# Vietnamese restaurant near Sangsu Station for chả cá and pho: Rua Zin - By Refill Regular (https://superchart.com/en/@refill-counter/) - Written Jul 5, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Mapo, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written after Rua Zin provided the meal as part of a store-visit campaign. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@refill-counter/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@refill-counter/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/index.md) · [日本語](https://superchart.com/ja/@refill-counter/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/index.md) ## In short Rua Zin (루아진) is a Vietnamese restaurant on Dongmak-ro 8-gil in Mapo, Seoul, near Sangsu Station, with seating across the first floor, the second floor and a rooftop terrace. Rua Zin is in the building right next to the Umuji venue, so the writer stopped by before a show for Saigon Special beer, Leng Seb pho and chả cá, a turmeric-and-dill dish that is hard to find anywhere other than Rua Zin. If you want exotic Vietnamese food that hasn't been adapted to Korean tastes, Rua Zin is worth the visit. ## Good to know - **Location**: 1st floor, 9 Dongmak-ro 8-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (about 400m from Sangsu Station Exit 4, in the building next to the Umuji venue) - **Hours**: Daily 11:00–23:00 - **Saigon Special beer**: 7,000 won - **Leng Seb pho**: 12,000 won - **Chả cá**: 38,000 won - **Space**: 1st floor, 2nd floor, terrace and rooftop / separate men's and women's restrooms on the 2nd floor *as written by the visitor on Jul 5, 2026* ![Intro photo of Rua Zin, a Vietnamese restaurant near Sangsu Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-01-3f6up-863.webp) ![Atmospheric rooftop terrace at Rua Zin in Hapjeong](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-02-1atrm-900.webp) Hapjeong pho, a Hongdae favorite, and a rooftop terrace with real atmosphere. This is a record of some exotic moments. ![Signature Vietnamese dish at Rua Zin](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-03-qmixh-1200.webp) 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! ![Exterior of Rua Zin on Dongmak-ro 8-gil near Sangsu Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-04-rbbc2-900.webp) ![Entrance of Rua Zin in the building next to the Umuji venue](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-05-1v6yg-875.webp) ## 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. ![Glamorous Vietnamese-style interior of Rua Zin](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-06-1uujm-900.webp) 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 beer at Rua Zin](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-07-1a7m0-900.webp) ![Saigon Special beer poured into a glass](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-08-5hqle-900.webp) 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. ![Leng Seb pho with a whole pork spine](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-09-6vwz0-799.webp) 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 ![Chả cá spread at Rua Zin](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-10-14ind-900.webp) ![Chả cá with turmeric-marinated fish and herbs](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-11-12sry-877.webp) 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. ![Chả cá being stir-fried with dill and scallions](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-12-uee1o-900.webp) ![Golden fish chả cá cooking at the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-13-1femq-824.webp) ![Pan of chả cá with herbs and fish](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-14-1dvs1-900.webp) 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. ![Chả cá simmered down with its broth](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-15-34d34-900.webp) ![Close-up of chả cá with turmeric and dill aroma](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-16-7b97h-900.webp) ### 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 ☺️ ![Somyeon noodles and sauce served with chả cá](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-17-1sive-900.webp) ![A bite of noodles topped with chả cá and dill](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-18-120xu-900.webp) 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. ![A bite of chả cá with herbs and peanuts](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-19-1wsdj-m-900.webp) ![Vietnamese meal at Rua Zin](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-20-5gjw9-900.webp) ![Chả cá and pho on the table at Rua Zin](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-21-1alu2-m-900.webp) ![Leftover dishes after the meal at Rua Zin](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-22-1sklz-m-900.webp) ## 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! ![Visiting the Umuji venue next to Rua Zin](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-23-1ad49-900.webp) ![Atmosphere of Rua Zin's second floor and rooftop terrace](https://img.superchart.com/images/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca-24-xz9do-m-900.webp) 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 ## Where it is - Rua Zin (루아 진) - 9 Dongmak-ro 8-gil, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 마포구 독막로8길 9 1층 - 37.5474316, 126.9183115 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%A3%A8%EC%95%84%20%EC%A7%84/@37.5474316,126.9183115,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@refill-counter/sangsu-lua-jin-vietnamese-cha-ca/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt