Sejong pho restaurant: cilantro & sprout brisket pho at Mekong Thai

Today I wanted pho in Naseong-dong, Sejong, so I headed to Mekong Thai Sejong Naseong Branch (메콩타이 세종나성점)!

I like pho and go often. Lots of people recommend Mekong Thai as a Naseong-dong favorite, so I went with a friend.

Mekong Thai Sejong Naseong Branch: location, hours and parking

Mekong Thai Sejong Naseong Branch is at 133-9 Naseong-ro, NS Building 2F, Sejong, and it is open daily 10:30–20:50. Break time is listed as 15:00/15:30–17:00 on weekdays/weekends, and parking is available in the building.

• Address: 133-9 Naseong-ro, NS Building 2F, Sejong
• Hours: daily 10:30–20:50
• Break time: weekdays/weekends 15:00/15:30–17:00
• Parking: building parking available

It sits in the Naseong-dong commercial area, so it was easy to get to. Upstairs on the 2nd floor, the place was bigger and more pleasant than I expected. There were photos of local Vietnamese people on the walls too.

Atmosphere and group seating

The whole restaurant was clean, with a Southeast Asian feel to the interior.

There is group seating too, so it looks good for get-togethers. Even though it was a late lunch, customers were still eating. It's bright and spacious, so it felt easy for a family meal, friends, a work lunch or a couple's dinner.

What's on the menu?

The menu has a really wide range of Southeast Asian food: pho, fried rice, stir-fried noodles and summer rolls as mains, plus sides like bun cha.

Here's the menu for reference. Sitting down and looking through it, I wanted so much, from pho to pad thai, fried rice and summer rolls. After some debate we ordered brisket pho (yangji ssalguksu) and bun cha (grilled pork with cold noodles), and asked for extra bean sprouts, cilantro and chili.

Tea and side dishes came out first. Then the brisket pho and bun cha! The bean sprouts, cilantro and chili were generous too.

How is the brisket pho? Changing the flavor with cilantro and sprouts

The brisket pho combines a savory beef broth, tender brisket and rice noodles that slurp up nicely. The brisket and the broth were both good.

I started with a spoonful of broth, and it was rich yet clean. The meaty depth wasn't overwhelming, and when I added cilantro it tasted like a whole different bowl, so I kept eating.

Adding bean sprouts brought out the texture and made the flavor even fuller.

The noodles were springy and soft, and went really well with the broth. A sip of warm broth, then noodles and meat together, is very satisfying. The broth has a savory meaty depth that makes it appealing, and it was really good.

How were the bun cha and cha gio?

The bun cha! Savory meat, crunchy vegetables and a fresh sauce make every bite varied. It was fun to mix noodles, meat and vegetables in slightly different combinations.

Smoky grilled pork with rice noodles and vegetables, dipped in a sweet-and-sour sauce, was fresh, a great match, and delicious.

The golden fried cha gio (fried spring rolls) looked crispy just from the sight of them. They were crunchy from the first bite, with a moist meat filling inside, which I liked.

Looking for pho in Naseong-dong, Sejong? Try Mekong Thai

If you like Southeast Asian food in Naseong-dong, Sejong, and you're looking for pho, visit Mekong Thai Sejong Naseong Branch. It has filling meals, plus pho, pad thai, fried rice and sides that everyone can enjoy together.