Sadang pho restaurant, 10-minute evening wait: Bangbaedong Ssalguksu

Today I'm bringing you a review of Bangbaedong Ssalguksu (방배동쌀국수), which I visited because I was craving pho near Sadang! I remembered loving it the last time I ate here, and since I had a reason to stop by Sadang anyway, I decided to pay another visit :)

How to reach Bangbaedong Ssalguksu from Sadang and Isu stations

Bangbaedong Ssalguksu is within walking distance of both Sadang and Isu stations! We showed up around 8pm on a weekday, and I figured it would be pretty empty given the late hour. Well, guess what — it was already full haha. We ended up waiting outside for about 10 minutes until two seats finally opened up and we could squeeze in!

Bangbaedong Ssalguksu opening hours

• Weekdays 11:00 – 21:00
• Weekends 11:00 – 20:00
• Delivery and takeout are also available, for reference :)

Inside the 15-seat restaurant: like a local spot in Vietnam

The moment we walked in, the vibe was really distinctive! It's nothing like the clean, polished look of franchise pho chains.

From the Vietnamese food posters on the wall to the little props and drinks, it felt like a slice of an actual Vietnamese restaurant transplanted here — very hip haha. The place is pretty compact, and from what I could tell, it seats around 15.

There's a row of bar-style seating wrapped around the kitchen, so you can watch the cooking happen right in front of you. It's set up for two people sitting side by side, which also seemed like it would work fine for a solo diner :)

Bangbaedong Ssalguksu menu and prices

Pho at Bangbaedong Ssalguksu starts at ₩10,000 for the brisket version.

• Brisket pho ₩10,000
• Beef bacon pho ₩11,000
• Fresh tenderloin pho ₩11,000
• Chicken pho ₩11,000
• Combo pho ₩12,000
• Spicy beef bacon pho ₩12,000
• Pineapple fried rice ₩12,000
• Seafood fried rice ₩11,000
• Chicken fried rice ₩11,000
• Bun cha ₩14,000
• Sides: cha gio (fried spring rolls), fresh spring rolls, chicken wings, vegetable spring rolls

I'd originally been curious about the beef bacon pho, but we were told only the fresh tenderloin pho was available that day, so we ordered fresh tenderloin pho ₩11,000, pineapple fried rice ₩12,000, and fresh spring rolls ₩6,000!

How long the food takes after ordering

Bangbaedong Ssalguksu apparently makes its broth fresh every day and cooks each order as it comes in. When we visited, the place was full and there were quite a few orders backed up, so it took a while for the food to arrive. We got there around 8pm, waited 10 minutes to be seated, then another 20 minutes after ordering, so we didn't actually start eating until about 8:30. We were hungry, so the wait felt long, but the open kitchen meant we could watch the food being made, which helped haha.

Fresh tenderloin pho, 11,000 won: generous meat and a light broth

First up, the fresh tenderloin pho! It came in a big bowl, piled high with fresh tenderloin slices on top.

I liked that the portion of meat was more generous than I expected haha. I cooked the meat bit by bit in the broth and ate it with the noodles — the broth had a distinct spicy kick from the pepper. It was clear and light, but still had real depth to it :) That said, since I personally tend to eat on the saltier side, the seasoning felt a touch mild to me. If you like pho that isn't too intense, though, this might be exactly your style!

Pineapple fried rice, 12,000 won: lighter than expected, not sweet

This one I'd been especially curious about — pineapple fried rice! Based on the name alone I expected something sweet, but it turned out to be more light and savory than I imagined.

It's made with meat, egg, corn, and more, all stir-fried together with pineapple.

Interestingly, there was also a portion of fresh pineapple served on the side of the plate haha. The fried rice itself had a strong hit of pepper and tasted close to an egg-and-meat fried rice. Mixing in the pineapple here and there added a sweet, refreshing lift, and the combo worked better than I expected :) The pineapple flavor wasn't overpowering, so even first-timers with pineapple fried rice should be able to enjoy it without hesitation. My only gripe, again, was that the seasoning felt a bit weak for my taste!

Fresh spring rolls, 6,000 won: the side to order with your pho

Last up were the fresh spring rolls. Inside were thin noodles, shrimp, paprika, and bell pepper — overall it felt really light and healthy haha.

On their own they're pretty plain, but dipping them in the spicy chili sauce served alongside made a big difference! That said, compared to the other dishes, it wasn't something that particularly stuck in my memory — more of a good side to pair with the pho :)

Who Bangbaedong Ssalguksu suits best

Bangbaedong Ssalguksu, found while searching for pho near Sadang! What stuck with me most was the interior — it really packs a Vietnamese-restaurant atmosphere into a small space haha. The flavors overall lean light rather than punchy, so the seasoning felt a touch mild for my taste, but if you're into clean, understated pho, this place is worth a visit :)