Peanut sauce shrimp cha gio at a Gwangju pho restaurant: Wolmidang

What kind of place is Wolmidang, the pho restaurant by Chonnam University's back gate?

Today's spot is a great solo-dining Vietnamese pho restaurant located behind Chonnam National University's back gate: Wolmidang Gwangju Chonnam National University Branch. Besides pho, they have bún chả, fried rice, cha gio (Vietnamese fried spring rolls) and more, so there's plenty to choose from~

Wolmidang Gwangju Chonnam National University Branch 📍62 Uchi-ro, 1st floor, Buk-gu, Gwangju, South Korea ⏰Daily 11:00–20:45 Break time 15:00–17:00 Last order 14:30, 20:15 📌Takeout, delivery

Parking at Megabox and Wolmidang's break time

For parking at this solo-dining favorite near Chonnam University, you can park for free for 1 hour at the Megabox parking lot behind the building, so you can visit without any parking hassle.

Wolmidang has a clean, tidy exterior, and it's open year-round with a break time, so keep that in mind when you visit.

There's nothing like a hot bowl of pho on a snowy or rainy day. I hadn't had much of an appetite lately, but oddly enough, I kept thinking about that savory pho.

Just looking at the menu, you can tell there are lots of pho varieties and side dishes that pair well together.

Solo-dining seats and table-order tablets at Wolmidang

Walking into Wolmidang, the space has a warm wood-toned feel that makes for a comfortable meal. There are window-side tables and 2-person tables great for eating alone, plus 4-person tables for group dining. Wolmidang Gwangju Chonnam National University Branch has a good atmosphere for all of that.

This Chonnam University-area favorite has table-order kiosks at every table, so ordering is quick and simple~

Free noodle, bean sprout and cheongyang chili refills

At Wolmidang, ordering any pho gets you free refills on noodles, bean sprouts, cheongyang chili peppers, and pickled onion if you want more — everything except the broth can be refilled. I couldn't believe it..!!

The restroom is on the right — go straight through the parking lot on the right, and it's to the right in front of the escalator.

Hot chili sauce and hoisin sauce are set out on the table, which taste great with the pho on their own, but if you mix a bit into the noodles, you get an interesting new flavor~

Cutlery, napkins, and wet wipes are all neatly set up if you open the drawer on the side of the table~

The pickled onion that comes as a default side is delicious eaten plain, but it's also really good mixed into the pho.

How the beef brisket pho and shrimp cha gio taste

Beef brisket pho Shrimp cha gio

The beef brisket pho arrived looking delicious in a bowl with a traditional Vietnamese feel~ There was so much meat piled on that I couldn't even see the noodles haha. The meat pieces were chunky and the broth looked clean.

Wolmidang's pho broth is simmered for over 6 hours, so it's not harsh but rich and deep — it warmed me right up and felt so good.

The noodle refill is almost a full second serving

Piling the meat on top of the noodles together makes for a lunch that doesn't feel too heavy. If you run out of anything besides broth while eating, you can just ask staff and they'll bring it right over.

As I ate, I had a lot of broth left over so I asked for a noodle refill, and I was surprised that they refilled almost a full serving. They brought perfectly cooked noodles so the meal kept flowing without a break — it felt like eating two bowls of pho!!

While thinking about what side dish would go well with the pho, I ordered the shrimp cha gio, and the plump shrimp fried up nice and crispy was so delicious with that crunch. It especially pairs perfectly with the peanut sauce~ haha

Why Wolmidang works for solo lunch near Chonnam University

They even gave me a sweet candy on my way out — such a thoughtful touch haha. The owner and staff were all kind, and the food was clean and delicious, so if you're looking for a solo-dining favorite near Chonnam University, I highly recommend Wolmidang~