Diem Hen Quan

Sometimes nothing feels more relaxing than a big bowl of soup and noodles. While everyone has their preference, most can agree that Vietnamese pho ranks near the top of the soup and noodles pantheon. Unfortunately, good pho can be hard to find in Gwangju. While there are a few chain versions available, they tend to miss the mark, using broth that is too sweet or thin. However, those with a craving for good pho are in luck; all it takes is a bus ride to Wolgok-dong to find some of the best noodles in town.

Atmosphere and Service

Like a lot of restaurants in the area, Diem Hen Quan is a small, family-owned place. The restaurant is clean and bright, and the service is always friendly. One potential hurdle is the menu, which is written only in Vietnamese, with few pictures and no prices. Ordering pho is easy enough, but unless you are well-versed in Vietnamese cuisine, choosing anything else may be a bit of an adventure.

Food

There are two varieties of pho available here: pho bo, which is made with beef, and pho ga, which uses chicken. Also available is a similar dish, hủ tíu, a soup made from pork bones with shrimp and rice noodles. Both dishes come out in big, steaming bowls loaded with noodles, bean sprouts, cilantro and chả lụa, a type of pork sausage. Along with the soup comes a big plate of more sprouts, cilantro and a few lemon wedges. Squeeze in some lemon and then add some hoisin and chili sauce to taste. Swirl it all together and listen as all conversation is replaced by the sound of slurping noodles.

One hard-to-find delicacy that is occasionally available here is trứng vịt lộn, better known by its Filipino name balut. Whatever you call it, it is a partially-developed duck embryo that is boiled in the shell and served with a salty pepper and lemon sauce. The taste is fairly similar to regular duck meat, but the texture depends on how developed the embryo is. While definitely not for everyone, it is absolutely recommended to more adventurous diners.

Pho dishes are 7,000 won, with Vietnamese beer occasionally available. There is a small selection of Vietnamese goods available for purchase.

Directions

Take a bus to Wolgok Market. With the market on your left, walk along the main road until you come to a Nonghyup Bank. Turn left after the bank and walk until you see Diem Hen Quan on the left.

Address: 광주광역시광산구월곡동 550-17번지/ 550-17 Wolgok-dong Gwangsan-gu Gwangju

Tel: 010-8012-6272

Hours: Daily 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Bus: 18, 20, 29, 37, 40, 46, 98, 196, 700, 701, 720 (Wolgok Market Stop)