Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Carla]

Ok, anybody know where there are any vietnamese shops? Or do you know where they live, there's bound to be some shops around there?

Or lacking that, does anybody know where to buy hoisin sauce? Do they call it something else here? There are lots of brown bottles at the store, but none look familiar and I don't think they would like it if I opened them all and smelled, lol.

It'll be a few months til I'm desperate enough to go to Pho Hoa, so I'm hoping just to cook stuff myself.

I live in Suwon, but Seoul is no problem. Just a hop skip and a jump. Koreans just keep saying "try Itaewon" but I don't remember anything there, just mainly western stuff.

Any and all info will be appreciated!

[KYC]

I lived in Seoul but was never able to find hoisin sauce. Try oyster sauce..not as good but a decent sub

[Carla]

[Scamps]

You can buy hoisin sauce from gmarket.
I've also seen it at The Foreign Mart in Itaewon.
And there are authentic Vietnamese markets and restaurants just across the street from Ansan Station, the light blue line number 4. There is a whole street there called something like Southeast Asia Street. You can find Indonesian, Thai, Indian, Cambodian, etc restaurants and markets.
But I don't want to recommend the Vietnamese restaurant because they serve dog...

[Carla]

[Scamps]

No, absolutely not Pho Hoa! I don't remember the name. I saw two and they're 100% authentic. The menu is in Vietnamese and Korean. The people who run the restaurant are Vietnamese and speak Vietnamese. There's no trace of kimchi or anything Korean related. The people eating there were Vietnamese too. You'll feel like Korea just vanished when you walk down that street.
I have no idea how new that section is but it's not all sparkly. Looks like it's been around for some time.
After you get out of Ansan Station, walk under the underpass to cross the street and you're there.
If you want I can show you myself.
Here's an article about one of the two restaurants there, with mouth-watering photos!
http://www.zenkimchi.com/dining/archives/347

[AD35]

Pho never tastes authentic here, it's always the Korean version Pho. I had my parents send me some of the pho sauces and pho powders so I can make it at home here in Korea. They don't have all the herbs and spices here to make pho, but I kinda get it close.

They do have all the noodles and rice paper here though, so it's better than nothing. If you don't know, good homemade pho takes at least 6 hours to make =)

[pkang0202]

Back home, the best Pho places had the worst service. Seriously.

You could tell how good the Pho was by how crappy the service was. There is this place called Pho So 1 that was ALWAYS packed with people. The people working are completely rude. It was like the Soup Nazi in Seinfield. They take your order when THEY are ready, not when you are. And if you don't place your order within 30 seconds of when they come to your table then they walk away and you have to wait like 30 minutes before they come back. Good luck getting any water.

Everyone I know always complains about the service there, but they keep going back because the Pho is awesome.

[Carla]

[Carla]

[Scamps]

In Itaewon you can buy a spice pack to make your own pho at home. It's by the company called Asian Home Gourmet. I haven't tried their pho but their other products are amazing.

[Scamps]

In Haebangchon or right across the street from it next to Buddha Belly they're building a new Vietnamese restaurant called Le Saigon.
Can't wait...although I'm kind of expecting to be disappointed.

If anyone tries it or if it's open yet please write a mini-review, give notice, just say something!!