Pyeongchon pho restaurant, self-serve cilantro and coffee: Pho Witch

What is Pho Witch, the pho restaurant in Pyeongchon's academy district?

Pho Witch is a Vietnamese restaurant in the food alley of the Pyeongchon academy district. The area is packed with eateries, and at lunch and dinner it's crowded with people looking for everything from Korean to Western food to snack-bar fare. Today I visited Pho Witch, a Vietnamese spot lots of people are heading to here. From the atmosphere alone, this Anyang pho place felt like being on a trip to Vietnam, and I loved that.

Because it sits in the food alley, it's easy for students and parents, office workers, and couples on a date alike. The restaurant is run by a brother and sister who are seven years apart.

• Address: 61-27 Gwiin-ro 190beon-gil, Dongan-gu, Anyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea (1st floor)
• Hours: Mon–Sun 11:00–21:00
• Parking: Parking available in front of the restaurant

Does the Pho Witch interior really feel like Vietnam?

The first thing you notice when you step inside Pho Witch is the interior, full of local Vietnamese charm.

The wall decorations, the props, the whole mood remind you of a restaurant in Vietnam, so it felt like a trip before I even ate. The seating is spacious, so it works for eating solo, a family meal or a group gathering.

There's also a Naver review event where you can get a mini spring roll or quẩy (fried dough stick), so you should definitely join in, right?

What's on the Pho Witch self-serve bar: cilantro, coffee and more

On one side of Pho Witch there's a mini self-serve bar with water, aprons, wet wipes, stain remover and hair ties, plus coffee and tea, so you can have a relaxed tea time after your meal. I love that!

You can also help yourself to simple side dishes without any pressure.

Pho Witch menu and set meals

As a proper Vietnamese restaurant, Pho Witch has pho, banh mi sandwiches, king rib pho, pad thai and pineapple fried rice, plus sides like bún chả, quẩy and chả giò (spring rolls). There are also set menus with slightly smaller portions than the single dishes so you can try a bit of everything, and that's what we ordered.

Banh Mi Crazy Set and Don't Be Lonely Solo Pho & Fried Rice Set

We ordered the Banh Mi Crazy Set and the Single Rice-Fried Set, and wow, the portions are generous and it was totally delicious. The Banh Mi Crazy Set is pho plus a banh mi sandwich, and the Single Rice-Fried Set is pho plus pineapple fried rice.

Ordering like this lets you taste a nice variety of dishes, which I liked.

How does the brother-and-sister pho at Pho Witch taste?

Pho is definitely the signature dish at Pho Witch. The broth is simmered for a long time, so it tastes deep and rich, yet it isn't heavy-handed, and I'd say the flavor is clean.

The signature Siblings' Sincerity Pho comes with plenty of tender brisket, more than enough for a filling meal. And I really love cilantro, so I'm so happy they give it generously and you can serve yourself. Other places charge extra for cilantro, but at Pho Witch you can eat as much as you like from the self-serve bar.

The broth is really clean and the noodles are chewy, so good.

Is the Pho Witch banh mi filling enough for a meal?

The banh mi at Pho Witch brings together a crispy baguette, fresh vegetables and sweet-and-salty pork, and it was great as a filling meal rather than just a light snack.

Piling lots of cilantro on top made it even better. Biting in, the crispy baguette is so good that I keep thinking about this banh mi.

Pho Witch pineapple fried rice: a flavor kids will love too

The pineapple fried rice at Pho Witch is sweet, nutty, fluffy fried rice made with fresh pineapple from a faraway island country.

I think even kids would love this one~ How is every single dish so good? This sibling-run pho restaurant is a place I really want to recommend.

Verdict: why Pho Witch is a pho restaurant worth visiting in Pyeongchon

From the entrance to the interior, Pho Witch feels like a trip to Vietnam, so I was in a good mood from the moment I walked in. The sibling owners are so kind, and every dish is generous and tasty.

You can enjoy rich-broth pho, smoky pad thai, filling banh mi and a range of sides all in one place, along with an atmosphere full of Vietnamese charm. If you love deep, rich pho broth you'll be especially satisfied, and if you're looking for a good restaurant in the Pyeongchon academy district, I recommend Pho Witch!!!