Vietnamese restaurant with parking near Ajou Univ, Suwon: Madam Hao

☕️🍚 SUWON pho spot near Ajou University: Madam Hao

Madam Hao, a Vietnamese-run restaurant in front of Ajou University

It's hot enough these days that I only crave cold food, but every once in a while I get a sudden craving for pho anyway. This time I visited Madam Hao, a new spot near Ajou University!! I found it while looking for a pho restaurant near Ajou/Gwanggyo, and what caught my eye most was that it's run by actual Vietnamese natives.

I love pho and go hunting for it all over the place, so of course I was curious how a native-run spot would differ from Korean-style pho. Visiting in person, not just the taste but even the atmosphere of the restaurant felt like being transported to Vietnam — it left a real impression.

Where is Madam Hao, and where do you park?

Madam Hao sits in the restaurant alley in front of Ajou University, so it's a great option if you have plans near Ajou or Ajou University Hospital and need somewhere to eat. Even the exterior gives off Vietnamese-restaurant vibes, right?

When you're hunting for good food near Ajou, most places don't have parking because it's a university district — but Madam Hao, while limited, does have a building parking lot out front, which makes parking relatively easier than at most other spots near Ajou.

What is the dining room at Madam Hao like?

I expected a small pho shop, but walking in, it seemed like two restaurants had been joined into one — a spacious interior with an exotic feel quite different from a typical restaurant. Since it's run by actual Vietnamese natives, that distinct Vietnamese atmosphere showed up everywhere, and even though I just popped in for a meal, I felt like I was on a trip to Vietnam.

In hot summer weather like this, I find myself thinking about traveling to Vietnam even more, so it was fun to get a taste of that atmosphere at a restaurant near Ajou without having to travel far 😍

Madam Hao menu and prices

• Bun cha ₩13,000
• Beef brisket pho ₩11,000
• Pad Thai ₩12,000
• Spicy jjamppong-style pho ₩12,000
• Beef bibim (mixed) pho ₩12,000
• Beef fried rice ₩12,000
• Banh mi ₩10,000

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Shrimp chips come out automatically with every order, and

every table is set with sauce and garlic vinegar.

Madam Hao has such a wide range of Vietnamese dishes on the menu that I had a hard time deciding what to order.

With my child, we were three people total, so we ordered beef brisket pho with extra noodles and beef fried rice — a great combination.

What does the beef brisket pho broth taste like?

The dish I was most looking forward to! Broth is the most important part of any pho, and tasting it, I could tell it was clearly different from typical Korean-style pho. Since it's run by locals, it really did taste like the pho I've had in Vietnam.

Madam Hao keeps the distinctive aroma and flavor of Vietnamese food alive, which made me feel like I was traveling there. I added extra noodles since I was sharing with my child, but the portion was so enormous that most people wouldn't need to add extra noodles at all.

Beef fried rice at Madam Hao, not the Korean style

We also ordered beef fried rice. Pho alone felt like it might not be quite enough, so we added this — actual fried rice topped with beef and what looked like braised greens, quite different in style from the beef fried rice sold at typical Korean pho restaurants.

It was loaded with beef and the rice portion was generous too, so it was filling and satisfying. It had a savory flavor different from the pho, so switching between the two dishes kept things interesting without getting tiring. If two of you are visiting, I'd recommend beef brisket pho and beef fried rice, or bun cha, which seemed to be a signature dish since it was on nearly every other table.

Is Madam Hao worth it for lunch near Ajou University?

Overall, Madam Hao struck me as a great place to properly enjoy Vietnamese food near Ajou and Gwanggyo. What stood out most was that it's run by native Vietnamese owners, and that both the food and the atmosphere made me feel like I was actually in Vietnam.

If you want to experience something a bit different near Ajou/Gwanggyo, in both food and mood, it's worth a visit. On a hot summer day, when you want a Vietnamese meal with a cold drink, or a quick mental getaway to Vietnam nearby, give it a try :)