Isu Station pho spot with brisket and beef-belly bowls: Bangbaedong

If you're looking for a great pho place in the Bangbae area, just go here, seriously!!! This is the Isu Station spot I pay for and keep coming back to.

This is the place I've already written about from my own paid visits: my beloved Bangbaedong Ssalguksu!!! Whenever someone asks me to recommend pho, this is the place that naturally comes to mind.

It keeps the feel of real Vietnamese food but is easy to enjoy, never overwhelming. Honestly, I think the pho here is even better than what I ate in Vietnam itself, hahahaha

This time I ordered four dishes.

Brisket pho: clear yet deep broth

The brisket pho (yangji ssalguksu) at Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch was the first thing I ordered this visit. The broth alone is a work of art.

It looks clear, yet the flavor is incredibly deep, and the brisket is simmered soft and tender, getting nuttier and richer the more you chew.

The noodles are springy and the portion is generous, so I was happy the whole way through.

See how much stuff is in there?!!! That's the mark of a great restaurant. If you love pho, I absolutely recommend this one.

Beef-belly pho: the pick for meat lovers

The beef-belly pho (usamgyeop ssalguksu) at Bangbaedong Ssalguksu is packed with thinly sliced beef belly, which makes the savory flavor even richer.

The flavor of the beef fat melts naturally into the broth, making it deeper and richer, and I really love this one too.

If you like meat, don't agonize over the brisket, just try this one as well.

Eating it with the pickled onions from the self-serve bar makes it even more amazing. Maybe it's because the broth is simmered by hand every dawn, but the depth is different from the very first sip!

The moment you take a sip, a rich savoriness hits you, and the spices aren't overdone, so it suits Korean tastes really well.

Bun cha: flame-grilled aroma and house-made sauce

The bun cha (Vietnamese grilled pork with cold noodles) at Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch is the dish I really want you to order. Please, please order the bun cha here!!!!!!!!!! The famous bun cha here is the real deal!

You dip the bun cha noodles, a variety of fresh vegetables and flame-grilled pork into Bangbaedong Ssalguksu's own house sauce, and it's just so good T_T

The meat has a subtle charcoal-grilled aroma with real smoky flavor, and the sweet and tangy special sauce goes so well with the noodles. With the vegetables the texture is great too, so you just keep reaching for more.

A good bun cha place isn't easy to find, but I'm really satisfied every time I eat here!!!! (๑❛ڡ❛๑)☆

Pineapple fried rice: add one for two or more

The pineapple fried rice at Bangbaedong Ssalguksu is a good one to add when you visit with two or more people. This place is a pineapple fried rice winner! The fluffy, loose-grained rice just keeps going down.

The portion is generous too, so if you come with two or more, please order one. It honestly beats the places in Southeast Asia, T_T

Seriously, my spoon wouldn't stop, hahahaha, and I think I shoveled it in until I was stuffed. For Vietnamese food among Isu Station restaurants, it's just here. No need to go anywhere else.

Why a regular keeps coming back to Bangbaedong Ssalguksu

Besides the taste, what I love about this place is that you can feel the care. Dishes are cooked to order, the broth is made in-house, and you can tell that even the bun cha sauce and fried rice get attention one by one.

If you have plans at Sadang Station or need a place to eat near Isu Station, I recommend Bangbaedong Ssalguksu without a second thought. You won't regret it. Will I come back? Do you even need to ask!!!!!! It's my number one pho place near Isu Station, and I'll keep going whenever it crosses my mind.