Pyeongchon Southeast Asian restaurant date, messy banh mi: Pho Witch

If you're looking for a good date spot near the Pyeongchon academy district, Pho Witch is a solid choice. It isn't a super romantic place, but it's a friendly, comfortable Southeast Asian restaurant where you can share banh mi, pad thai and pho and keep things light! Let me tell you why it became a place I keep coming back to.

Where is Pho Witch in Pyeongchon, and is there parking?

Pho Witch is on the food street of the Pyeongchon academy district, and there's room for about 4 cars in front of the restaurant. Being near the cram-school area, it isn't too noisy, and it's a good spot for a short walk or a move to a café afterward. Parking around Pyeongchon's academy district can be a bit of a worry, so parking out front was a real plus.

That said, the lot isn't big, so in the evening or on weekends I'd leave yourself some extra time.

Pho Witch opening hours

Pho Witch is open daily 11:00-21:00, with last order at 20:30. It works for a lunch date or dinner, and as long as it isn't too late, it's an easy place to drop in.

What is the atmosphere like inside Pho Witch?

The inside has a friendly Southeast Asian restaurant feel. Green plants and small decorations keep the space from feeling bland, and the tables have more room than I expected.

It has an open-kitchen feel, so you can catch a glimpse of the food being made, and there's that relaxed vibe you get from a restaurant run by siblings. If you expect a quiet, dimly lit date restaurant it may be different, but it was great for chatting comfortably over a meal.

Personally, I found this casual atmosphere easier for a light date than somewhere too formal.

Self-serve side dishes, children's chairs and aprons

Extra side dishes are self-serve at Pho Witch. If you run out of something mid-meal you don't have to keep asking the staff, and it's nice that you can take only as much as you'll eat.

There are also kids' chairs inside, so it looked fine for families coming with children. Aprons are provided too. With brothy dishes like pho or spicy pho you can worry about splashes on your clothes, but with the aprons I could eat without a care.

What to order at Pho Witch for a date

Pho Witch has not just pho but also banh mi, pad thai, fried rice and fried snacks, so it's easy for two people to share dishes. Here are the main menu prices.

• Banh mi sandwich ₩9,000
• Nammae's Sincerity Pho (Nammae-ui Jeongseong Ssalguksu) ₩10,000
• Younger Brother's Pick Spicy Pho (Dongsaeng Chucheon Eolkeun Ssalguksu) ₩11,000
• Passionate Siblings Smoky Pad Thai (Yeoljeong Nammae Bulhyang Pad Thai) ₩12,000
• Banh mi sandwich & pho set ₩16,500
• Assorted fritters (6 pcs) ₩6,500

The two of us had banh mi, pad thai and spicy pho. Compared with ordering two noodle dishes, adding banh mi gave a different texture and felt more varied.

I love cilantro, so I added extra. The table was full of food, which put me in a good mood, and the plating was pretty, so it felt like an occasion.

How does the Passionate Siblings smoky pad thai taste?

Pho Witch's Passionate Siblings Smoky Pad Thai (₩12,000) had a slight smoky, wok-fired flavor just like the name says. The sauce wasn't too thick and the spice wasn't strong, so even someone new to Southeast Asian food could eat it without trouble.

The ground peanuts come separately so you can sprinkle them as you like, and the noodles weren't overcooked, so the texture was good.

On a date you want something easy to share rather than something too strong or awkward to eat, right? In that sense the pad thai was safe yet not bland, so it was great to share.

Is the Younger Sibling's Pick spicy pho very hot?

Pho Witch's spicy pho (eolkeun ssalguksu, ₩11,000) has a spicier broth than regular pho. It isn't overwhelmingly hot; it felt like a beef broth with a sharp, tangy kick added.

Taking a sip of broth between bites of pad thai or banh mi reset my mouth, so the combination worked well. The noodles were cooked just right and there were plenty of toppings, so it was enough as a bowl on its own.

If you can't handle spicy food at all, the basic pho may be easier, but if you like a sharp, tangy broth, the spicy pho is worth recommending.

Is banh mi a good choice for a date?

Pho Witch's banh mi sandwich (₩9,000) tasted good, but I spilled a lot while eating it, so I wouldn't recommend it as a date dish. Eating only pho or pad thai can get a little monotonous since it's all noodles, but with banh mi you can alternate bites. The baguette was slightly crisp outside with fillings inside, light but surprisingly filling.

It's fine on its own and also goes well with the pho broth. If two of you are sharing several dishes, adding one banh mi is a no-regret choice. But you can't help spilling a ton while eating it, so I wouldn't recommend it as a date menu.

Pho Witch in Pyeongchon: final verdict for a casual date

As a date meal, Pho Witch isn't too heavy, has plenty of menu choices and reasonable prices, so it was a good casual visit. There's parking for about 4 cars out front, and with hours of 11:00 to 21:00 it fits easily into a lunch or dinner date.

It may not suit people looking for atmospheric fine dining or an anniversary restaurant, but when you're with someone comfortable and want good Southeast Asian food, Pho Witch in the Pyeongchon academy district fits quite well. If you're looking for a date restaurant near the academy district to share banh mi and pad thai, Pho Witch is worth a stop.