IN 2011, South Korean ex-pat Hans Kim opened Hello Hans Movie House, a recreational facility inspired by the private movie house that are popular in his home country. A hit among movie buffs across different age groups, it has since expanded to two branches—and this year, Hans brings another of his country’s favorites to Cebu with the opening of Hello Hans Rice Burger, which serves the famous Asian dish.
Opened last Sept. 10, Hello Hans Rice Burger has the distinctive customer interaction element that’s common in many local Korean establishments.
Diners will be greeted with a splash of pastel colours on its glass walls—graffiti over graffiti drawn, doodled and written by its past visitors. It invites passers-by for a fun time, not just in the dining aspect, but in the overall experience.
“Since Filipinos love rice, I thought this can also be a hit here,” he said. Hello Hans serves rice burgers with a selection of fillings under three categories, Korean, Filipino and special combos. The Filipino set consists of skinless longganisa, tocino, beef tapa and sisig while the Korean menu is mainly of tuna, spicy pork and chicken, and of course, kimchi—though Hans did claim Hello Hans’ kimchi burger is not as fiery as the original kimchi, having tweaked it a bit to suit local taste buds. The special combo menu, as the name implies, combines two types of fillings.
Add-on toppings like egg, sweet corn and cheese are also available. Then adding zest to the rice, bits of seaweed flakes are mixed with it, though customers can also opt to have plain rice. “It is a healthier alternative to some fast food burgers that use processed bread,” Hans said.
A rice burger, according to Hans, can be made and served about two minutes after the customer places an order. The open counter also lets customers see how it is prepared—guaranteeing freshness and cleanliness, which owner Hans is particular about as well.
Rice plus a viand filling, the rice burger is a full meal as far as typical Filipino eating preference is concerned. When feeling a bit prim and proper, diners can choose to eat it using utensils, or perhaps go for the classic way of devouring a burger—using bare hands. The rice burgers at Hello Hans are placed inside a foil that allows diners to easily flatten it for a bite. The bestsellers by far have been the kimchi, spicy pork and Spam rice variety.
During the day Hello Hans Rice Burger is filled with professionals out for a quick lunch then by late afternoon, with students from the school nearby. Despite its simple interiors and a food selection that’s just as straightforward, it has attracted followers who are all up for one thing: a fun and novel experience.
Hello Hans Rice Burger is on the ground floor of Parkmall in North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City. It is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.