Daegu Vietnamese restaurant for a toddler's birthday dinner: Raichen

My son just turned three!!!!! While looking for somewhere to celebrate with a birthday dinner out, I went to [Raichen Chilgok Branch], near the Homeplus in Chilgok 3-jigu. I'd been wanting to try it ever since I noticed it passing by, so here's my review after finally visiting. Let's start this delicious Raichen review 〰️〰️!!!!

Raichen Chilgok Branch hours and closing day

Raichen Chilgok Branch is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11:00-21:15, with last order at 20:30. It's closed every Monday.

Finding Raichen Chilgok Branch in Heat Town

I forgot to take exterior photos, so I'm using the restaurant's own photos and a Street View shot instead 🤣🤣🤣 The interior looks so nice even from outside, and I still managed to forget to photograph it… I really am still such a beginner blogger 🥲

Where do you park at Raichen Chilgok Branch?

You can use the parking lot at Heat Town, the mall where Raichen Chilgok Branch is located. Since we visited after 6pm, the Statistics Korea office parking lot directly across the street was open, so we parked comfortably without any worries!

Inside Raichen Chilgok Branch and the group seating room

The inside of Raichen Chilgok Branch stands out with its clean wood-tone interior. There's also a separated group seating area toward the back. If you reserve ahead, it seems like a great spot for gatherings 🙂

What the family ordered for the birthday dinner

The menu is so varied I'll attach a video. We ordered Hanoi-style pho, banh xeo, and jokbal-bap.

Hanoi pho

💚Hanoi-style pho. We tried the Hanoi-style pho first, and I loved that the broth was clean yet deep in flavor! The distinctive pho aroma wasn't too strong, so it was easy to eat without any pressure, and the noodles were soft enough to enjoy hot along with the broth,, one spoonful of the warm broth and my stomach instantly felt at ease! Personally, broth is the most important part of pho for me, and this one was light and clean, so it was really good !!!!!

Banh xeo (Vietnamese savoury pancake)

💚Banh xeo. And then, a menu item I really, really love — banh xeo! The outside was crispy, and inside were bean sprouts and other ingredients; cutting it, dipping it in sauce, and wrapping it neatly in dry rice paper made the taste indescribable…🥹 The crispy texture held up better than I expected, and it paired great with the pho. Instead of just ordering pho alone, I think it's even better to order one banh xeo to share among a group haha, highly recommend it 🎶

Jokbal-bap (pork trotter rice) without the minced chili

💚Jokbal-bap. For the jokbal-bap, I asked them to leave out the minced chili when ordering! Eating the meat together with the rice made for a hearty, filling portion, and the chewy texture of the pork trotter went really well with the rice ✨ Especially eaten with rice, it made a really satisfying single meal 〰️~!!

I think adding the minced chili would give it more of a spicy kick, but without it, the flavor wasn't harsh at all — the savory jokbal together with rice was basically a rice thief! I was able to enjoy it thoroughly :)

Is Raichen Chilgok Branch good for a 3rd birthday dinner?

All the dishes we tried this time tasted great and were reasonably priced, and ordering the pho + banh xeo + jokbal-bap combo meant the noodle, rice, and vegetable balance came together perfectly ❤️ In particular, the Hanoi-style pho has clean broth, so I'd recommend it as the safest, most universally likable pick, and if you like crispy textures, ordering the banh xeo alongside would be perfect.

If you're ever in the Chilgok area craving Vietnamese food, remember this place and stop by 😊 If you're looking for a good restaurant in Chilgok 3-jigu or a good pho spot, I recommend Raichen Chilgok Branch ✨