Xiaolongbao vs shumai lunch at Panda Dim Sum, Yeonnam-dong Seoul

My husband and I went on a date to Yeonnam-dong and stopped by Panda Dim Sum for lunch. There are plenty of Chinese restaurants in the neighborhood, but ones that also serve Peking duck are hard to find. Panda Dim Sum has Peking duck on the menu, so we ordered it together this time.

Where Panda Dim Sum is and when it opens

• Panda Dim Sum, 22 Donggyo-ro 38an-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 2nd floor
• Hours: daily 12:00 - 21:00 / break time 16:00 - 17:00
• Last order: 15:10, 20:10
• Group seating available, reservations, baby chairs

You can find Panda Dim Sum by walking from Hongik Univ. Station toward Yeonnam-dong and heading into the alley.

Panda Dim Sum sits on the 2nd floor of the building, so we walked up the stairs to get in. It's also close to the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail in Yeonnam-dong, making it a good spot to stop by while strolling, and a nice area to walk around before or after eating.

What the second-floor dining room looks like

The Panda Dim Sum interior had an overall dark tone combined with wood elements, giving off a clean yet cozy vibe.

The kitchen was open, so we could catch glimpses of the food being prepared, and panda videos and illustrations were scattered across the walls, fitting well with the name Panda Dim Sum. Sunlight came in through the windows too, making the inside brighter than expected. The overall casual atmosphere made it a good spot for a date meal in Yeonnam-dong.

Panda Dim Sum's menu and what we ordered

Here's the menu at Panda Dim Sum, a Chinese restaurant in Yeonnam-dong near Hongdae :) Besides dim sum, they have Peking duck and a range of Chinese dishes. Signature items include Peking duck, crispy yurinchi, flying fish roe shumai, xiaolongbao, black pepper beef rice bowl, and mala bibim noodles. There were plenty of dim sum varieties too, so it was easy to pick according to taste. We ordered half a Peking duck along with xiaolongbao, flying fish roe shumai, and truffle shumai.

Half a Peking duck, with pancakes and sugar

Half a Peking duck arrived first. The duck came with pancakes served separately, along with julienned cucumber, scallion, and sauce for wrapping.

The duck skin was roasted to a golden brown with a nice crisp texture, while the meat underneath was soft and juicy. The savory skin and clean-tasting meat worked well together, and it was good even eaten on its own.

We placed the duck on the pancake, added cucumber and scallion, drizzled on sauce, and rolled it up to eat. The crispy duck combined with the crunchy vegetables gave it great texture, and the sauce tied it all together for a clean, satisfying bite.

We were told to try the duck skin dipped in sugar, so we gave it a shot. The crispy skin paired with the sweetness of the sugar made for a bite that was both savory and subtly sweet.

Comparing the three dim sum at Panda Dim Sum

Next, we tried each of the dim sum dishes we'd ordered, one by one.

Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings)

The xiaolongbao had a chewy wrapper with soup inside, so each bite was juicy and satisfying.

Eaten while still warm, the broth and meat filling blended together nicely — it was delicious.

Flying fish roe shumai

The flying fish roe shumai had roe piled on top, so it looked appetizing right away.

The savory shumai flavor combined with the popping texture of the fish roe made it fun to eat.

Truffle shumai

Finally, we also tried the truffle shumai.

There was a subtle hint of truffle aroma, giving it a different character from regular shumai. Ordering all three dim sum together meant the flavors and textures varied slightly, which made for a fun tasting experience. Overall, the wrappers weren't too thick and paired well with the fillings across the board, making them delicious. Ordering Peking duck together with the dim sum let us enjoy a wider variety than sticking to just one menu.

Is Panda Dim Sum good for a Yeonnam-dong date?

If you're looking for good Chinese food in Yeonnam-dong near Hongdae, Panda Dim Sum is worth trying for both the dim sum and the Peking duck. It's also well located for eating in Yeonnam-dong and then strolling along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail, making it a solid date course. If you're exploring places to visit in Seoul and find yourself in Yeonnam-dong, this could be a good place to check out for a meal.