Seogwipo Vietnamese restaurant for beef pho and a mixed set: Pho Bay

Why I went to Pho Bay Seogwipo Seohong-jeom during my Seogwipo trip

After wandering Seogwipo Olle Market, taking the cruise and strolling Cheonjiyeon Falls, I was craving something warm and brothy, so I headed to Pho Bay Seogwipo Seohong-jeom (포베이 서귀포 서홍점), a pho place in Seogwipo. The clean interior and hearty menu make it a good spot for a proper meal.

On this Jeju trip I grabbed omegi tteok (Jeju millet rice cakes) and gimbap (seaweed rice rolls) to go from Seogwipo Olle Market and ate them on the cruise~~ I never get tired of the cruise. Today I sat in the first-floor cabin in the cool air-conditioning, cracking up at the guide's patter, peeling tangerines and just drifting along.

Cheonjiyeon Falls was right next to the parking lot as we came out, so I paid the ₩2,000 admission and walked through mid-July Jeju with the forest shading us from the sun. A breeze came through now and then, so it wasn't that hot. After all that fun and walking, we deserved something tasty! And when you want a warm broth, you go to the Seogwipo pho place~~ Pho Bay Seogwipo Seohong-jeom.

What is the atmosphere like and how do you order?

The restaurant is spacious and the tables are nicely spaced out, so it looks comfortable for a family meal, a date or even eating alone. Ordering was easy at the table kiosk, and they brought out hot tea too, which put me in a good mood before the food even arrived.

The teapot looks a little exotic, and the tea is strong but tasty. I always feel this way: the hot tea at Vietnamese restaurants is delicious even in summer.

How was the beef pho?

The beef pho at Pho Bay Seogwipo Seohong-jeom had a clear, transparent broth with a gentle, rich beef aroma rising from it. The beef pho came out first~~ and one sip settled my stomach right away.

I piled on bean sprouts and ate them with the onions, which brought out a crisp texture and made it even more refreshing. There was plenty of meat, which I was happy about, and if you like cilantro, adding it gives a more authentic local feel. I tried cilantro today too! Hahaha

What comes in the Special Mixed Set?

The Special Mixed Set has four items: fried spring rolls (jjajo), summer rolls, shrimp balls and sweet chili fried chicken, and it looked generous even just sitting there. Getting all four at once tempted me to be greedy. I want to eat everything, what can I do~~

I especially love spring rolls, summer rolls and anything wrapped in rice paper.

So full of good stuff~~ hahaha Love it, love it!

Summer rolls: my favorite, dipped in peanut sauce

The summer rolls in the set are packed with fresh vegetables, rice, egg, crab sticks and more, so the texture was really good, and I swapped sauces like a true gourmet~~ Dipped generously in peanut sauce, the nutty flavor spreads richly, and it was my favorite item.

Fried spring rolls (jjajo): crispy outside, juicy inside, with sweet chili sauce

My second favorite, the jjajo! Really crispy outside and moist inside. Dipped in sweet chili sauce, the sweet-and-sour taste kept me reaching for more.

Shrimp balls: springy shrimp

The shrimp balls at Pho Bay are crispy outside with springy shrimp inside, so the shrimp texture really comes through when you bite in.

Sweet chili fried chicken: sweet and spicy chili sauce

The sweet chili fried chicken paired well, with crispy-outside, moist-inside chicken and a sweet, spicy chili sauce. Eaten with the pho, it didn't feel greasy and the balance was great.

The sauce combo that makes pho even better

My favorite part of Pho Bay Seogwipo Seohong-jeom was the combination of hoisin sauce and chili sauce set out on the table. I mixed the two sauces together in moderation and dipped the meat and noodles in, and the savory depth came alive.

I enjoyed the plain, clean broth as it was, then dipped the noodles and meat in the two sauces for a different kind of fun. Honestly, I eat pho just so I can dip things in sauce. Hahaha

Is Pho Bay Seogwipo Seohong-jeom worth going back to?

If you're looking for a good pho place in Seogwipo, Pho Bay Seogwipo Seohong-jeom was plenty satisfying. The beef pho had an impressive clean, deep broth, and the Special Mixed Set let me try several Vietnamese dishes at once, which I loved.

The fun of dipping noodles and meat in the two sauces, the crispy jjajo and shrimp balls, the fresh summer rolls and the sweet-spicy chili chicken: nothing let me down in this meal. If you want a filling but clean meal in Seogwipo, I recommend Pho Bay Seogwipo Seohong-jeom.