Bun cha and A.F.C chicken at Anan, a Gangnam Station Vietnamese spot

I had plans near Gangnam Station today and suddenly craved Vietnamese food, so I stopped by Anan's Gangnam branch. It's right on the Gangnam Station strip, so anyone with plans in the area can drop in without much trouble. Whenever I'm craving a trip to Vietnam, coming to Gangnam Station and letting Anan welcome me works pretty well haha.

Where Anan Gangnam Direct Store is and what the restaurant feels like

Anan Gangnam Direct Store is close to both exit 12 and exit 11 of Gangnam Station Line 2, and not far from the station at all, so it's an easy spot to meet up. Maybe that's why it's popular both for after-work get-togethers and for cheongmo (blind date meetup groups)! When we were there, one table was actually having dinner as part of a cheongmo, and a group at the back table had come for an after-party meal following some kind of gathering. The place is spacious, so it seems comfortable even for groups.

The giveaway event where every order wins a prize

Anan Gangnam is currently running a giveaway where everyone wins a prize. First prize is banh xeo, and even fourth prize is a drink, so there's really no reason not to try it, haha. We ended up with the drink.

The interior at Anan Gangnam is spacious, which is probably why it's popular for group gatherings and cheongmo meetups — the place is clean and the tables are set well apart, which was nice. There's a slight local Vietnamese feel to it, but the overall vibe is tidy and pleasant.

The basic table setting is plates and tissues. The water is grapefruit water, so it feels a bit like a detox before the meal! The chopsticks also had that local, authentic feel.

What we ordered by QR code at Anan

Ordering at Anan Gangnam is done through a QR code at each table. We ordered bun cha (grilled pork with rice noodles), pho with beef, and A.F.C, the chicken Anan developed themselves. If you want to join the event advertised at the front of the store, just add it to your cart along with your order.

How the bun cha tasted

The food came out within about 10 minutes of ordering, and the bun cha arrived first. It was surprisingly close to the bun cha I've had in Vietnam. It felt like a taste of that trip again!

Bun cha comes with lettuce, sauce, rice noodles, and grilled meat. The meat that comes with the bun cha was really delicious — a bit sweet, kind of like Korean bulgogi. Dipping the noodles and vegetables into the sauce in the center was absolutely perfect. I actually like bun cha more than banh xeo, haha.

Anan's beef pho: a strong spice aroma

Next up, the beef pho~~ Anan's pho has a stronger spice flavor. Even without cilantro, there was a distinctive aroma. It was topped with plenty of beef, but there was a fair amount of fatty part, so eating a lot of it could feel slightly greasy. That's why pairing it with a somewhat spicy dish works well together.

The noodles were thin and well-cooked, great with the meat and broth together. The broth was hot and refreshing at the same time. There's a slight signature pho aroma in the broth, but it wasn't overpowering, so I ate it without much resistance.

With bun cha, piling vegetables, noodles, and meat together in one bite was absolutely delicious. The meat is well-seasoned on its own, so this is a bun cha you can enjoy without any extra sauce.

A.F.C chicken, 9,000 won and only at Anan

And then there's the seasoned fried chicken made with a sauce Anan developed themselves — totally worth the price! It had a flavor I'd never tasted before. There was a hint of spice along with a spicy seasoning that went really well with the fried chicken. Since this is a dish you can only get at Anan, I'd recommend giving it a try. And at only ₩9,000, it's not a big commitment!

We finished off the meal with the fried rice paper that came alongside the bun cha, eating every last bit. Having Vietnamese food in Korea after a while made me want to travel to Vietnam again haha. I should go plan my next trip soon 💪