Pho Hoa — Restaurant in Seoul

Hey friend, let me tell you about a little place I stumbled across near the Seoul Arts Center. It’s a cozy Vietnamese restaurant tucked away in an area that, honestly, doesn’t have a ton of dining options. But that’s what makes it feel like a bit of a hidden gem.

I dropped by around 3pm on a Saturday, and again on Sunday at 1pm — both times, I was welcomed by friendly Vietnamese staff who guided me to a seat with a smile. The atmosphere? Laid-back and easy, perfect for grabbing a quick bite before catching a performance.

The place has plenty of tables for groups, and the service is quick. Most people there seemed to be heading to the arts center, just like me. When you’re ready to order, just press the little bell on your table — simple, right?

Now, one thing I noticed: the staff speak in Vietnamese, which I think is great — it’s authentic, and it adds to the charm. But it also means communication might be a little tricky at times, so keep that in mind. Still, I think it’s a sort of mutual understanding — they’re kind, you’re patient, and everything works out.

The food? Solid. Nothing too fancy, but flavorful and satisfying. Sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. So if you’re in the neighborhood, give it a try. You might walk away with a full stomach — and a nice little story to...

Right across the street from the Seoul Arts Center and the Seoul Opera, Pho Hoa is the perfect place for an after show dinner. It is in the second floor of the building across the street from the Arts Center, with a panoramic view. The cast from The Lion King just had lunch there a few hours earlier, and the owner was proud to show the program with many signatures. The food was excellent, one of the best tasting Vietnamese restaurant...

급해서 빨리 나올만한 메뉴 먹으러 온건데. 포스기에 주문한 메뉴를 바로 찍지도 않아서 계속 지켜봤습니다. 다른 테이블들이 먼저 나오길래 사장님께 따졌더니 3분만에 나왔다고 저한테 오히려 뭐라 하시네요. 직원분이 주문 받자마자 바로 포스기에 찍지 않으시기도 했는데, cctv에 나와있다며 들이미셨고, 안봤습니다. 제 눈이 호구인가보죠.

제가 화난 포인트는 음식이 식당에 앉아서 주문한 순서대로 안나오는 것이었습니다. 사장님은 계속 다른 테이블 메뉴들과 함께 국수면 국수, 밥이면 밥, 그렇게 만들어 내는거다 라고만 하시네요.

제가, 주문한 순서대로 나오고 서빙해야 되는거 아니냐 따지니, 이게 같은 메뉴를 만들어 내서 주는거 아니냐고 오히려 저에게 되려 계속 따졌습니다. 순서대로 나와야되는거 아니냐는 제 말에는 동의 못하시는거냐라고 말하니 대답은 안하시고, 빨리 나왔다는 말만 반복하십니다. 더러운 꼴 보기 싫어서, 음식에 손 안대고 계산하고 나왔습니다. 돈만 버렸네요. 동네 주민인데,...