Naseong-dong pho restaurant with room seats in Sejong: Mekong Thai

With kids, we're always debating where to go on weekends. This time we headed out to Sejong.

After wandering around looking at things, we slowly got hungry, and suddenly I really wanted a hot bowl of pho.

A quick search turned up a well-reviewed pho spot in Sejong, so we headed straight there — Mekong Thai Sejong Naseong Branch.

Why Mekong Thai Sejong Naseong Branch works with kids

Mekong Thai Sejong Naseong Branch is a pho restaurant on the 2nd floor of the NS Building on Naseong-ro in Sejong. The interior was very clean, and there were even private room-style seats, so it seemed fine to visit with a child. We walked in with high expectations.

As soon as we walked in, they brought us cold tea first — a real relief since we'd been out walking in the heat. It cooled us down quickly and we started the meal in a good mood. The side dishes were also neatly prepared and paired well with the pho, so there was nothing lacking.

Table guide and QR ordering at Mekong Thai

The table at Mekong Thai Sejong Naseong had instructions on how to enjoy the pho better — even details like how to add the sauce and when to add the bean sprouts. I thought even a first-time visitor could enjoy it fully with this. These little touches felt surprisingly thoughtful.

Ordering was done via QR code. It was convenient because we could look through the menu slowly and order without calling a staff member.

L-size pho: how big is the bowl, how is the beef?

We ordered one pineapple fried rice for our first child, and my husband and I ordered the L-size pho — the main reason we came to this restaurant that day. As soon as the food arrived, we were both surprised.

The L-size pho was much bigger than we expected, and the words "can we actually finish this?" came out naturally, haha. The portion was generous, but above all, there was so much meat in it.

The meat had no odor at all and was tender, so I thought it would be fine even for a child to eat. The noodles weren't overcooked either — they were just right, giving a nice texture.

The broth was rich yet clean-tasting, and after one spoonful I understood why this place is called a Sejong pho hotspot. It was the kind of flavor that had me spooning up the broth throughout the whole bowl.

Pineapple fried rice our child kept eating

The pineapple fried rice we ordered for our first child turned out to be a really good choice. She seemed to enjoy it and ate it well, especially picking out the pineapple pieces one by one.

Watching her pick out just the pineapple was so cute it made me laugh, haha. We tried a bite too — the rice was fluffy and light, and the sweet pineapple paired well with it. Delicious.

Sauces, Cheongyang chili and cilantro: season it your way

Following the instructions written on the table, we mixed the two sauces together and tried them with the pho. It was tasty plain, but mixing in the sauce gave it a whole different appeal.

I added Thai chili peppers for a spicy kick, while my husband loaded his up with cilantro. Even the same bowl of pho could be enjoyed differently based on personal taste, which was nice.

Adding the Thai chili made the broth a bit more refreshing and spicy, and my husband said the cilantro made it taste like something you'd eat locally — he really enjoyed it.

Would we go back to Mekong Thai for a family dinner?

Walking out after the meal, we naturally talked about stopping by again next time we're in Sejong. The portions were generous, the food was good, and it was easy to visit with a child — all of which made it a memorable place.

If you're craving a warm bowl of pho in Sejong, I'd recommend Mekong Thai Sejong Naseong Branch. It was great for a hearty meal during a weekend outing with kids, and it also suits a date or family dinner spot.

These days, our family enjoys finding a local go-to restaurant whenever we visit a new area, and this was another successful meal. Next time we visit Naseong-dong in Sejong, I'd like to try other menu items, but I suspect we'll probably order the pho again anyway. That's how good this Sejong pho spot, Mekong Thai Sejong Naseong Branch, was.