Sadang Station bun cha and spicy brisket pho: Bangbaedong Ssalguksu

Autumn is coming and I somehow went the whole summer without eating bun cha (Vietnamese grilled pork with noodles)!! So I searched for Vietnamese restaurants near Sadang to go to after work. I finally visited Bangbaedong Ssalguksu (방배동쌀국수), a pho place in Sadang with lots of reviews that I'd been curious about for a while!

Where is Bangbaedong Ssalguksu, and what are the hours?

Bangbaedong Ssalguksu is at 34 Bangbaecheon-ro 8-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 1st floor, and you can walk there from both Sadang Station and Isu Station. It's open 11:00–22:00 on weekdays (Mon–Fri) and 11:00–21:00 on weekends (Sat–Sun).

Sadang Station was a little closer, though. Starting from either station is no trouble, so it's an easy spot to pick for meetups in Sadang. It's away from the main drinking street, but there are lots of really good cafés and restaurants on this side, hehe.

Inside Bangbaedong Ssalguksu

The interior had a Vietnamese local feel. The atmosphere was so unusual that the moment I walked in, I was even more excited about the food.

Seating and when it fills up in the evening

There are bar seats and table seats. There's one 2-person table and one 4-person table. Around 6:30 p.m. it was suddenly full! I arrived at 6:00, so it was nice and roomy!! In Sadang, filling up at 6:30 seems to be the basic rule.

Is it okay for eating alone in Sadang?

The crowd was really varied: people dining alone, friends, couples on dates, even people who brought their parents. The vibe isn't awkward for solo dining in Sadang, so no wonder it's so popular with office workers after work.

What we ordered at Bangbaedong Ssalguksu

• Brisket pho (양지쌀국수)
• Bun cha (분짜)
• Pineapple fried rice
• Cha gio (fried spring rolls)
• Summer rolls (월남쌈)

Brisket pho: loads of shredded beef

The brisket pho has a really generous amount of meat!! It was my first time seeing the meat come shredded along the grain, and you can eat it like noodles, so the texture was great. Ugh, my mouth is itching to eat it again lol.

There was plenty, and eaten with the pickled onions it was so good.

Add spicy chili and it becomes hangover pho

Partway through the pho I added the spicy chili, and if you put in a lot at once, you're in trouble,,,, it is seriously fiery. The flavor switched right away and the kick made me think it'd be great for a hangover too!! My hangover food is pho!!

Pineapple fried rice: big pineapple, fluffy grains

The pineapple fried rice comes served in a big pineapple, which felt really local. There was lots of it, and the grains were fluffy and tasty.

It goes well with the pho broth too, so I recommend ordering one rice and one noodle dish.

Bun cha: a rich but not salty sauce that isn't too sweet

I loved that the bun cha sauce isn't too sweet. And it's rich but not salty. How did you pull off that combination,,!!!!!!,,🖤 The noodles were thinner than I expected, but they went really well with the sauce.

There were plenty of vegetables too, and eaten with the bulgogi-style pork it was a perfect match. It made up for missing bun cha all summer haha.

Summer rolls and cha gio on the side

The summer rolls have the same noodles as the bun cha inside, so they're filling all by themselves. I'd love to pack a whole bunch for lunch haha. Dipped in the bun cha sauce they were good too.

I expected the cha gio to be like a spring roll, but it felt like a summer roll fried crispy. I just love spring rolls, cha gio and dumplings,,,?? With the sauce it was even better. Try it as a side!!

Bangbaedong Ssalguksu: final verdict

• Recommended if you're looking for a great pho place in Sadang or a solo-meal option there
• The brisket pho was impressive!!
• The bun cha, fried rice and sides were each satisfying
• Unusual atmosphere and good value for Sadang