The flavor of chewy noodles and mysterious spices. A vegetable with a crunchy texture that adds freshness. Pork grilled on a grill and has an attractive smoky flavor. “Buncha†is the representative food of the Hanoi region in northern Vietnam that combines all of these flavors. A Vietnamese fish sauce made by fermenting small fish and rice noodles soaked in a sweet and sour sauce with lime and eaten with charcoal-grilled pork and raw vegetables. Can't that flavor be explained by the charcoal-grilled scent of the sun and the fresh taste of Hanoi? Today, I would like to introduce a Vietnamese buncha restaurant that will satisfy both those who fall in love with the charm of buncha or those who don't know its true taste.
1. The taste of Hanoi in Itaewon, Itaewon's “Buncharaboomâ€
Recently, the most popular rice noodle restaurant in Itaewon. “Buncha,†where thin noodles picked directly from the store are dipped in a sweet and sour sauce with charcoal-grilled meat, meatballs, and various herbs, is the signature menu of Buncha Laboom. The sauce eaten with noodles, neem (zajo), and vegetables contains meat that tastes like ribs, and the charcoal flavor of the meat is even more appetizing. As for the sauce, you can add minced garlic, red pepper, and lime to add umami, and coriander can be requested separately. The authentic “Hanoi rice noodles†with rich beef broth brewed 24 hours a day without turning off the heat is also a popular menu. Unlike other rice noodle shops, it is characterized by not adding bean sprouts.
* Source: anvv_'s Instagram
* Source: anvv_'s Instagram
â–²Location: Willow Pharmacy, 738-25, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul â–²Opening hours: Monday-Thursday, Sunday 11:00-02:00, Friday-Saturday 11:00-5:30 â–²Price: Hanoi rice noodles 12,000 won, Hanoi rice noodles 9,000 won â–²Review (Saudi Prince Shikigin): After a long wait, I ordered buncha and rice noodles. The buncha had a nice texture and was very tasty along with the smoky aroma of the meat. The vegetables also have a distinct aroma and flavor, and the flavors go well with each other. The rice noodles are also on the occasional side and have a relatively soft texture.
2. Small Vietnam on Sowol Road, Gyeongridan-gil 'Le Hoi'
If you leave the busy alley of Gyeongridan-gil and head towards Namsan Mountain, you'll find a small Vietnamese “Le Hoi†located on Sowol Road. When you open the door, the colorful lights, chairs, and tables convey the feeling that you have come to Vietnam. The signature menu is “Banmi,†a Vietnamese sandwich made by splitting a baguette in half and adding ingredients such as pork, eggs, vegetables, and mayonnaise, and “Buncha,†a Vietnamese bibim-noodle where grilled pork is rubbed with various vegetables and sweet and sour sauce. Buncha is also a delicacy if you add coriander and enjoy it in the same form as coriander bibimguksu. The chicken bowl “Kok Ka,†which has grilled chicken served with vegetables, and the fried corn cob “Ngau Chien†are also popular.
* Source: Lehoy's official Instagram
* Source: Lehoy's official Instagram
â–²Location: 261-9 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul â–²Business hours: 12:00 to 22:00 every day (break time 15:00 to 17:00, last order 14:30 (lunch), 21:30 (dinner)) â–²Price: 12,000 won, banmi (pork) 6,500 won â–²Review (Kiyomi Doraemon, the god of food): The impressive Vietnamese sandwich Banmi was very tasty and nice. Puff and buncha are also good to eat.
3. 'Viet Ch' in Samcheong-dong, run by a local Vietnamese
A traditional Vietnamese food restaurant made by a chef from Hanoi. The signature menu is “Hanoi Buncha†and “Beef Rice Noodle.†The sweet and sour sauce contains minced garlic, so you can enjoy buncha, which is familiar to Korean tastes, even more delicious when eaten with grilled meat and raw vegetables over an open fire. The basic rice noodles have a light broth, so you can add bean sprouts and coriander according to your taste to add that flavor. “Chadol rice noodles,†which have plenty of mild marbling to add a savory flavor, are also popular. The Hanoi-style soy sauce bibimbap “Bunbo Nambo†and the Vietnamese pancake “Banseow,†made by adding beef and various kinds of seafood to sweet potato powder, are also delicacies.
* Source: yoojin.oh0127's Instagram
* Source: yoojin.oh0127's Instagram
â–²Location: 102-1 Gye-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul â–²Opening hours: 12:00 to 22:30 every day â–²Price: Beef rice noodles 8,000 won, Hanoi's 10,000 won â–²Review (Shikigami #ë¼ëž‘ì´ë¼ê·¸ëž¨): My brother who went to Vietnam said it was almost the same taste as what he had eaten locally, so I was satisfied! hehe
4. Authentic Hanoi boncha specialty store, 'Ting Ting' on Gyeongridan-gil
An authentic Hanoi buncha specialty store located on Itaewon's Hoeame-gil. The colorful exterior of the store looks like it was taken from a local open-air restaurant in Vietnam, and most of the dishes, tiles, and tables were actually imported from Vietnam. The interior is a small space with 5-6 tables. Popular menus include “Hanoi Buncha,†where grilled pork and noodles are soaked in soup, and “Bun Hai San,†a seafood rice noodle soup with spicy broth. Tintin's boncha is thick pork and has a rich, charcoal-grilled flavor. Unlike other places, the rice noodles are spacious and the amount of sauce is generous. “Foga,†a chicken rice noodle, and the green papaya salad with a unique texture are also delicious.
* Source: yunigram_'s Instagram
* Source: sun_riii's Instagram
â–²Location: 23-6, Hoenamu-ro 13ga-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul â–²Opening hours: 11:30 to 21:30 every day (break time 15:00 to 17:00), closed on Mondays â–²Price: Hanoi Buncha is 11,000 won â–²Review (called Shikigin Nanpyang): Hanoi Buncha seems to do the best job here hehe
5. Fashionable Vietnamese restaurant, 'Annam' in Dogok-dong
It is a Vietnamese cuisine restaurant newly introduced at the Thai restaurant “Kaolipochana†and the Vietnamese restaurant “Rehoi†in Gyeongridan-gil, Itaewon, and has a luxurious atmosphere with a sophisticated interior. The signature dish is “buncha,†where you eat charcoal-grilled Iberian pork and fresh vegetables dipped in sweet and sour sauce with noodles. Enjoying it refreshingly is refreshing yet has a unique umami flavor that appeals to the palate. If you don't have enough meat, you can add it separately. “Fresh spring rolls,†which are eaten by rolling seasonal vegetables and avocados in rice paper with beef and shrimp, and “banmi,†a Vietnamese sandwich made with pork (or shrimp), are also popular menus. Note that wine pairings are also possible starting in October.
* Source: s_yeon_0702's Instagram
* Source: moi_charmant's Instagram
â–²Location: No. 133, 467-24, Dogok-dong â–²Business hours: 11:30 to 22:00 every day (break time 15:00 to 17:00) â–²Price: 30,000 won, half rice (pork) 12,000 won â–²Review (Angry Birds 2): It's nice that the buncha uses Iberian pork and is full of charcoal flavor. You can soak it in sauce or eat it as a dip, but I ate it. It's cool, the noodles have a nice texture, and the meat is nice.