Sangsu Vietnamese restaurant with Thai mukata and brisket pho: Rua Zin

I was looking for a good lunch spot in Hapjeong and ended up at Rua Zin (루아진). I like Vietnamese food and have tried plenty of places, but this time I was extra excited because I could get mukata too. I'd also recommend it if you're hunting for a group dinner spot in Hapjeong or a date spot in Sangsu, so let me walk you through it.

Rua Zin sits between Hapjeong and Sangsu, and you can easily enjoy all kinds of local-style Vietnamese food here. The place itself has a really strong Vietnamese vibe~

I missed out on mukata in Bangkok, so at Rua Zin in Hapjeong I finally had it properly, together with pho.

Where is Rua Zin? Location, hours and parking

Rua Zin is 433 m from Exit 4 of Sangsu Station (Line 6), between Hapjeong Station and Sangsu Station. It's open daily 11:00–23:00, and there's no parking.

Rua Zin exterior

This is Rua Zin in the daytime.

And this is Rua Zin in the evening. The red neon sign made it feel like I'd landed in Vietnam. The stairs on the left go up to the 2nd and 3rd floors.

Inside Rua Zin: good for group dinners or dates?

The 1st floor has generously spaced seating, which made it nice for eating, and it's no pressure as a spot for gatherings or dates. There's separate seating on the 2nd floor too.

On the day I visited there were couples on dates and plenty of big groups too, so I immediately understood why so many people recommend it as a Hapjeong group dinner spot.

There's a private room as well.

Rua Zin menu and prices

How is the mukata (Thai-style pork grill) at Rua Zin?

Rua Zin's mukata, a Thai-style grilled pork dish, is ₩19,000 for 1 person and ₩38,000 for 2. It was by far the dish I was most looking forward to.

Mukata was one of the things I really wanted to eat when I went to Bangkok. But in Thailand a lot of places are outdoors, and the idea of sweating over a grill in the heat with no air conditioning was too much, so I came home without trying it. It always left me a little disappointed, so being able to enjoy mukata comfortably in the cool indoors at Rua Zin, a great Vietnamese spot in Hapjeong, made me really happy.

With mukata you grill meat and vegetables together and eat them with a broth, so it's fun to watch and fun to eat. Beef and pork come together, and the meat quality was honestly really good. It was mild but juicy, and eating it with the vegetables kept it nice and clean-tasting.

These are the vegetables that came with the mukata. Crab and shrimp, which give the broth its refreshing flavor, come on the same plate. The vegetables were very fresh too.

With the crab and shrimp in it, the broth had a deep, refreshing flavor,

and the springy shrimp were really delicious too.

Dipping the meat in the tangy, spicy, salty nam jim seafood sauce and the mildly spicy nam jim suki sauce gave it a real local feel.

How does Rua Zin's bánh xèo taste?

Rua Zin's bánh xèo (crispy Vietnamese savory pancake) is ₩8,500, and the crunchy texture won me over. The pancake is thin and crisp with various fillings inside, and it stayed crunchy with every bite, so I kept reaching for more.

I put the bánh xèo in rice paper and rolled it up,

and dipping it in the sauce that came with it was so good~ Exactly my kind of style.

Beef brisket pho near Sangsu Station: worth ordering?

Rua Zin's beef brisket pho is ₩10,000. The broth is rich yet clean, and the portion is generous, so this one bowl alone is filling.

The tender brisket was delicious and the savory, umami-packed broth was a big part of the charm.

It keeps pho's characteristic deep aroma while still being easy for anyone to eat, so I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good pho place near Sangsu Station.

Pineapple fried rice at Rua Zin

Rua Zin's pineapple fried rice is ₩13,500.

The subtle sweetness of the pineapple blended nicely with the savory fried rice, and it wasn't heavy-handed, so it went well with the other dishes.

The soup served with the fried rice was full of umami and really tasty too.

Chả giò (fried spring rolls) at Rua Zin

Rua Zin's chả giò (짜조) is ₩5,500.

Chả giò is a must, of course. Crispy outside and moist inside, it's sure to satisfy anyone who likes Vietnamese food. It paired well with the pho, and I think it would go nicely with a beer too.

Who is Rua Zin for?

If you're looking for a group dinner spot in Hapjeong, Rua Zin is great for several people sharing a variety of dishes, and as a date spot in Sangsu it should go over well, with unusual dishes and a fun atmosphere. I'd especially recommend it to anyone who wants to try mukata easily in Korea. It held up fine as a Hapjeong lunch spot, and among Vietnamese restaurants in Hapjeong, the varied menu made me want to come back.

Overall verdict on Rua Zin

Getting to enjoy the mukata I'd missed in Bangkok in a cool, comfortable space made it even better, and the pho, bánh xèo and chả giò were all well made, so this is a Vietnamese restaurant in Hapjeong I'd happily revisit.