Years of Survival: 2+ Years
While the exact duration is unclear, I estimated this based on the timeline of online reviews.
The first branch opened on February 26, 2021, at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido, making the brand itself over 5 years old.
Authentic K-Level: 3/5
The name ‘Hao Sum’ is a portmanteau of the Cantonese word ‘Hao’ (meaning ‘Good’) and ‘Sum’ (from ‘Dim Sum’).
Price Range: Approx. $17 per person
I visited with my family and had a satisfying meal for about $17 per person. The price point is definitely higher than your typical Korean-Chinese restaurant serving Jajangmyeon, Jjamppong, or Tangsuyuk, but it was absolutely worth every penny.
Ordering Difficulty: Low
The menu features English descriptions for every dish along with photos, making it incredibly easy to understand exactly what you are ordering.
Ordering Tip (The Must-Tries): Crispy Egg Bao & Black Hakao
- Crispy Egg Bao: Think of this as a Chinese-style burger. It features vegetables, an egg, shrimp, and sauce sandwiched between two buns. Both the bun and the fried egg are deep-fried, resulting in an incredibly crispy and novel texture. The bouncy shrimp inside harmonizes perfectly with that signature crunch.
- Black Hakao: One bite into the Black Hakao lets you experience the dense, bouncy texture of high-quality shrimp.
Warning: Hot broth
The broth inside the dim sum is extremely hot. Always poke a small hole to let the steam escape and cool it down before taking a full bite. Skipping this step might result in a nasty burn from the scalding juices.
Getting There: Subway
It’s a short walk from Pangyo Station (Exit 3).
Getting from the station to the restaurant on the 9th floor of the department store takes about 10 minutes.
Personal Experience
It was a wonderful place to spend some quality time with my mother. According to my sibling, the original branch at The Hyundai Seoul is nearly impossible to eat at due to the extreme wait times. However, when we arrived at the Pangyo branch around 7 PM on a weekday, it was pleasantly quiet and peaceful.
Leave a Reply