Pho shop on Ihwayeodae-gil, Seoul: rich broth and 3 nem at Kkua Ewha

Looking for rich pho broth near Ewha Womans Univ. Station

Kkua Ewha (꾸아 이대점) is a Vietnamese pho restaurant on the 2nd floor on Ihwayeodae-gil. The weather had suddenly gotten warmer, and funnily enough that made me crave a hot, rich broth, so for a few days I'd been searching for Vietnamese food.

I couldn't find anything that clicked near Ewha, so I went to Kkua Ewha, a place I'd had my eye on for a while.

Kkua Ewha already had a reputation by word of mouth for its authentically local-feeling interior and neat, tidy food.

This was exactly the pho place near Ewha Womans Univ. Station I'd been looking for, and it turned out better than I expected, so I'm excitedly writing up this review.

What is the interior of Kkua Ewha like?

Kkua Ewha is an exotic space with a striking contrast of teal and red, as if you'd landed in Vietnam.

The moment I opened the door, the colorful interior grabbed my eye, like being in Vietnam itself. Teal, or cyan I guess you'd call it? Against the red, and with just the sauces and canned goods, the Vietnamese vibe was strong.

It's cute and cozy with a slight American style mixed in, so the whole meal felt like being on a trip.

Meat-loaded pho, morning glory and 3 nem

At Kkua Ewha that day I ordered the signature meat-loaded pho, morning glory to refresh the palate, and 3 nem (fried spring rolls) with a wonderfully crispy texture.

I picked this combination to try a variety of flavors, and the aroma the moment the food hit the table was already wonderful. Choosing Kkua Ewha while agonizing over pho near Ewha Womans Univ. Station was an excellent decision.

How are the broth and meat in the meat-loaded pho?

As the name says, the meat-loaded pho comes with a bowl piled full of meat, enough that just looking at it filled me up.

I tried the broth first, and it was very clear and deep. I love soupy dishes and ate pho like this often in winter, but it had been hot for a while, so this was my first pho in ages. Some people might ask who eats pho in midsummer, but to me the real charm of pho is its deep, rich broth. In that sense, it was perfect.

The meat was really tender with no gamey smell, and its texture went great with the noodles.

The sides: morning glory and nem

The morning glory (stir-fried water spinach) I ordered as a side has that signature salty, crunchy taste, and it paired perfectly with the pho.

The crisp-fried nem were also packed with filling, and the nutty flavor filled my mouth the more I chewed.

After tasting it myself, I immediately understood why so many people call Kkua Ewha a top pho spot near Ewha Womans Univ. Station.

Kkua Ewha opening hours and solo-dining seats

Kkua Ewha is open from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., so it was easy to visit without worrying about the time.

Inside there are also bar-style seats that suit eating alone, so I thought next time I could come by myself and eat at leisure. With generous portions that don't skimp on ingredients and friendly service, I felt well looked after throughout the meal.

Next time I crave a hot broth, I'll happily come back to Kkua Ewha, the pho restaurant by Ewha Womans Univ. Station.

The broth is rich and deep without being harsh, and it made for a very satisfying meal. When the weather gets colder, I definitely want to come back and enjoy more hot broth.