Haeundae pho restaurant with sea views: Cheongsapo Rice Noodles

Back for pho with a view of the Cheongsapo sea

I came back to Cheongsapo Rice Noodles Main Branch (Cheongsapo Ssal Guksu Bonjeom) because I remembered enjoying the pho here on a previous visit. I had wanted to return from that very first visit, especially because the gopchang pho (pho with beef intestines) I most wanted to try had already sold out as a limited menu item. So this time, I made an early reservation and finally got to try the gopchang pho I had been wondering about.

It is in Cheongsapo, so it is a great place to stop by while traveling. Above all, Cheongsapo Harbor and the sea spread out so refreshingly beyond the windows that I kept looking outside while waiting for the food.

Being able to enjoy delicious pho along with an ocean view was one of this place's biggest charms.

Vietnamese-style atmosphere and window seats

As soon as you walk in, colorful Vietnamese-style lights and decorative pieces catch your eye.

The colorful lighting, plants, and decorations came together to create an exotic atmosphere, and the window seats, where you can eat looking out at the Cheongsapo sea, seemed especially popular. Perhaps because so many travelers visit, customers kept coming in even though we arrived relatively early, and a wait had started before lunchtime. If you want to eat at a relaxed pace, I would recommend reserving ahead if possible.

Cheongsapo Rice Noodles is said to offer pho reinterpreted from a northern Vietnamese style, a little different from the southern Vietnamese pho many people are used to. If you are familiar with clear broth eaten with hoisin sauce, it may feel a little different, but I actually liked that it had its own character.

Since many international tourists visit Cheongsapo, ordering was easy on a tablet, with foreign-language options available too. The notices on the table were also prepared in several languages, and I was impressed by how thoughtfully they made it easy for overseas travelers to order and dine.

This time, we ordered gopchang pho, charcoal-grilled beef pho, and shrimp fried rice. With banh xeo (a Vietnamese crispy crepe) as well, the table quickly filled up with a very generous spread.

Gopchang pho that made up for last time's sold-out disappointment

The gopchang pho I had been looking forward to most made me even more excited this time because I had gone home without trying it last time. From the broth onward, it felt distinctly different from ordinary pho: spicy and rich, with the savory flavor of the intestines added in, so I kept spooning up the broth. Adding cilantro brought its distinctive freshness, making the pho taste even more alive.

There was a generous amount of gopchang, so it was good to eat with the noodles, and rather than feeling greasy, it went well with the pleasantly spicy broth.

The intestines were more fully filled than I expected, too.

I had been curious about it, and after trying it myself, it felt like a menu item I would think about again when I return here.

Charcoal-grilled beef pho and side dishes

The charcoal-grilled beef pho had a different appeal from the gopchang pho.

The beef grilled directly over a flame had a subtle smoky aroma, and the tender meat went beautifully with the noodles. While the gopchang pho is on the spicy, rich side, the charcoal-grilled beef pho is easier to enjoy casually, so ordering both and alternating between them was a nice choice.

The shrimp fried rice we ordered because pho alone would have felt a little incomplete was good too.

The rice was fried fluffy and separate, with shrimp throughout, making it good to alternate with spoonfuls of pho broth. If you visit with several people, it would be a nice dish to order one of and share.

How should you eat the banh xeo?

And then there is the banh xeo, something you cannot leave out here. It arrives golden and crispy; just place the banh xeo and vegetables in rice paper, roll it up, and dip it in the sauce.

The crisp banh xeo and crunchy vegetables made for a great texture, and wrapping one up between bites of pho felt like refreshing my palate. Cilantro and pickled onions were also provided separately, so you could add them to suit your taste.

Conditions for free noodle and mung bean sprout refills

There was also a notice saying that if each person orders one bowl of pho, noodles and mung bean sprouts can be refilled for free. That was nice for anyone who finds the portion a little lacking, but keep in mind that free refills do not apply when several people share one bowl.

I had enjoyed this place once before and came back, and this time I was even more satisfied because I finally got to try the gopchang pho I had missed. There was a varied selection, from gopchang pho and charcoal-grilled beef pho to shrimp fried rice and banh xeo, and above all, I loved being able to eat while looking out at the Cheongsapo sea.

It is popular enough for a wait to form before lunchtime, so I recommend arriving a little early or visiting with a reservation if possible. If you are looking for tasty pho in Cheongsapo, or a restaurant where you can enjoy a sea view while traveling, it would be a nice place to visit at least once.