Dongtan Station pho with scallop cha gio and DIY spice: Mibundang

The weather's gotten really chilly lately, and naturally I started craving warm broth — pho came to mind right away. So without hesitation I headed straight to Mibundang, a pho restaurant I'd visited before.

Mibundang isn't the kind of place with an overwhelmingly heavy broth — it's savory yet has a naturally rich depth, and the portions are generous, making it a great spot to eat well and leave full.

On top of that, you can adjust the spice level with sauce to your taste, which is why this is the first place that comes to mind whenever I'm craving pho in Dongtan. Now that the cold wind is starting to blow, let me share my review of a warm, filling meal here!

Where is Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch, and where do you park?

Mibundang, a beloved pho spot near Dongtan Station, sits on the first floor of the Dongtan Station Richian shopping complex, so it's very easy to get to. It's right next to Hayan Pungcha, a bakery cafe well known to locals around Dongtan Station, so even first-timers should have no trouble finding it.

For parking, you can use the building's basement parking lot, and 1 hour is free. Be sure to ask staff to register your car — you'll get the discount. Don't forget to take care of parking.

Kiosk ordering and what is on the Mibundang menu

At Mibundang Dongtan Station Branch, you order and pay first at a kiosk set up outside, to the right of the entrance.

The menu is a clean, focused lineup of pho and side dishes that feels specialized and well thought out. Here's what we ordered:

• 2 brisket-tendon pho bowls
• Scallop cha gio (fried spring rolls)
• Cola

After ordering, we took our payment receipt inside, and staff checked it and kindly showed us to bar seating in order.

Bar seats facing the open kitchen, plus scallop cha gio

We got a really prime spot — seating where you can watch the dishes being made right in front of you. The whole time we waited, it was fascinating watching the fresh, generous ingredients being prepared.

The crispy-fried scallop cha gio and a cold cola arrived first. The moment I bit into the crunchy fried roll, the savory, rich scallop flavor hit — it was a perfect little dish even eaten on its own.

Last time I visited, I got greedy and ordered the assorted cha gio platter, and ended up way too full — I still remember suffering through it. So this time I just ordered one single item, but one bite in, the crunch and savoriness were so good I thought, 'Next time I need to order a few more different kinds of cha gio too.' Pairing the crispy, savory cha gio with a cold cola was seriously delicious 👍👍

What does the brisket-tendon pho taste like?

While we were eating the cha gio, the main dish — brisket-tendon pho — arrived.

Just looking at the bowl piled high with tender brisket, lean clean-tasting brisket, and springy, chewy tendon, I could already tell it was going to be delicious.

The brisket was piled on so generously that every time I picked up my chopsticks, I got a huge mouthful of meat.

The clean-tasting meat topping is delicious, but personally, the real reason I keep coming back to Mibundang is the chewy, savory texture of the tendon.

The first time I ate it, the word 'tendon' made it a little hard to get past, but by my second visit, that chewy texture that felt packed with collagen, plus the savory flavor, was really, really delicious.

How to adjust the spice level with Mibundang's hot sauce

The variety of sauces set up on the table was also really handy and great to use.

Mibundang's base broth is already so rich and deep that it's delicious as is, but adding a little of their special hot sauce makes it even better. Dongtan Station's beloved pho spot Mibundang only offers one broth, but you can freely control the spice level by adding sauce in whatever ratio you like.

Instead of mixing it into the broth, it's also good to put everything into the small side dish that comes with it and mix it there. I dialed in a spicy kick that matched my taste perfectly and finished the whole meal without ever getting tired of it.

Verdict: how long is the wait at Mibundang Dongtan Station?

I'd wholeheartedly recommend Mibundang to anyone near Dongtan Station in southern Dongtan looking for a meal spot with both great taste and easy access.

Since it's a popular restaurant in southern Dongtan, there's a wait at lunchtime, but the staff work well together and move quickly, so seats turn over fast and you can enjoy a comfortable, delicious meal without any hassle the whole time.

They've even thoughtfully set up little items for after your meal like this.

I'm planning to come back soon with my husband for another warm-broth date. If you're craving really good pho near Dongtan Station, don't hesitate — go check out Mibundang!