Top 10 Vietnamese Restaurants in Seoul, South Korea

The Samsung Apartment complex near Wangsimni Station (성동삼성쉐르빌주상복합) is home to at least three Vietnamese-owned restaurants. This area is known for its large community of Vietnamese brides, and these restaurants are typically run by them and their husbands. The menu here features popular Vietnamese dishes like pho, bun bo, and fried rice. While these restaurants are generally tasty and offer flavors close to home, they do have some downsides, including a lack of cleanliness and poor presentation. If you're in the Seoul area and craving Vietnamese food, this is a good option, especially since the prices are affordable. Just be sure to choose a cleaner spot for a better experience!

Pho Na Thai (포나타이) is a unique restaurant offering both Thai and Vietnamese dishes, with two locations: one in Gangnam and the other in Sinchon. The Sinchon location is a small yet charming eatery on the second floor of an office building. The food, however, is a delightful surprise, with large, flavorful bowls of pho. The restaurant is run by a Korean couple and decorated with vintage black-and-white photos of Vietnam, featuring images like a cyclo driver taking a break and a young woman in an ao dai riding a bicycle. The traditional decor, with lights covered by conical hats, makes it feel like you’ve stepped into a little piece of Vietnam. If you love pho and can handle some spice, try the number 12 bowl. The menu is diverse, with pho, bun bo, fried rice, and spring rolls. It’s definitely worth a visit for a fresh and exciting taste of Vietnam and Thailand.

Unlike the other restaurants, Pho 24h follows a franchise model. With over 100 locations across Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Cambodia, the UK, and beyond, Pho 24 has become a popular choice. The store in South Korea is designed to resemble a traditional Vietnamese setting, offering a welcoming atmosphere, friendly service, and delicious food that keeps customers coming back. Pho 24h ensures top-quality ingredients, fresh meals, and the authentic flavors of Vietnam. The menu is diverse and easy to navigate, with pho and fried rice being particularly praised for their authentic Vietnamese taste. Many customers, including Korean YouTubers and Vietnamese language learners, frequent this spot to relive the flavors of Vietnam. If you get the chance, visit Pho 24h to experience a true taste of home in a foreign land.

This is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants, especially when it comes to professionalism in service. From the furniture to the utensils, everything is coordinated and spotless. The staff are polite and attentive. Viet Quan is rumored to be invested in by members of the Vietnamese Embassy in South Korea. After visiting a few times, customers often forget to verify this claim because they are charmed by the owner, a friendly man from the North, who is always ready to share a drink with you if you arrive after 6 PM. His sense of humor adds a personal touch to the experience.

The menu at Viet Quan is diverse and tailored to the tastes of Northern Vietnam. You can even request a dish prepared to your liking. The prices are reasonable, and the portions generous, though some may feel the flavors could be stronger, as the owner tries to balance Vietnamese and Korean tastes.

Located at the intersection of Yongsan-gu, Itaewon-dong in Seoul, Le Hoi stands out with its bright yellow exterior and a design that evokes the charm of Vietnam. This restaurant, often referred to as a mini Hoi An in the heart of Seoul, is owned by a Korean man who lived and worked in Vietnam, developing a deep affection for its culture and cuisine. In October 2014, he decided to open a restaurant offering authentic Vietnamese flavors in South Korea.

The menu at Le Hoi offers true-to-form Vietnamese dishes, prepared with fresh ingredients from herbs to broths and spices. The restaurant serves a variety of specialties from Vietnam, including pho bo, bun bo Nam Bo, bun cha, com ga, banh mi, fried corn, spring rolls, and papaya salad. Each dish is generously portioned, beautifully presented, and made with ingredients imported from Vietnam, delivering an authentic taste of the S-shaped country.

Pho has long been a beloved dish in Vietnam, and it’s wonderful that, in South Korea, both students and residents can easily enjoy the familiar taste of home. Il Pho, located in the Mapo district of Seoul, has been serving up delicious pho since 2017. The restaurant is famous for its appearance in the popular Korean drama "My Lovely Sam Soon". Though the space is a bit small, it is cozy and welcoming, with a charming kitchen and traditional dishware decorated with impressive patterns.

Customers typically choose pho bo, where the beef is either shredded or thinly sliced, served with pho noodles, fresh chili, cilantro, and onions. In addition to pho, you can also enjoy other Vietnamese dishes like spring rolls, fried rice, and fried crab cakes. The restaurant is open from 11 AM to 2 PM, Monday to Friday, with prices ranging from 3,000 to 9,000 KRW (approximately 60,000 to 180,000 VND) per dish.

If you find yourself in Seoul, make sure to visit Bun Cha Ra Boom, located on Dosan-daero in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu. This restaurant specializes in classic Vietnamese dishes, particularly those from Hanoi. The menu features a variety of tempting choices, but the three signature dishes—pho, bun cha, and spring rolls—are what truly allow diners to experience the unique flavors of Vietnamese cuisine.

For pho lovers, you can choose from traditional beef pho, a luxurious seafood broth version, or a spicy pho made with chicken and pork. The broth here is light, perfectly balanced with fresh meat and vegetables. The next dish, bun cha Hanoi, features grilled beef and pork meatballs over an open flame, giving them a delicious smoky aroma. The dish is brought to life with a tangy-sweet dipping sauce made with garlic, vinegar-soaked carrots, and fish sauce. As for the spring rolls, they are packed with a savory filling of pork, shrimp, and mushrooms, all wrapped in a thin rice paper.

With over 100 locations, Pho Mein is a popular restaurant chain primarily located in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi. Established by a South Korean owner through the company Dailyking Inc, Pho Mein offers a variety of pho from the three main regions of Vietnam—North, Central, and South—though the most popular choice is pho bo (beef pho). In addition to Pho Mein, Seoul is also home to several other well-known Vietnamese pho chains such as Pho Little Saigon, Little Papa Pho, Pho Bay, and Pho 24.

The restaurant interiors are beautifully designed, offering a luxurious yet cozy atmosphere. The quality of Pho Mein is highly regarded, from the fresh ingredients to the attentive service and the delicious dishes. The pho here is said to taste about 60% like the pho found in Vietnam. If you’re feeling homesick, this is definitely a place to visit!

Goodmorning Hanoi (하노이의 아침) is a Vietnamese restaurant chain managed by Koreans, with 17 locations across South Korea, primarily in Seoul and surrounding areas.

The owner of the Insadong branch, a warm and welcoming woman, spent three years studying culinary arts in Vietnam. Although she doesn't speak Vietnamese, her love for Vietnamese food shines through.

Restaurants owned by Koreans often stand out for their clean interiors and attention to detail, and Goodmorning Hanoi is no exception. Located in the historic Insadong district, this charming eatery offers a clean and cozy atmosphere with a diverse menu.

Goodmorning Hanoi focuses on recreating the authentic flavors of Vietnam rather than adapting them to Korean tastes. As a result, the food here is not only beautifully presented but also deliciously true to its roots.

Despite its name, Hard To Forget Cuisine & Cafe might not immediately suggest Vietnamese food, but once you taste the dishes, you'll understand why it's so fitting. The owner is a handsome Korean man who runs a cozy space resembling a cafe. The interior features dining tables along glass windows, allowing guests to enjoy their meals while taking in the bustling street views. Here, you can find classic Vietnamese dishes like fried pork rice, spring rolls, bánh mì with pate and meat, and refreshing Saigon-style fruit juices. If you introduce yourself as Vietnamese, the staff will treat you to a bowl of deliciously spicy fish sauce. Though the prices are a bit higher, the unforgettable flavors make it worth the experience.