Hao is decorated with wood-toned tables and chairs, bamboo-style wall decor and warm lighting. It hasn't been open long, so maybe that's why the interior was clean, and overall the décor reminded me of a Vietnamese local eatery.

Each table has a tablet for ordering, so we could check the menu and order right there. The warm lighting made for a comfortable meal. If you care about the atmosphere as well as the food when choosing a lunch spot near Ajou University, keep this in mind.

What we ordered at Madam Hao: bun cha and brisket pho

We ordered bun cha and brisket pho. The menu also listed other Vietnamese dishes such as cha ca la vong and banh cot, and I wanted to try those next time.

Shortly after we ordered, shrimp chips were brought out. They were lightly seasoned, so they were tasty even on their own. Sauces were also set out at each table, so you can use as much as you need during the meal.

Is Madam Hao's bun cha sauce sweet?

Unlike the sugary bun cha sauce you often get in Korea, Madam Hao's wasn't strongly sweet, so it felt closer to the food in Vietnam. Personally, this bun cha was the dish that impressed me most. Bun cha is a Vietnamese dish where you eat grilled meat, rice noodles and vegetables dipped in a sauce. The bun cha you get in Korea can taste sweet, right? But Madam Hao's was a little different from the familiar sweetness I expected. It felt closer to real Vietnamese food, and I actually liked it more for that.

The mint leaves in the bun cha were especially memorable. They might feel unfamiliar at first, but eaten together with the meat and noodles they added a fragrant freshness, and I enjoyed it more that way. I think people who like that kind of aroma will love it. On the other hand, if you prefer the familiar sweet sauce or don't like mint, it could be hit or miss. I'd recommend it not only to anyone looking for good pho near Ajou University but also to people who like authentic-style bun cha.

Did the child eat the brisket pho well?

The brisket pho we ordered alongside was tasty too, and above all, my child really ate the pho well. When eating out with a kid, whether they eat well matters a lot, and seeing them dig in happily made me happy too.

Eating the brisket, bean sprouts and noodles together made for a filling meal. Ordering bun cha and pho together also let us enjoy two Vietnamese dishes with different charms. If you're planning lunch with a child near Ajou University, you might use this as a reference when choosing a menu.

What was good and what was disappointing at Madam Hao

What I liked most about Madam Hao was that I could taste the distinctive flavors of Vietnamese food. The bun cha sauce didn't feel overly sweet, and the combination with mint leaves was great. It felt different from the bun cha I usually eat, which made it more memorable. My child ate the brisket pho well too, so it was a satisfying meal for a family. So rather than stopping at this visit, I'd like to come back and pay for it myself to try other dishes.

Another thing I liked was that there were detailed instructions for the Naver review event and for how to eat the food. For a dish like bun cha, where the way to eat it may be unfamiliar, a guide makes it easier to enjoy. I appreciated that kind of thoughtful touch.

There were some drawbacks, though. The building's parking was so cramped that we had to park on the roadside, and the restroom is unisex and the way to it is dark, so it felt a little scary. The food and the interior were satisfying, but please keep the parking and restroom situation in mind before you visit.

★★★★☆ 4.5 / 5.0

Who I recommend Madam Hao to

Recommended 👍

• People who want to try bun cha closer to the local style
• People who want a Vietnamese lunch with a child

Might be a letdown

• People who prefer restaurants with plenty of parking
• People not used to mint aroma or local-style sauces

Madam Hao in Suwon is a place where I enjoyed the bun cha and brisket pho. The sauce and mint combination in the bun cha stayed with me, and my child ate the pho well, so I was happy. Parking and the restroom were a little disappointing, but I'm willing to come back on my own dime. If you're looking for pho or a lunch option near Ajou University, give it a look!