Yeonnam-dong Chinese restaurant revisited after 2 years: Panda Dim Sum

Panda Dim Sum in Yeonnam-dong: the basics

Panda Dim Sum (판다딤섬) is a Chinese restaurant in Yeonnam-dong, on the second floor of a building at 22 Donggyo-ro 38an-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It's open daily 11:30–21:30, last order is at 20:30, and you can book through Naver.

• Location: 22 Donggyo-ro 38an-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 2nd floor
• Hours: daily 11:30–21:30, last order 20:30
• Reservations: available via Naver
• Parking: use a public parking lot
• Restroom: unisex, inside the restaurant

I had dinner at Panda Dim Sum, a Yeonnam-dong Chinese place that people in the know already love. Casual Chinese restaurants are rare among Yeonnam-dong's popular spots, and Panda Dim Sum serves unique flavors by reimagining local Asian food.

How to get to Panda Dim Sum, and parking

It's easiest to walk from Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station, or take Mapo bus 05 and get off at Daemyeong Apartments. Yeonnam-dong's alleys are narrow and parking is hard, so take public transport or use a public parking lot.

Search "Panda Dim Sum" on your map, head toward Daemyeong Vivaldi Park near Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station, then turn into the alley with Bistro Ora and Yomiu Udon Gyoza and keep going straight. It's on the second floor, in the left-hand alley, to the left of the Custom Salad building. From Hongik Univ. Station you can also take Mapo bus 05 and get off at Daemyeong Apartments. Since the Yeonnam-dong alleys are narrow and parking is often difficult, please take public transport or use a public parking lot.

What's the atmosphere like two years later?

I visited Panda Dim Sum with a friend about two years ago, and it's still a steady favorite among Yeonnam-dong Chinese restaurants. The place is spacious, so it looked good for dates or small get-togethers.

Even back then it felt like a hidden gem tucked into an alley, relaxed, with a memory of food made by some hidden master. I'm coming back with my friends next time!!

Signature dishes at Panda Dim Sum: what we ate

Xiaolongbao (₩8,000)

Panda Dim Sum's xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) cost ₩8,000 and are pork dumplings full of juice, steamed to order. Dipped in the special ginger and soy syrup, the zing and the rich pork flavor went together well.

I ordered the juicy-bursting pork xiaolongbao as a starter. They're steamed to order and arrive piping hot, so I was careful not to burn myself on the hot broth and filling as I dipped them in the special ginger + soy syrup. The zingy kick and rich pork flavor matched nicely.

Soft tofu cold salad (₩7,000)

The soft tofu cold salad is ₩7,000: a whole block of soft tofu in a sweet soy sauce, topped with fried tofu-skin noodles and spring vegetables. It was a sweet-and-sour appetizer that got my appetite going.

Personally, it was cool and light and suited my taste so well that I kept scooping it up, and the fried tofu-skin noodles added a nice texture. I even want to make it at home as diet food 😉

Mala mapo tofu rice bowl (₩12,000)

The mala mapo tofu rice bowl is ₩12,000: soft tofu with a spicy, numbing mala kick over rice. The bowl is packed with rice, so it's a filling dish that works well alongside other menu items.

I could really taste the tingly mala bite and the tangy spices. If you're wondering about a solo lunch nearby, this mala mapo tofu rice bowl would be a good pick.

Half a Peking duck at Panda Dim Sum: how many people is it for?

Half a Peking duck at Panda Dim Sum is ₩39,000 and comes as a full set laid out on the table. Peking duck is sold as a half or a whole, and I think a half suits 2–3 people and a whole suits 4–5.

If you order extra dishes, half a duck should be enough too!

The prettily sliced Peking duck came piled on a plate, and both the amount and the thickness felt generous! The skin can be greasy, so the staff recommended dipping it in sugar, and since the skin is fried crisp, it went well with the sugar.

Wheat wraps and refillable vegetables

Half a Peking duck at Panda Dim Sum came with about 5 wheat wraps, and the scallion strips, cucumber, sauce and so on can be refilled. Even making as many duck wraps as I wanted, there was no shortage.

There were plenty of wraps, so I didn't really count them. The duck is tasty on its own and tasty wrapped, with a soft, nutty texture! Try an exotic meal of Peking duck and dim sum at Panda Dim Sum, a Yeonnam-dong Chinese favorite ☺️