Bar-seat solo dinner pho and menbosha in Buk-gu, Gwangju: Wolmidang

Wolmidang, the go-to pho spot for solo diners near Chonnam National University

Free refills on noodles, bean sprouts, cilantro, and broth!

Big eaters, listen up~~ Let me introduce Wolmidang, a pho restaurant near Chonnam National University that's great for eating alone.

Where is Wolmidang Gwangju Chonnam National University Branch, and what are its hours?

Wolmidang Gwangju Chonnam National University Branch is on the first floor at 62 Uchi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, across from the Buk-gu Health Center. It's open daily from 11:00 to 20:45, with a break time from 15:00 to 17:00.

Ministry of Food and Drug Safety hygiene grade: 'Excellent'

Since it's a place to eat, hygiene is always a bit of a concern, but seeing a certification like this lets you eat with more peace of mind.

Wolmidang basic information at a glance

• Address: 62 Uchi-ro, 1st floor, Buk-gu, Gwangju
• Hours: Daily 11:00 - 20:45
• Last order 14:30 / 20:15
• Break time: 15:00 - 17:00

Wolmidang, the solo-dining pho spot near Chonnam National University, is in the white building across from the Buk-gu Health Center, next to Megabox Jeondae. You can't see the store directly from the main road — round the corner past Illy Coffee next to Megabox and Wolmidang comes into view.

Parking for Wolmidang near Chonnam National University

• Parking: Megabox parking lot right behind the restaurant
• Duration: 1 hour available

Just tell the staff your license plate number when you leave.

Inside Wolmidang: bar seats built for solo diners

Wolmidang Gwangju Chonnam National University Branch has bar-style seating that's great for eating alone. The overall white-and-wood decor makes for a warm, comfortable atmosphere.

I visited alone around 5:50pm and had a comfortable solo meal.

There's bar-style seating good for eating alone, so solo dining doesn't feel awkward at all.

Also, the kitchen isn't completely hidden away — it's an open kitchen where you can watch the cooking.

How ordering works at Wolmidang

Once you sit down, you order using the tablet at the table.

Wolmidang menu and prices

Wolmidang's pho starts at ₩11,000, and menus with tendon are ₩13,000. The pho comes with free refills on noodles, bean sprouts, cilantro, and broth.

Pho with free refills on noodles, bean sprouts, cilantro and broth

• Chadol beef brisket pho ₩11,000
• Chadol tendon pho ₩13,000
• Brisket tendon pho ₩13,000
• Chadol brisket tendon pho ₩13,000
• Chadol pho ₩11,000
• Beef brisket pho ₩11,000
• Bulgogi pho ₩11,000
• Spicy bulgogi pho ₩11,500
• Mala bulgogi pho ₩12,000
• Bún chả ₩14,000

Rice bowl dishes at Wolmidang

• Grilled bulgogi rice bowl ₩12,000
• Spicy grilled bulgogi rice bowl ₩12,500

There are also side dishes like cha gio (Vietnamese spring rolls) and menbosha (Chinese shrimp toast) available.

You should also read up on how to enjoy pho the best way.

Beef brisket pho, 11,000 won: beef torn along the grain

What I ordered that day: beef brisket pho ₩11,000, shrimp cha gio 3pc ₩3,500, and menbosha 3pc ₩4,500.

• Beef brisket pho ₩11,000
• Shrimp cha gio 3pc ₩3,500
• Menbosha 3pc ₩4,500

Free refills on noodles, bean sprouts, cilantro, and broth for the pho. If you run low, you can get more. Highly recommend for big eaters!! First, they set out the pickled onions.

Eating the tangy pickled onions with the pho refreshes your palate along the way and pairs really well. Free refills on the pickled onions too! You can comfortably get more if you run out~~

Broth simmered for more than 6 hours

The broth is apparently simmered for over 6 hours. You can taste the rich, savory flavor of the meat broth. It's rich but not greasy or heavy, and the aftertaste was clean.

And the beef brisket here was a bit unique — instead of thinly sliced brisket, the meat is shredded lengthwise with the grain, so when you pick it up with chopsticks, the noodles and meat come up together.

The pho noodles have a soft, smooth texture that goes down easily

Eating the noodles soaked in the rich broth together with the brisket added a chewy bite that paired really well. There's also a generous amount of bean sprouts.

A tip for eating the pho a different way

After eating for a while, I tried mixing in hot chili sauce and hoisin sauce. It tasted totally different from the soup-style pho, so I liked being able to enjoy two different experiences from one bowl.

Menbosha (fried shrimp toast), 3 pc for 4,500 won

Shall we look up what menbosha means? I'm the type who has to look up anything I'm curious about.

Menbo (面包) means bread, and sha (虾) means shrimp.

Menbosha is a Chinese-style shrimp toast made by sandwiching minced shrimp between slices of bread and frying it until crispy.

Can you see the shrimp meat there?

The outside is crispy with a nutty bread texture, and there's shrimp meat inside — a simple, easy side dish to pair with your meal.

Shrimp cha gio (fried spring rolls), 3 pc for 3,500 won

What is cha gio, you ask?

Cha gio is a Vietnamese dish where meat, shrimp, vegetables, and other fillings are rolled in rice paper and deep-fried until crispy.

The wrapper isn't thick or hard-crispy — it's thin and lightly shatters, so when you bite in, the outer wrapper crackles and breaks apart lightly,

and you could really taste the shrimp inside. Pairing the crispy shrimp cha gio with the soft pho noodles made for a nice contrast in texture that worked well together.

The shrimp tails are so cute haha

Verdict: why Wolmidang works for solo dining near Chonnam National University

Wolmidang Gwangju Chonnam National University Branch has an atmosphere that doesn't feel awkward even if you go alone, so I wanted to introduce it to anyone looking for a solo-dining spot near Chonnam National University.

• ✔ Rich, clean broth — deep broth simmered for 6 hours with soft pho noodles
• ✔ Free refills — you can eat until you're full~ great for big eaters too!
• ✔ Comfortable for solo dining — a relaxed atmosphere for enjoying a bowl of pho alone

When you're craving pho near Chonnam National University, I recommend Wolmidang, the go-to spot for solo dining!