Sadang pho spot: shredded brisket, pineapple fried rice, Bangbaedong

I think I have a cycle for when I crave Vietnamese food, haha. My gauge was completely full, so off I went to Bangbaedong Ssalguksu (방배동쌀국수). I ordered a big spread: pho (rice noodle soup), bun cha (grilled pork with cold noodles), cha gio (fried spring rolls) and pineapple fried rice!

Where is Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch, and when should you go?

Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch is on Dongjak-daero 25-gil near Isu Station, and with no break time you can drop in at odd hours. I think the main branch is over near Sadang Station, and it looks like they opened a second location. Since this one is at Isu Station and more convenient for me, I went right away.

No break time meant I could go at an in-between hour, which was great, but there were still lots of people even then. There are separate waiting seats outside, so I hear lunchtime gets really crowded, and there were plenty of solo seats too.

It has the vibe of what a real Vietnamese restaurant must be like, yet it's clean at the same time. Very happy!

In the evening, families probably come after work, and there are high chairs too, so no worries at all!

What we ordered at Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch

The two of us ordered brisket pho, bun cha, a side of cha gio and pineapple fried rice. That's the whole menu photo above! Cha gio didn't seem to come with the bun cha, so I added it as a side, and then got the brisket pho and pineapple fried rice.

Bangbaedong Ssalguksu is apparently famous for its pineapple fried rice! I was really curious, and even though it seemed like a lot, I figured we'd manage by sharing, so I ordered it.

What's at the Bangbaedong Ssalguksu self-serve bar?

The self bar at Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch has danmuji (pickled yellow radish), jalapeños and pickled onions, and you take as much as you like. It was neatly set up.

I brought plenty to have with both the bun cha and the pho.

There was plenty more besides, starting with Sriracha.

They even have Vietnamese chili seeds for people who like it spicy.

Oh~ so if you like a kick, you can put the chili seeds in your pho and totally call it a hangover cure, haha.

How much shredded brisket is in the Bangbaedong Ssalguksu pho?

The amount of meat in the brisket pho was no joke. It isn't the thin, wide shabu-shabu-style slices but shredded meat, so the real quantity is far more than it looks. Even by sight and by bite there was a lot, and I could eat meat with my noodles right to the last bit.

We added extra noodles, so there were a lot of them, and almost every time I ate noodles I scooped them onto my spoon with meat, haha. Usually only a few thin slices go on top, so with this much meat it was much more filling.

They also simmer the meat broth every day from early dawn. With a popular pho like this, if you're unlucky it seems to sell out after lunchtime.

Why is the Bangbaedong Ssalguksu pineapple fried rice so popular?

The pineapple fried rice at Bangbaedong Ssalguksu is served in a bowl made of cut whole pineapple, and fresh pineapple is stir-fried into the rice too. I'd seen before going that it's hugely popular. A pho place whose fried rice is popular too? I ordered right away, but I never expected them to serve it in a whole cut pineapple, hahaha.

On top of that, there was lots of pineapple stir-fried in with the rice itself. There was a lot of pineapple in their fridge too. Most places make pineapple fried rice with canned pineapple, so honestly I don't like it much, but stir-fried with fresh fruit like this it was really, really good.

How to enjoy cha gio and bun cha

The cha gio at Bangbaedong Ssalguksu has a spring-roll-style wrapper packed with savory filling. I like dipping cha gio in the bun cha sauce and eating it with the bun cha noodles and cilantro, but first I tried a plain bite.

The filling was savory and rich in umami and really good, and because the wrapper is like a spring roll's, the outside is crispy and the inside is full of juice. So good.

And last, the bun cha! Wow, the bun cha was seriously good. There was a ton of meat, so it was generous.

Dunking the noodles, meat and cilantro into the sauce made it a real summer treat.

It was even better with the pickled onions from the self bar. I recommend trying it that way!

Four dishes for two: a meal we happily overate

Two of us ate four dishes at Bangbaedong Ssalguksu Isu Branch and were bloated until the next day. All three were so good: I'd say the bun cha is the best~, then eat the pho and say the pho is the best~~, then eat the fried rice and say the fried rice is the best~~, and we got stuck in a happy infinite loop rotating between the three, so we both overate like crazy that day, hahaha.

I found a great spot I'd never get tired of even eating at every day for lunch! The atmosphere is great and the interior is clean, so it's just right whether you go with family, alone for a solo meal, or on a date.