Tom yum goong pho with wontons for a family lunch in Suwon: Madam Hao

49 World Cup-ro 193beon-gil, 101ho, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi, South Korea

Before heading out to Gyeonggi Library with my family, I was looking around for good restaurants nearby and found this Vietnamese pho place. Madam Hao, located in the restaurant strip near Ajou University, is a Vietnamese pho spot run by Vietnamese owners. I went in slightly outside lunch hour, but there were more customers than I expected, which made me trust the place even more.

Where is Madam Hao and is there parking? Near Gyeonggi Library and Ajou University

There was space for about 4 cars right next to Madam Hao, and there was even a small healing spot in front of the restaurant. Since it's located near Gyeonggi Library and Ajou University, it was very convenient to visit on a weekend outing.

What the inside of Madam Hao looks like

Seating and menu at Madam Hao

Madam Hao's interior was decorated with a Southeast Asian feel — blinds, plants, and various Vietnamese decor pieces.

I struggled hard to take these photos without people in them haha. The lighting inside is also all Vietnamese-style, so it feels like you've traveled to Vietnam without leaving Korea. The lamps are made of bamboo, which adds even more charm. I love that warm yellow bulb feel, and this place had exactly that. The bulbs made everything feel even cozier.

Beef brisket pho: scallions instead of cilantro, plenty of meat

Madam Hao's beef brisket pho had a generous portion, and above all, lots of meat. I'd heard this was a pho place worth visiting near Ajou University, so I ordered the brisket pho, and it had more volume and meat than I expected — great. What felt a bit new was that it had no cilantro, but lots of scallions instead.

Maybe because of that, it felt a bit more nutritious for the kids to eat. With so much meat, it had a gomtang (bone soup)-like feel, and the broth was rich too, which I liked.

What does the tom yum goong pho with wontons taste like?

I also ordered a tom yum goong pho... and it's sweet and delicious. But honestly it tastes more like coconut milk pho than tom yum goong haha. It's sweet and different, so you can enjoy an unusual flavor. I ordered it, and it had a nice mix of a meal and a snack feel.

What's unusual is that, since this is Korean-style Vietnamese pho, kimchi, pickled radish, and chili peppers come out as basic side dishes.

Why Madam Hao works with kids: open kitchen and quick serving

Madam Hao has an open kitchen, so you can watch the chefs cooking directly. This photo was taken during a quiet moment, trying to stay as hidden as possible. The seats were always full while we were eating, so it wasn't easy to take pictures haha. The good part is that with the open kitchen, you can see the chefs cooking with your own eyes, which gave me a lot of peace of mind about hygiene — something I worry about a lot when visiting with kids. As a bonus, watching them cook let me guess 'ah, our food will be ready in about two more orders,' so I could wait more relaxed. The staff serving in the hall also took orders and served cleanly and thoroughly without missing anything, which put me at ease, and I could enjoy the food with a comfortable mind. They also spoke Korean very well, so there was no inconvenience ordering or receiving food.

Self-service corner: water, drinks and side dishes

The spot for small plates and simple side dishes was set up separately to the left of the kitchen, so it was nice to grab them yourself when needed. There was also a separate fridge for water and drinks set up in front, so you could conveniently grab them when needed, and paper cups were available on the table for more hygienic use.

After the meal at Madam Hao

Everyone finished a whole bowl except the kid with the small appetite. The portions were so generous that drinking all the broth too was really too much haha. Still, it felt good to have a filling lunch. And the tom yum goong pho had a lot of wontons inside, so as a dumpling/wonton lover myself, I really enjoyed it.

On the way out, I noticed the restaurant is on the ground floor of a villa building. That made it feel even more charming and cute.