Hai Kou Restaurant Medan: Worth the Wait? | Qpon X

Friends, who gets it?! I went to this Hai Kou Restaurant in Medan because of its high 4.8 rating and 1200+ reviews on Google, thinking this family dinner would definitely be a safe bet. The result… Anjay, my cup of tea was almost empty, and the table was still bare. I almost put on a performance of 'fainting from hunger' right there. 🫠

First, some praise, the ambiance is really something

To be fair, the restaurant's facade and environment are genuinely nice. The place is huge, with both indoor and outdoor seating, and the parking lot is super spacious, which is great for those who drive. Since there were a lot of us, we booked a VIP private room in advance. The space was quite comfortable and offered enough privacy. No wonder they're always using the hashtag #homeathaikou[1] on Instagram. The vibe is on point, and it's really suitable for birthday parties or for the whole family to come and Nongkrong[2].

As for the food, it's the more traditional Chinese seafood style, and they also serve dim sum. We ordered a few dishes that looked good, like the Specialty Fried Noodles (Stir Fried Binjai Noodles)[3] and the Sweet and Sour Chicken with Yam Ring[4]. The taste was a safe bet—not bad, but not amazing either, so you won't run into any major disasters. Their signature Heko Prawn Series[5] also looks quite tempting, with a lot of flavor options. However, one dish, the Salted Egg Green Beans[6], was a bit... emmm... sickeningly sweet, not really to my taste.

Here comes the main point: Come prepared with patience!

Alright, praise is over, time for the truth. The biggest flaw of this place is the service! It's ridiculously slow! We waited for a full hour before the dishes started to arrive one by one[7]. We even had to ask for our white rice three times; it felt like the kitchen was growing the rice from scratch... The whole time, we survived by drinking tea. If you're coming on an empty stomach, I'd advise you to think twice.

Also, you have to be extra careful when ordering! I heard some friends ordered a medium portion but were served a small one. When they tried to reason with the waiter, the staff just confidently said, "That's what the system ordered." If you want to make up for it, sure, just order another one... This way of handling things is just Mantap to the max[8].

A Guide to Avoiding the Pitfalls, Please Memorize It All

So, if you still want to give it a try (after all, the ambiance and private rooms are bonus points), please accept this guide that I've learned the hard way:

Keep a calm mindset, don't go when you're starving: Treat it as a social gathering where you need to slowly chill, not as fast food. Otherwise, you'll really be waiting long enough to question your existence[9].
Definitely book in advance: Especially on weekends and holidays. The restaurant itself recommends making a reservation[10]; otherwise, queuing is standard procedure.
Double and triple check when ordering: Repeat the portion sizes and any special requests to the waiter when you place your order to avoid arguments later[11].
Have a few backup dishes in mind: Some of their dishes might be sold out at any time[12], so it's best to ask what's still available today before you order, to avoid getting your hopes up for nothing.

First, some praise, the ambiance is really something

Here comes the main point: Come prepared with patience!

A Guide to Avoiding the Pitfalls, Please Memorize It All

So, if you still want to give it a try (after all, the ambiance and private rooms are bonus points), please accept this guide that I've learned the hard way:

Keep a calm mindset, don't go when you're starving: Treat it as a social gathering where you need to slowly chill, not as fast food. Otherwise, you'll really be waiting long enough to question your existence[9].
Definitely book in advance: Especially on weekends and holidays. The restaurant itself recommends making a reservation[10]; otherwise, queuing is standard procedure.
Double and triple check when ordering: Repeat the portion sizes and any special requests to the waiter when you place your order to avoid arguments later[11].
Have a few backup dishes in mind: Some of their dishes might be sold out at any time[12], so it's best to ask what's still available today before you order, to avoid getting your hopes up for nothing.

This 4.8-star gem in Medan… and I waited 1 hour just for my food…

First, some praise, the ambiance is really something

Here comes the main point: Come prepared with patience!

A Guide to Avoiding the Pitfalls, Please Memorize It All