Suwon Vietnamese restaurant for spicy beef pho: Madam Hao

A new pho and Vietnamese restaurant near Ajou University in Suwon had opened, so I went to check it out. I passed by and thought, “Wow, the interior is pretty—what is this place?” It turned out to be a seriously authentic Vietnamese restaurant!

Madam Hao (마담하오) is a Vietnamese restaurant that captures Hanoi’s traditional flavors. It is great for a hearty meal during the day and a bar with a lovely atmosphere in the evening, and it stays open late into the night!

Madam Hao location and hours

Unit 101, 49 World cup-ro 193beon-gil, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do

• Hours: 11:00 AM–3:00 AM the next day
• Break time: 3:00 PM–5:00 PM
• Parking available in front of the restaurant

I visited in the evening. Since I get off work late, my only options for dinner are usually Korean barbecue places or bars, but this place is open until 3 AM, so I think I’ll come here all the time ㅠㅠ It is that delicious, too!

A spacious, clean interior with a Vietnamese feel

The interior was really clean, and the restaurant goes quite far back, so it was surprisingly spacious! There are lots of tables, and everything is kept neat, making it easy to enjoy a comfortable meal. It has such a Vietnamese feel and a great atmosphere. It really felt like I was in Vietnam, haha.

A varied menu, from pho to sides

The menu is written in English with Korean beside it, and it really feels like you are traveling in Vietnam, lol.

• Bun cha ₩13,000
• Beef brisket pho ₩11,000
• Beef jjambbong pho ₩12,000
• Pad thai ₩12,000
• Tom yum pho ₩12,000

Beyond pho, there are many rice bowls and plenty of sides such as Vietnamese spring rolls and cha gio (fried Vietnamese spring rolls), so it would be good for lunch or as food with drinks!

There were several Vietnamese sauces on the table, and as soon as I ordered, they brought out something like shrimp roe crackers? They were unbelievably crispy and so delicious ㅠ

Kimchi and pickled radish came with the meal, along with lime and chilies, haha. There were even instructions on the table for how to enjoy unfamiliar dishes deliciously.

Spicy, punchy beef jjambbong pho

Beef jjambbong pho, ₩12,000. Unlike the clean, mild broth of typical pho, this one has a strong spicy, punchy flavor that really gets your appetite going. It is a little Korean-style!!

The broth in particular had a gentle heat, so it was not rich or greasy and I kept scooping up more. There was also a generous amount of beef, and eating the noodles and meat together was absolutely delicious.

There was quite a lot of noodles, too. They were the slightly broad pho noodles I love, cooked perfectly. Maybe it is because an actual Vietnamese person cooks here, but it felt even more delicious!

The meat was tender and delicious, and because both the broth and beef in the jjambbong pho were so good, I want to try the regular beef brisket pho next time too, haha. The reviews for it were good as well.

Sweet, tangy, nutty pad thai

Pad thai, ₩12,000. The noodles were not overly soft and had a nicely chewy texture, with sweet, tangy, and nutty flavors in perfect balance. I recommend mixing in the peanut powder, bean sprouts, and chives evenly.

With egg and bean sprouts in it, you get soft and crisp textures in turns, making it feel much more abundant than eating noodles alone. Seriously, it felt like I was in Vietnam eating street-side pad thai.

The shrimp were plump, tender, and nutty, and I enjoyed them so much. Even the shrimp alone were delicious! Rather than just one flavor, there is sweetness, tanginess, and nuttiness all at once~ That mysterious mix is what makes pad thai so appealing. It has become one of my favorite dishes, hehe.

I would definitely revisit. It is good value, the portions are generous, and above all it tastes great, so it is a lovely place to eat if you are craving Vietnamese food or want to go to Vietnam, haha.

It is great for lunch near Ajou University, great when you are looking for good pho, and the unusual pad thai was delicious too. I recommend it when you want to experience the taste of Vietnam near Ajou University in Suwon! I am definitely becoming a regular.