# Gangnam Station pho restaurant with a cha gio set for two: Anan

- By Hyeon M. (https://superchart.com/en/@weekday-ramble/)
- Written Sep 23, 2026
- Local places › Restaurants › Gangnam, Seoul
- Sponsored: This post was written after a sponsored visit to the restaurant.
- English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@weekday-ramble/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/
- Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@weekday-ramble/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/index.md)

## In short

Anan Gangnam Direct Store is a Vietnamese restaurant on the uphill street near Exit 12 of Gangnam Station in Seoul. Two of us stopped in before an escape room and ordered beef pho, cha gio (fried spring rolls) that came as a set, shrimp seafood fried rice and stir-fried morning glory; the pho came with brisket-style beef and a generous amount of noodles, and the cha gio had a thin coating that stayed crisp outside and soft inside. Anan Gangnam Direct Store is an easy pick when you want a Gangnam Station lunch or dinner that does not sit heavy.

## Good to know

- **Location**: Near Exit 12 of Gangnam Station (31 Gangnam-daero 92-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 1st floor)
- **Hours**: Weekdays 11:00–21:00 (break 15:00–17:00)
- **What we ordered**: Beef pho, cha gio (set), shrimp seafood fried rice, stir-fried morning glory
- **Waiting**: CatchTable kiosk set up outside the restaurant
- **Self-serve bar**: Small plates, chopsticks, napkins, wet wipes, assorted sauces, water
- **Note**: The shrimp seafood fried rice is on the in-store menu only, not on the Naver menu or booking page

*as written by the visitor on Sep 23, 2026*

Looking for something filling but not heavy before an escape room in Gangnam, I noticed Anan Gangnam Direct Store, known for its banh xeo, pho, and cha gio, and decided to check it out.

## Where is Anan Gangnam Direct Store, and what are its hours?

Anan Gangnam Direct Store is located near Exit 12 of Gangnam Station. It's open weekdays from 11:00 to 21:00 with a break time from 15:00 to 17:00, and reservations are possible.

![The way to Anan Gangnam Direct Store near Exit 12 of Gangnam Station](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-01-htds5-900.webp)

Walk a little way up the slope and you'll spot the clean sky-blue and white exterior.

![Sky-blue and white exterior of Anan Gangnam Direct Store](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-02-6svcz-900.webp)

![Entrance of Anan Gangnam Direct Store with outdoor CatchTable waitlist kiosk](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-03-gc7k7-900.webp)

There's a CatchTable kiosk placed outside the restaurant too, so if the wait is long, you can put your name down and spend the time somewhere else comfortably before coming back.

## Inside Anan Gangnam Direct Store: seating and the self-serve bar

![Seating inside Anan Gangnam Direct Store](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-04-7w0bw-900.webp)

![Sky-blue toned interior design of Anan Gangnam Direct Store](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-05-1boq3-900.webp)

The interior of this Gangnam Station restaurant is exactly my kind of color combination — I felt peace of mind just walking in haha. When a place is this clean, I get even more excited about the food ^0^

Since the pho isn't a heavy dish, this Gangnam Station lunch date spot also seems great for a work lunch or a Gangnam Station company dinner.

![Tables and calm atmosphere at Anan Gangnam Direct Store](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-06-1hkst-900.webp)

On one side there's a self-serve bar anyone can use freely — small plates, chopsticks, napkins, wet wipes, various sauces, and water.

![Self-serve bar at Anan Gangnam Direct Store with small plates and sauces](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-07-1s51a-900.webp)

![Neatly kept restroom at Anan Gangnam Direct Store](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-08-1ksa5-900.webp)

The restroom is spotless too!

## What two people ordered at Anan Gangnam Direct Store

![Vietnamese food menu board at Anan Gangnam Direct Store](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-09-142dk-900.webp)
*Source: Naver Place, Anan Gangnam Direct Store*

The menu board at this Vietnamese spot near Gangnam Station. We visited as two and ordered beef pho, cha gio (fried spring rolls), fried rice, and stir-fried morning glory. We actually ordered the seafood shrimp fried rice, but it seems that's only on the in-store menu board and not on Naver's menu.

![Soy sauce, salsa sauce, hoisin, and pickled onions — the basic sauces](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-10-11rf7-900.webp)

Once we ordered, the sauces came out — a slightly tangy, spicy soy sauce, a spicy salsa sauce, hoisin sauce, and pickled onions.

![A table for two set with pho, spring rolls, and fried rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-11-18sq6-1200.webp)

Everything came out quickly — all the dishes arrived together in no time.

## Beef pho at Anan: how much beef and how many noodles?

The beef pho at Anan Gangnam Direct Store had generous amounts of meat and noodles, so I could eat both together all the way to the end. The meat felt more like chadol (thinly sliced brisket) than yangji (brisket).

![Anan's beef pho with generous meat and noodles](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-12-1vfzl-900.webp)

Can you see how much meat and noodles are in this beef pho? 💕 Seriously generous portions — I could eat meat and noodles together the whole way through.

![Close-up of pho topped with chadol-style beef](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-13-1mwc1-900.webp)

The meat felt more like chadol than yangji. I don't love overly dry or overly fatty meat, but this was soft and clean-tasting, so it was easy to slurp down along with the noodles.

The clean broth soaked into the tender beef and the chewy noodles. I added onions and it suited my taste perfectly. The base seasoning was very simple at first, so it was fun to mix and match according to my own preference.

![A bowl of beef pho eaten with added onions](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-14-l1cjf-900.webp)

## The cha gio set and the sauces that suit it best

I ordered the cha gio (fried spring rolls) as a set with the pho. The coating wasn't thick, so it was crispy outside and moist inside — and I'd recommend the soy sauce and hoisin sauce.

The cha gio, ordered as a set with the pho, was crispy on the outside but moist and full on the inside — a textbook example of crispy-outside, tender-inside. The pickled vegetables served alongside were tangy and salty, cleansing the palate from the greasiness of the fried food.

![Cha gio spring rolls from the set with pickled vegetables](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-15-8ici7-900.webp)

The coating is crispy but not thick, so each bite is light. I recommend the soy sauce and hoisin sauce — tangy, salty, and a little spicy, they pair well with the fried rolls.

![Cross-section of cha gio showing the thin fried coating](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-16-1qe3f-900.webp)

## Shrimp seafood fried rice: ask for chili sauce

The shrimp seafood fried rice is on the mild-spicy side. It's on the in-store menu board but doesn't seem to show up on the Naver reservation page.

![Shrimp seafood fried rice topped with garlic flakes](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-17-eisdz-900.webp)

Fluffy rice, salty seafood, a hint of spice, and garlic flakes sprinkled on top — this fried rice checks every box for flavor. Cooked in oil but not greasy at all, it kept me reaching for another spoonful.

![A spoonful of fluffy seafood fried rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-18-13yqc-900.webp)

The fried rice was already tasty on its own, but I asked staff for chili sauce and mixed it in. It added an extra layer of savoriness — a real upgrade! If your taste is similar to mine, definitely ask for the chili sauce.

![Seafood fried rice mixed with chili sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-19-iiebb-900.webp)

## Stir-fried morning glory, the side dish to add

Last up: stir-fried morning glory, also known as water spinach — a dish I always order when I go to a Southeast Asian restaurant. The seasoning is salty and the texture is great, so it's easy to keep picking at like a side dish.

![A plate of stir-fried morning glory in savory seasoning](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-20-1h8s1-900.webp)

The morning glory isn't strong in its own vegetable flavor — it's more about the texture and the salty seasoning. It pairs well with both the spicy fried rice and the clean-tasting pho. If you haven't tried morning glory yet, give it a try next time as a side dish.

## Is Anan worth it for a lunch or dinner near Gangnam Station?

![The table at Anan Gangnam Direct Store after the meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach/anan-gangnam-cha-gio-water-spinach-21-1ufeb-900.webp)

Anan Gangnam Direct Store has a clean interior and a calm atmosphere I really liked. The dishes were all light on the stomach and not too heavy. If you're looking for a lunch option or a light dinner spot near Gangnam Station, I'd recommend Anan Gangnam Direct Store.

## Where it is

- Anan Gangnam Direct Store (안안 강남직영점)
- 31 Gangnam-daero 92-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 1st floor
- 서울특별시 강남구 강남대로92길 31 1층
- 37.499377, 127.0299684
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%95%88%EC%95%88%20%EA%B0%95%EB%82%A8%EC%A7%81%EC%98%81%EC%A0%90/@37.499377,127.0299684,17z

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