Seongsu Restaurant Hwahwadon serves one of the best Vietnamese bun thit nuong noodle bowls in Seoul. Located near Seongsu Station, this popular spot offers pho, rice dishes, and crispy shrimp cutlets.
Seongsu Restaurant Hwahwadon – The Best Bun Thit Nuong in Seongsu Seoul
Sometimes the best restaurants are the ones you discover through delivery apps.
There’s a place I often order from when I need a comforting bowl of pho for a hangover meal — a restaurant in Seongsu called Seongsu Restaurant, Hwahwadon Seongsu. Even though it hasn’t been on the delivery platform for very long and doesn’t have thousands of reviews yet, one bowl is enough to understand why people keep ordering from it.
The broth is clean, flavorful, and surprisingly satisfying.
But there was always one menu item that caught my attention every time I ordered online — bun thit nuong, the Vietnamese grilled pork noodle bowl.
I first fell in love with this dish during a trip to Vietnam. Ever since then, whenever I see it on a menu, I feel the urge to try it.
Some dishes just feel too important to experience through delivery. They deserve to be eaten fresh at the restaurant.
So one day, when I had plans in Seongsu, I decided to arrive a little early and finally visit the restaurant in person.
That’s when I discovered something unexpected.
I had just found one of the best bun thit nuong bowls in Seoul.
Overview of Seongsu Restaurant, Hwahwadon
Location – Hwahwadon Seongsu
Address
2F, 3 Yeonmujang 7ga-gil
Seongdong-gu, Seoul
The restaurant is located only about a 2-minute walk from Seongsu Station Exit 4, making it extremely easy to reach.
Seongsu is known as one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Seoul, filled with cafés, galleries, restaurants, and fashion stores.
Seongsu Restaurant, Hwahwadon sits inside one of the charming alleyways that still preserve the structure of old Korean houses.
The restaurant occupies the second floor of a renovated traditional building, giving it a cozy and unique atmosphere.
Opening Hours
Daily
11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
A helpful tip: avoid arriving exactly at lunchtime.
The restaurant is already well known among Seongsu office workers as a reliable lunch spot. Because of this, long lines often form during peak lunch hours.
Even on my visit — which was well after the main lunch rush and on a weekend — there was still a waiting list.
Unlike some trendy restaurants in Seoul, there is no remote waiting system. Guests must write their name on the waiting list at the entrance and wait nearby.
Thankfully, the restaurant provides a menu outside, so you can decide what to order while waiting.
After about 20 minutes, I was finally guided inside.
Interior of Seongsu Restaurant, Hwahwadon– Cozy Home-Style Restaurant Atmosphere
Inside, Seongsu Restaurant, Hwahwadon feels like a small home-style dining space in Seongsu.
The interior is decorated with flowers and soft colors, creating a warm and welcoming environment.
The space is divided into two main seating areas.
One side features four tables that seat up to four people, with chairs similar to what you might find in an old family restaurant.
The other side has two-person and four-person tables facing the wall, with charming chairs and small tables that feel almost café-like.
Since I was dining alone, I was guided to a quiet seat in the corner.
Even the cups used at the table reflected the owner’s taste — simple, lovely, and carefully chosen to match the cozy atmosphere of the restaurant.
Menu at Seongsu Restaurant, Hwahwadon – Vietnamese and Japanese Comfort Food
One of the most noticeable things on the menu is the variety of set menus for groups of two, three, or four people.
These are great if you’re visiting with friends.
For solo diners, however, ordering individual dishes is usually the best option.
Seongsu Restaurant, Hwahwadon is already well known in Seongsu for its pho, and there are many variations depending on toppings and broth style.
The menu also includes:
• Vietnamese dishes
• fried noodles
• rice dishes
• Japanese-style pork cutlets
• sous-vide steak
• banh mi sandwiches
• katsu sandwiches
It’s a creative mix of Vietnamese and Japanese comfort foods.
The menu even includes illustrations for each dish, making it easy for guests unfamiliar with Vietnamese cuisine to choose.
But for me, the goal of this visit was clear from the start:
bun thit nuong.
The Food of Seongsu Restaurant, Hwahwadon – A Perfect Vietnamese Noodle Bowl
The dishes arrived surprisingly quickly.
First, I ordered an apple cinnamon ade drink, mostly out of curiosity.
I didn’t expect much, but it turned out to be fantastic.
The drink wasn’t overly sweet, and real apple pulp added a fresh and natural flavor. Considering the price, it felt like an unexpected bonus.
Bun Thit Nuong – The Star of the Meal
Finally, the dish I had been waiting for arrived.
Bun thit nuong is a Vietnamese noodle bowl made with rice noodles, grilled pork, herbs, vegetables, and a sweet-and-sour fish sauce dressing called nuoc cham.
One reason this dish is difficult to perfect is the noodles. If they sit too long, the texture changes quickly.
That’s why I wanted to try it directly at the restaurant.
The bowl was beautifully presented.
On top of the noodles were generous toppings:
• grilled pork
• grilled onions
• peanuts
• crispy onion flakes
• fresh vegetables and herbs
In fact, it almost looked like there were more toppings than noodles.
After mixing everything together, I added the nuoc cham sauce and took the first bite.
It was perfect.
The rice noodles were soft and delicate, similar in thickness to thin wheat noodles but lighter and easier to digest.
Combined with the grilled pork, fresh vegetables, and sweet-tangy sauce, every bite felt balanced and refreshing.
It was easily one of the best bun thit nuong bowls I’ve had in Seoul.
Crispy Shrimp Cutlet – The Perfect Side Dish
To add a different texture to the meal, I also ordered a shrimp cutlet.
The cutlet arrived golden and crispy on the outside, with juicy shrimp inside.
Dipped into the sauce served on the side, it added the perfect crunchy contrast to the noodle bowl.
It’s the kind of dish that almost makes you want to order a cold beer — especially in the evening.
Final Thoughts about Seongsu Restaurant, Hwahwadon – One of the Best Vietnamese Restaurants in Seongsu
Until now, I had mostly enjoyed Seongsu Restaurant, Hwahwadon through delivery as a pho hangover restaurant.
But discovering their bun thit nuong in person completely changed my perspective.
This dish alone is worth visiting the restaurant for.
The flavor is approachable even for people who are new to Vietnamese cuisine, and the ingredients feel fresh and healthy.
If you’re exploring Seongsu and looking for a great Vietnamese restaurant, Hwahwadon Seongsu is definitely worth adding to your list.
From pho to noodle bowls and crispy side dishes, it’s a place where simple comfort food is done exceptionally well.
Related post about Seongsu Restaurant you might enjoy : Seongsu Restaurant – Yosyoku Seongsu Main Branch Serving Affordable & Hearty Japanese-Western Dishes
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