Daegu Vietnamese restaurant with rich pho broth: Raichen Chilgok

With the weather getting noticeably chillier lately, I kept craving a steaming bowl of soup, so I went to Raichen Chilgok Branch (라이첸 칠곡점), a Vietnamese restaurant in Chilgok 3 District, Buk-gu, Daegu.

It is surprisingly hard to find a proper Vietnamese restaurant around Chilgok, but thanks to stumbling upon this place, I think I will come here without hesitation whenever I crave pho or bún chả!

Raichen Chilgok Branch location and parking

Raichen Chilgok Branch is a three-minute walk from Exit 3 of Palgeo Station, so it is easy to reach by public transport. Besides the restaurant's own parking lot, you can also use the nearby Hit Town parking lot, so driving there did not feel like a burden either! I recommend checking the opening hours and closing day before you visit.

A restaurant atmosphere full of Vietnamese charm

The first thing I noticed upon entering was the warm atmosphere created by the wood-toned interior and green plants. So much care had clearly gone into the decor that it almost felt like taking a little trip to Vietnam 🤭 There is also a private space farther inside, which looked great for reserving for friends or family gatherings 🤭

There is a self-service bar on one side of the restaurant where you can take as much spicy chili and onion as you need. They even had baby spoons ready, so it seemed perfect for families with young children too.

Pho, bún chả, and bánh xèo in the Two-Person Set A

Looking through the menu, there were so many kinds of pho, along with several home-style rice bowl dishes, so it looked easy to choose according to your mood that day. We ordered the Two-Person Set A (₩37,500), which came with Hanoi-style pho, bún chả, and bánh xèo, letting us try several dishes at once.

Pho broth said to simmer for 24 hours

Maybe because the weather had turned chilly, I was craving a hot broth—and this pho was exactly it ✨

The broth, which they say is simmered in-house for 24 hours with beef bones and brisket, was truly rich and deeply flavored. It was also satisfying because there was plenty of tender brisket.

There were lots of bean sprouts, and the noodles were so soft that everything went down easily. If I had to pick just one most memorable dish, it would definitely be this pho broth..🤍 Its savory umami keeps coming back to me, so I think I will definitely order it again next time~

Bún chả with charcoal aroma and generous portions

The bún chả had a really generous portion of noodles, and I loved that it also came with plenty of lettuce and assorted vegetables. The sweet-and-tangy fish sauce held charcoal-grilled meat and two large meatballs, so there was a lot to eat~! Spring rolls came with it too, making a nice accompaniment.

Perhaps because the meat was grilled directly over charcoal, it carried a subtle charcoal aroma. The fish sauce was not overpowering either, so I think even people trying Vietnamese food for the first time could enjoy it comfortably.

Bánh xèo that suited Korean tastes

For the bánh xèo, you place the thick egg pancake filled with lettuce, bean sprouts, shrimp, and meat on rice paper, roll it up, and dip it in the sauce!

Personally, I felt that the bánh xèo here suited Korean tastes much better than the bánh xèo I had in Vietnam!

I wanted a little more heat, so I drizzled on some chili sauce and dipped it in the sauce that came with it. It made the flavors come alive even more ✨

Great food, though the service was disappointing

One disappointing point, though: the staff member who helped us (perhaps the owner?) seemed a little brusque, maybe because they were not feeling well that day.. haha. The service left a slight disappointment, but the food itself was so good that I came away with the strong impression that this is a place that wins on flavor. With one two-person set, we enjoyed Hanoi-style pho, bún chả, and bánh xèo generously, making for a filling and satisfying lunch.

Rich broth simmered for 24 hours, tender brisket, bún chả full of charcoal aroma, and bánh xèo that suits Korean tastes! I thought it was a place to visit whenever Vietnamese food is on your mind in Chilgok 3 District.

There was a little room for improvement in the service, but the food at Raichen Chilgok Branch was good enough to more than make up for it. If you are craving pho or Vietnamese food near Palgeo Station, I recommend stopping by at least once.