Kid-friendly pho restaurant in Jeongja-dong with free parking: Kkamon

Why I took a kid to Kkamon Bundang Jeongja Direct Store for pho

Kkamon Bundang Jeongja Direct Store (까몬 분당정자직영점) is a newly renovated Vietnamese pho restaurant in Jeongja-dong, and I picked it because it seemed perfect for a child who loves noodles. I was finally meeting a younger friend to catch up, and she said the little one she was bringing devours noodle dishes, so I didn't even think twice: exotic noodles it was. I heard a place near Jeongja had just been renovated with great looks and a great lineup, so off we went right away. haha

Where is Kkamon Bundang Jeongja Direct Store, and what about parking?

Kkamon is at 121 Jeongjail-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, South Korea, Unit C-02 on the first floor of the shopping block at The Sharp Star Park, and the block's parking lot gives you 2 hours of free parking. It's within walking distance of the subway station, so it's really easy to find, and with the parking support driving there felt totally stress-free.

This branch was taken over directly by the headquarters from a franchise owner and became a directly run store, so maybe that's why the carefully kept look hit me from the entrance.

A relaxed place for kids and strollers

Inside, the ceilings are high and the tables are spaced widely, so it works well for strollers and family meals. Wow. The open feeling hits you as soon as you walk in, and the warm lighting and local-style decorations gave me that slight thrill of wandering into a Vietnamese night market. hehe.

Kkamon's pho menu and prices

The menu at Kkamon runs from basic beef shank pho to a visually striking pho topped with pork backbone, and prices start just above ₩10,000. For today's prices that's very good value. You can also choose to leave out cilantro with one tap on the touch screen, which was handy. Yay!

When the food arrived I got so excited, haha

Cream-sauce shrimp balls

Kkamon's shrimp balls are fried with plump shrimp that burst in your mouth, served with cream sauce, and the nutty sauce with the crispy coating was so good it was addictively happy-making. Some people may find cream sauce a bit heavy if you eat a lot, but it was no problem for my taste and I scraped the plate clean. haha

The other dishes came out fast too.

Sides: bún chả and stir-fried water spinach

The bún chả (grilled pork with rice noodles and dipping sauce) and stir-fried water spinach we ordered as sides balanced the table nicely. You dip smoky grilled meat into a sweet-and-sour sauce, and with the crunch of fresh vegetables and crispy fried spring rolls (chả giò), I was wowed with every bite. Totally my style!

The water spinach has a wonderful crunch, deeply soaked in salty oyster sauce and sharp garlic aroma, and I couldn't help thinking it's a total rice thief. Its savory depth is so good that it would pair great with a single-serving set or a rice dish, a must-order side.

How was the beef shank pho broth?

The broth of Kkamon's beef shank pho was clear and rich without any muddiness, and it soothed me right through. The aroma of the stock hit my nose so strongly that I'd call the main dish the noodle dish of my life.

Thinly sliced, tender beef shank came in generous amounts, enough to wrap around the noodles, and it went wonderfully with the chewy, well-cooked noodles. I dunked the tangy pickled onions from the table into the broth and rolled them up with the noodles, which brought out even more savoriness, and I couldn't stop my chopsticks~ The little one seemed to like it too, slurping away with broth on her lips, and everyone smiled warmly watching. haha

Is Kkamon Bundang Jeongja Direct Store worth going back to?

Atmosphere, service and a generous portion for the price all lined up, so I immediately understood why its score is high on platforms like Diningcode. Since it became a directly run store, I strongly felt the sauces and ingredients are managed more strictly, which gives me a lot of trust. Spice level and taste for seasoning vary by person, so you can just add sauces to suit your own taste.

The Sharp Star Park building itself has so many places worth visiting that after the meal we didn't need to go far and moved to a pretty café right next door to keep chatting for round two. The surroundings are so well laid out that it may be the ideal spot for meeting friends or a date. If you're craving rich, hot Vietnamese flavors, this Bundang pho restaurant is well worth a stop. Next time I'll come with the whole family and work through the rice dishes and bánh mì too!