Daegu Vietnamese restaurant for lunch: Raichen Chilgok Branch

Vietnamese food has its own character, yet feels similar in spirit to Korean food, which is why so many people love it. Even those who do not enjoy Southeast Asian food because of strong spices can enjoy this restaurant without much hesitation. Here begins my honest review of Raichen, a great lunch spot in Chilgok 3 District, where the rich pho broth, crisp bánh xèo, and fire-kissed bún chả made an excellent combination.

Raichen Chilgok Branch location and hours

• Tuesday–Sunday 11:00–21:15; last order at 20:30
• Closed every Monday
• Units 108 and 109, 1F, 30-23 Dongcheon-ro 23-gil, Buk-gu, Daegu, South Korea

Near Palgeo Station, with easy parking

Raichen Chilgok Branch (라이첸 칠곡점) is in Dongcheon-dong, Chilgok 3 District in Daegu. It is close to Palgeo Station on Daegu Metro Line 3, making public transport easy, and the building has a tower parking garage for drivers. I came because I wanted something special for lunch. Raichen's upscale, pretty exterior really catches the eye.

Raichen serves Vietnamese food adapted to Korean tastes, so it is already a restaurant known for flavors that appeal to just about everyone.

An interior filled with wood and rattan

The interior captures a Southeast Asian feel in an upscale way. Wood-toned furniture and warm incandescent lighting create a soft atmosphere, while the wood and rattan throughout bring Vietnam to mind.

There is a well-kept self-service bar, along with cutlery and even aprons. Everything feels hygienic and tidy.

Pho, bún chả, and bánh xèo menu

Hanoi-style pho was ₩10,000, charcoal-grilled bún chả was ₩13,500, and bánh xèo was ₩15,500. There were so many delicious-looking choices, but since there were only two of us, we ordered only what we especially wanted. The menu photos looked so good that I wanted to try everything.

A full Vietnamese spread for two

Our order arrived. Just look at it! Vietnamese food often comes with plenty of vegetables. Maybe that is why Vietnamese people have a lower obesity rate? With all the ingredients and abundant vegetables, the dishes looked so colorful and pretty. And the delicious aroma filled the table.

How was the Hanoi-style pho broth?

✔️ This was the Hanoi-style pho. The noodles were cooked just right, and from the first sip of broth I thought, this is a dish anyone can enjoy. It was not overly seasoned, with a meat-based broth that had a clear, savory aroma, so it would be great even for children. The meat was tender too, with none of that tough or chewy texture.

Wrap crisp bánh xèo in rice paper

✔️ This was bánh xèo, a Vietnamese crispy pancake made by cooking batter until crisp with bean sprouts, meat, and shrimp inside. It is often described as a Vietnamese-style pancake. This was seriously delicious.

You place lettuce, bánh xèo, and pickled daikon and carrot on rice paper, roll it up, and dip it in nước mắm (Vietnamese fish sauce). It is tangy and fresh, with the crisp texture of the bánh xèo, and even one piece is satisfying.

Charcoal-grilled bún chả with gentler spices

✔️ Charcoal-grilled bún chả. The sauce was truly delicious. The bún chả I ate abroad followed the local style exactly, and the sauce often had a slightly funky smell that made it hard to keep eating. Raichen's bún chả sauce, though, was pure clean umami! The charcoal-grilled flavor blended into the sauce beautifully, too.

I dipped the cooked rice noodles and chả giò (fried spring rolls) right into the sauce and ate them with the meat and meatballs. The food I had abroad was delicious too, but food localized for our tastes is the real deal after all. I liked that the strong spice aromas were milder.

For an exotic lunch in Chilgok 3 District

I enjoy Vietnamese food often in everyday life. I am so serious about pho that I keep instant pho stocked at home instead of ramen, and the pho here was clean, deep, and never unfamiliar in flavor, so people of all ages can enjoy it. The plentiful, varied menu is also excellent for gatherings and dates. On top of that, the stylish, pretty interior leaves nothing to criticize. I recommend it when you want a special, exotic meal.