Pho and seafood fried rice in Seocho, Seoul: Bangbaedong Ssalguksu

Bangbaedong Ssalguksu 34 Bangbaecheon-ro 8-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul Weekdays 11:00 - 22:00 Weekends 11:00 - 21:00

How long is the walk from Sadang and Isu stations?

Bangbaedong Ssalguksu is about a 5-minute walk from Sadang Station and a 7-minute walk from Isu Station, so it's easy to reach from either. If you're craving pho near Sadang or Isu, this is a must-visit spot — so I went and checked it out.

Being so close to the stations makes it great for meeting friends or grabbing dinner after work — the accessibility is really good :)

The restaurant felt like a slice of Vietnam, though it's on the cozy side 🇻🇳 The atmosphere is clean, so it's comfortable whether you're eating alone or with friends.

There were solo diners, groups of friends about my mom's age, moms with elementary school kids, friends, couples — people of all ages and backgrounds. This isn't even in an alley full of famous restaurants, but everyone seemed to know about it, which made me think, this really is a legit local favorite :)

How does Bangbaedong Ssalguksu simmer its beef bone broth?

I was excited to hear that Bangbaedong Ssalguksu simmers its own broth from early every morning. They cook pork bone and beef bone with chicken, fresh vegetables, and spices, prepared with care each day.

Looking at Naver reviews, people who've traveled to Vietnam rave that it's ten times more delicious than the real thing 👍🏻

What two people ordered, and what it cost

We ordered mixed pho (₩12,000), spicy beef brisket pho (₩12,000), seafood fried rice (₩11,000), and a Coke (₩2,000) ✔️ Bangbaedong Ssalguksu cooks everything to order, 100% handmade, so you get to enjoy dishes fresh off the stove. And it comes out fast too! 👍🏻👍🏻

Chili sauce, hoisin sauce, roasted chili flakes, and pickled sides to go with the meal. While waiting, the smell was seriously amazing~

Eek, the delicious dishes came out fast! 😆 Let's dig in right away~~!

What does the signature mixed pho taste like?

First up was Bangbaedong Ssalguksu's signature dish, mixed pho (a mix of noodles, herbs, and toppings in broth). *Cilantro is available on request.

The first spoonful of broth hit me with a rich, deep flavor right away. You could immediately tell it had been simmered carefully for over 12 hours!! 😍 It's genuinely on a different level from other places.

There was that heavy bone-broth richness, but the spices weren't overpowering, so it wasn't too much — I kept scooping up spoonful after spoonful of the warm broth.

The noodles were soft yet had a nice bounce, blending well with the broth. The meat was tender too, with plenty of brisket, tenderloin, and flank, so even one bowl was really filling.

I only meant to try a small bowl from a side plate, but it was so good I ended up finishing the rest myself 😄

Seafood fried rice and the fresh pineapple on the side

Whenever I go to a Vietnamese restaurant, I always order pineapple fried rice, and Bangbaedong Ssalguksu tops theirs with fresh-cut pineapple instead of frozen. Genuinely touched by that,,, 🥹👍🏻👍🏻 I only noticed the pineapple in the display case on my way out, so I found out too late ㅠㅠ Anyway, I was craving seafood fried rice that day, so I tried something different for the first time!

The seafood fried rice had fluffy, well-separated grains with generous seafood on top — it looked appetizing at first glance.

The fluffy grains had that smoky wok-fried aroma, giving it the true flavor of fried rice done right. The seafood added extra savoriness, making it even better! I also liked that they served the fried rice with a side of broth.

The seasoning wasn't too strong, which I liked, and the squid and shrimp gave it a nice texture. A flavor that pairs perfectly with pho! 😋 Above all, the portions at Bangbaedong Ssalguksu are seriously huge, so I'd totally recommend it as a great-value meal!

How spicy is the spicy beef brisket pho?

Last up was the spicy beef brisket pho. Even just looking at it, it seemed like it would be right up my alley spice-wise, and it really was exactly my taste 😆

Bean sprouts, mushrooms, meat... loaded generously! And the noodles, needless to say, there's a ton 🤭

My companion, a former Korean Air flight attendant, took one bite and immediately said, "Wow, this tastes exactly like the real thing"!! She said it tasted just like eating it in Vietnam, with an incredible smoky flavor.

My companion is definitely not a big eater, but she kept eating it because it was so good, and even the fried rice I gave her — she said it was too much at first, but before I knew it she'd finished it and asked for more ㅋㅋㅋ ended up eating two whole bowls 😆👍🏻👍🏻

What to share at Bangbaedong Ssalguksu with a group

This is a place that makes even light eaters eat a lot haha. Bangbaedong Ssalguksu is a truly, truly, truly legit restaurant ‼️ Beyond pho, you can also enjoy bun cha (grilled pork with noodles), cha gio (fried spring rolls), and fresh spring rolls, so it's great to visit with a group and share, like we did.

I especially want to try the bun cha with their in-house special sauce next time. Delivery and takeout are also available, so it's easy to enjoy on days when dining in isn't an option.

If you want proper pho, you absolutely have to visit Bangbaedong Ssalguksu ❗️ The deep, rich broth paired with generous portions made for a truly satisfying meal 👍🏻 Once you try it, you can really tell how different the depth of the broth is in a single bowl of pho. I'm calling it the best pho place of my life ✨ I've already bookmarked it on my map haha. If you're searching for a good restaurant near Isu Station or pho near Isu Station, or a great-value restaurant near Sadang, definitely visit Bangbaedong Ssalguksu ⭐️