Father-and-son pho lunch near Ajou University, Suwon: Madam Hao

MADAM HAO

Why we chose Madam Hao for pho near Ajou University in Suwon

It's been quite a while since my last trip to Vietnam. I was craving the local pho I'd had there, and while searching for a good pho place near Ajou University, I found out that Madam Hao, a newly opened Vietnamese restaurant, recreates the taste and mood of Hanoi — so I went with my son.

Parking and how to get to Madam Hao

For a solid lunch near Ajou University, Madam Hao has parking right next to the restaurant, and if you're taking public transit, it's about a 3-minute walk from the Ajou University/Ajou University Hospital bus stop — an easy place to reach even without a car, whether for lunch or drinks.

Madam Hao opening hours and address

• Hours: Weekdays 11:00am–3:00am / Sat 5:00pm–3:00am / Sun 11:30am–3:00am
• Break time: 3:00pm–5:00pm
• Address: 49 World Cup-ro 193beon-gil, 101ho, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi, South Korea

What the inside of Madam Hao looks like

The inside of Madam Hao is spacious with plenty of tables, making it great for gatherings or group drinking sessions — and I heard they also do private rentals! With decor that really brings out the local Vietnamese feel, warm lighting, and wood-toned interiors, the vibe was excellent — I even spotted a couple on a date near Ajou University.

Once we sat down, cool water and shrimp chips arrived right away haha

Ordering at Madam Hao through the table kiosk

You order through the kiosk at each table, and paper cups and various condiments were provided at the top of the table.

For first-time visitors to Madam Hao, each menu item comes with a note on how to eat it best — handy to reference.

As basic side dishes, we got pickled radish, chili, lemon, and kimchi — just like the pho places I visited in Vietnam.

Brisket pho 11,000 won and beef jjamppong pho 12,000 won

For this visit, we ordered brisket pho for 11,000 won, beef jjamppong pho for 12,000 won, and a Sprite for 2,000 won.

Is Madam Hao's brisket pho mild enough for kids?

The dish I ordered for my son was the brisket pho, and its clean yet rich broth was the appeal. It's mild enough for a child to eat and made to suit Korean palates, so I'd recommend it to anyone trying pho for the first time.

It's loaded with generous chunks of meat, and the noodle portion was more than expected too, so the pho alone was enough to fill us up.

Beef jjamppong pho, the hangover bowl at Madam Hao

Craving something spicy, I ordered the beef jjamppong pho, and its hearty, spicy broth was the highlight — perfect if you need something to cure a hangover.

Noodle dishes usually leave you hungry again quickly, but even the standard order at Madam Hao comes with a noodle portion that's like a large size at other places, so the fullness lasted a long time.

Final verdict on Madam Hao in Suwon

Lastly, Madam Hao near Ajou University in Suwon is a great choice when you're craving pho, and the staff were so friendly that I was very satisfied overall. Next time I'd like to try the bun cha too. I'd highly recommend Madam Hao near Ajou University to anyone looking for a filling lunch spot, or a good-vibe restaurant with group seating for drinks.