Haha, Singer, Entertainer, and Businessman
Initially working as a musician, Haha is now better known as an entertainer through his long-time career as part of the regular cast of SBS’s most popular variety program, Running Man. Despite his funny and witty characteristics, Haha is actually smart and quite a strategic thinker. Besides his master’s degree in Drama and Fine Arts, Haha also has an interest in the food service industry. He’s owned his own food stall for almost ten years, and expanded the small business in other packed areas in the country.
Haha and Jong-kook’s 401 Meat Restaurant
Originally, Haha launched his restaurant under the name of Pal Ja Mak Chang, back in 2009. The restaurant specialized in chitterlings, pork belly, and pork cheek. However, the restaurant underwent major changes in 2015, with the renovation of the interior and changes in its menu and prices so that foreign customers are able to order more easily, because the menu is available not only in Korean but also in Japanese, Chinese, and English. In addition to the physical changes, Haha also changed the restaurant’s name to Loco Quan 401.
In early June, 2017, it was announced that Kim Jong-kook was Haha’s new business partner for Loco Quan 401. On the same day, Haha and Kim Jong-kook launched a new branch in Hongdae. Many people were waiting to try it, as they lined up for the Hongdae restaurant.
In the same month, Haha and Kim Jong-kook opened a new store in Busan. Fellow Running Man cast member, Song Ji-hyo, was seen at the launching event. She came to the restaurant to support Haha and Kim Jong-kook, as well as greet the fans and customers.
We wish best of luck for Haha and Kim Jong-kook’s business in their new chain of restaurants!
Haha’s Korean BBQ Restaurant Location
Currently, Haha’s restaurant is located in three cities in South Korea. The first location is in Hongdae, where the restaurant was launched for the first time in 395-17 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu. The Hongdae restaurant has two operating times, namely every Sunday to Thursday from 4 pm to 2 am and every Friday and Saturday from 4 pm to 4 am. The menu served in the Hongdae restaurant varies from grilled steak, beef stew, beef tongue, spiced brisket, chadol miso soup, dunchimi noodles, and many other items. For more information, you may call 02-325-0805 (Korean phone line based) or 82-2-325-0805 (foreign phone line based) or view its Instagram account (@401_restaurant) before you visit the place.
The second location is in another busy district, Myeongdong at 8F 7-1 Chungmiro 2-ga and 8F 41 Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu area. The operating hours and menu in Haha’s Myeongdong restaurant are basically the same as the one in Hongdae. For more information, you can call 02-773-0401 (Korean phone line based) or 82-2-773-0401 (foreign phone line based) and view its Instagram account (@401rest_myeongdong) before you visit the place.
Lastly, Haha also ventured his restaurant to the city of the harbor in South Korea, Busan, at 1380 U-dong and 9-10 Haeundaehaebyeon-ro 265beon-gil. Unlike the previous two stores, Haha’s Busan restaurant has three kinds of operating times: every Sunday from 5 pm to 2 am, Mondays to Saturdays from 5 pm to 5 am, and during the summer season from 11 am to 7 am every day. In addition, the menu available at the Busan restaurant varies from flower triplet to honeycomb, chicken feet, hot pepper paste, steamed eggs, and other items. For more information, you can call 051-747-5401 (Korean phone line based) or 82-51-747-5401 (foreign phone line based) and view its Instagram account (@401_restaurant_haeundae) before you visit the place.
Netizens Reviews for Haha’s Korean BBQ Restaurant
While Haha’s restaurant received so much hype from Running Man fans and Korean fans alike, the reviews from its customers are divided. Based on the reactions written on Trip Advisor, many customers were let down by the service at Haha’s restaurant, mentioning that the meat set and marinated beef were below their expectation. In addition, the waiters’ attitudes were disappointing, because they didn’t have any solutions regarding the meat which is too thick to be chewed on and they were often spotted being grumpy and annoyed.
A similar review was given by a native who went to Haha’s restaurant because his sibling is a fan of Running Man. The reviewer noted that the food served seemed no better than you could cook it in your own home, and that it was overpriced.
However, not all customers of Haha’s restaurant were displeased about their visits, because another reviewer said that the large portions and kimchi served in the restaurant suited his taste buds. Moreover, the reviewer said that the waiters in Haha’s restaurant are able to speak Chinese, so foreign visitors wouldn’t have any difficulty in ordering the food.
To conclude, it may be better not to set your expectation too high when you come to Haha’s restaurant, because you are more than guaranteed to spot a crowded place where its waiters do not really communicate with the customers. Certainly, a one-time visit to Haha’s restaurant must be enough to satisfy your curiosity, don’t you think so, dear readers?
