Vietnamese restaurant near Sangsu Station for chả cá and pho: Rua Zin

Hapjeong pho, a Hongdae favorite, and a rooftop terrace with real atmosphere. This is a record of some exotic moments.

Let me introduce Rua Zin, probably the most exotic and special place to eat around Hapjeong, Hongdae and Sangsu, where you can try truly unique Vietnamese dishes!

Where is Rua Zin? Getting there from Sangsu Station

Rua Zin is about 400m from Sangsu Station Exit 4, at 9 Dongmak-ro 8-gil, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It's in the building right next to the Umuji venue in Hapjeong, so I went thinking, I have to eat here before the show! A Hongdae-area favorite for sure!

Inside Rua Zin: the atmosphere, second floor and rooftop terrace

The exterior already gave off an exotic, different mood, but the inside was seriously amazing. It's Vietnamese-style yet glamorous, and it matched the feel of Ho Chi Minh City's night streets from my last trip to Vietnam. Such a perfect vibe.

Going up to the second floor, I really liked that there are separate men's and women's restrooms. With the terrace and rooftop too, the upper and lower levels connect nicely. Since the space is divided up, it seemed good for eating in a bigger group as well.

What we ordered at Rua Zin, and the prices

Saigon Special beer, ₩7,000

Saigon Special has a light body, and unlike a stout or an IPA it went well with the herbal flavors of the ingredients in Rua Zin's dishes. It's a lager, so it goes down smoothly and isn't very bitter. My favorite taste of the day.

Leng Seb pho, ₩12,000, with a whole pork spine

Leng Seb pho comes with a huge pork spine in it, so it's loads of fun to eat. It has a deep herbal flavor, so much so that I'd call it the signature dish of this Hapjeong pho spot, and like the saying "Thai-style gamjatang pho," the lime-based flavor is great.

The spine was tender and the meat came off easily, which made it easy to eat, and a tangy fish sauce is included by default, so you get the dish's true flavor 💗 If you like food that feels properly foreign rather than adapted to Korean tastes, I highly recommend it.

Chả cá, ₩38,000, a dish I've only had at Rua Zin

Honestly, chả cá (Vietnamese turmeric fish) is a dish I couldn't find at any restaurant other than Rua Zin. The golden fish is marinated with fragrant herbs and turmeric, then the fish is stir-fried right there with dill, scallions and so on, and you can taste it on the spot.

They say that in the name Rua Zin, "Rua" means fire and "Zin" means 9, the number of completion. The idea is a dish that wakes up the flavor of the ingredients with the strongest heat and adds nine rounds of care. As the chả cá slowly simmers down, the herbs and onions underneath release a little broth that blends nicely with the oil sprinkled on to bring out flavor, and the mix of turmeric and dill aroma is incredible.

How do you eat chả cá?

I dipped the thin somyeon noodles they served alongside in a little sauce and topped them with more dill and vegetables. It's a "totally different" taste you can't get in Korean-style food, which makes your mouth have fun, and it's such a unique experience that it'll be an unforgettable bite ☺️

It has that feeling of carrying on Vietnamese local tradition just as it is, and the sensation of herbs and peanuts mixing together once more was so new that the more I ate, the more it seemed to soak in.

How was Rua Zin as a meal before an Umuji show?

I took this flavor and this vibe from Rua Zin and burned it up at Umuji, heh heh. Rua Zin, the Hapjeong pho spot, being in the building next to Umuji was a stroke of genius. It matched the psychedelic, metal and alternative feel perfectly. The best!

A time at Rua Zin in Hapjeong that's fun for your mouth and far from predictable 💕 The first floor is nice, but I hope you'll enjoy the romantic, different kind of fun on the second floor and the rooftop terrace ⭐️✨

A grammar that isn't obvious.

• Name: Rua Zin
• Address: 9 Dongmak-ro 8-gil, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: daily 11:00 to 23:00