First Peking duck lunch at Panda Dim Sum, a Yeonnam-dong restaurant

Where is Panda Dim Sum and how do you get there?

Panda Dim Sum is about an 8-minute walk from Hongik University Station (AREX), tucked inside a Yeonnam-dong alley. I worried it might be hard to find being inside the alley, but following Naver Maps made it easy enough. The panda sign on the 2nd floor is pretty eye-catching too, so I spotted it right away!

We booked a lunch reservation through Naver ahead of time!

What is the restaurant like inside?

Walking into Panda Dim Sum, the overall vibe was clean and tidy. The tables weren't as cramped as I expected, so it was comfortable to eat, and the open kitchen gave it a hygienic feel too.

There were also baskets by the window for storing bags, and that little touch felt like a nice bit of thoughtfulness.

And true to the name Panda Dim Sum, you can spot pandas all over the place. Kung Fu Panda was playing on a projector, and there were panda plushies and posters scattered around, making the space cute and fun.

What we ordered at Panda Dim Sum and what it cost

For my friend trying Peking duck for the first time, we ordered a half Peking duck, the truffle shumai (their best menu item), and a black pepper beef rice bowl. Half a Peking duck plus dim sum plus a rice bowl for about ₩63,000 total. I always assumed Peking duck was pricey and intimidating to try, but Panda Dim Sum made it pretty accessible. And being affordable didn't mean the taste suffered at all.

How does the truffle shumai taste?

The truffle shumai arrived first. As soon as it hit the table, a rich, nutty truffle aroma rose up subtly. One bite revealed plump shrimp packed in, and the springy shrimp texture blended with the deep, fragrant truffle flavor as I chewed.

What I liked especially was that the truffle didn't overpower — it enhanced the clean, sweet taste of the shrimp instead. Dipped in soy sauce with ginger, the salty tang plus the sharp ginger flavor gave it a whole other dimension.

This is a dish I'd order again without hesitation. If you're looking for a good dim sum restaurant in Hongdae's Yeonnam-dong neighborhood, the truffle shumai is a must-try.

Half Peking duck: is it good for a first-timer?

And now the main event, the half Peking duck! The whole point of Peking duck is enjoying the crispy, savory skin, and dipped lightly in sugar, the skin turns crispy and sweetly savory all at once. That crisp-outside, tender-inside texture contrast was 😋👍🏻

For the meat, we spread sauce on a pancake, added julienned scallion and cucumber, rolled it up, and ate it in one bite — a combination that honestly can't go wrong :) The soft, clean-tasting duck meat with sweet-salty sauce, crunchy cucumber, and fragrant scallion brought together flavor and texture at once. The chewy pancake wrapped it all up, so every bite felt full of flavor!

Most importantly, my friend trying Peking duck for the first time said it was delicious, so mission accomplished. I'd heard Peking duck can be hit or miss because of its particular smell if not done well, but this had no gamey smell at all and let the duck's savory flavor really come through. The pancakes can run out fast, but you can order more, and the yabing pancake add-on is only ₩2,500, so it's easy to add without hesitation.

Black pepper beef rice bowl

The black pepper beef rice bowl exceeded expectations too. I picked it since it's listed as a best menu item, and in the end that was a great call. The tender beef came with the sharp, nutty aroma of black pepper, and the moderate spiciness really pulled you in. It wasn't just harshly spicy — paired with rice, the heat level was just right, so I kept going back for more.

The sautéed potatoes mixed in with the beef were a particularly good match. Between the tender beef, the potato's fluffy-yet-slightly-chewy texture added great balance. The salty, rich sauce soaked naturally into the rice, so every spoonful came with beef and potato together. Honestly, I felt like I could finish a whole bowl by myself ☺️

Is Panda Dim Sum worth a visit? Final verdict

What we ordered that day — half Peking duck, truffle shumai, black pepper beef rice bowl — all three dishes were delicious, so I think we picked a really solid combo. If you're near Hongik University Station looking for something different, or want to try Peking duck for the first time in Yeonnam-dong, this is a great spot to enjoy it without breaking the bank. Especially if you're after a dim sum restaurant in Hongdae's Yeonnam-dong, the fact that you can get both dim sum and Peking duck together here is a real draw.

The prices were reasonable, but the food and atmosphere were satisfying too, making it a great spot for a meal with a friend. We mostly ordered the best-menu items today, so I'm curious about the rest of the menu next time. I especially want to try the sweet and sour pork and the mala noodles I haven't tried yet!😋✨ If you want to enjoy Peking duck and dim sum in Yeonnam-dong at a reasonable price, Panda Dim Sum's Yeonnam branch is worth a visit.