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Shilla Hotel Mango Bingsu Review: Is This ₩83,000 Luxury Dessert Worth the Hype?

For a long time, our subscribers have been requesting a review of a particular dish, and today we finally delve into it: the legendary Mango Bingsu from the Shilla Hotel, Korea’s first and foremost 5-star hotel. This isn’t just any bingsu; it’s the Shilla Hotel Mango Bingsu. We’ve received countless requests, notably from Kim Na-eun, a dedicated subscriber who has consistently asked for this review for over a year. Thank you for your patience and continued support! We apologize for the delay and promise to provide the most thorough review possible.

The Price Tag: Why All the Fuss?

The primary reason many are curious about the Shilla Hotel Mango Bingsu is undoubtedly its price. Since its debut in 2011, the price has steadily increased, now reaching a staggering ₩83,000. Yes, you read that right—83,000 Korean Won for a dessert. At first glance, this seems exorbitant, possibly the most expensive bingsu in Korea. Surprisingly, it’s not the absolute priciest. Last year, the Josun Palace Seoul Palace used to offer a Shine Muscat Bingsu for ₩98,000 as a seasonal item. Currently, the Lotte Hotel Seoul offers a regular Mango Bingsu for ₩88,000 and a large one for a jaw-dropping ₩160,000. So, purely based on price, Shilla’s Mango Bingsu isn’t the only high-end option. However, the Shilla Hotel Mango Bingsu stands out as the most talked-about hotel bingsu, and it’s not just because of the cost.

The Origin of the Mango Bingsu Craze

Beyond the price and hotel status, the Shilla Hotel Mango Bingsu holds a special place. Mango bingsu is a trendy dessert in almost every café these days, but this particular bingsu is considered the originator of the mango bingsu craze and the benchmark for luxury hotel bingsu competition. It began at the Jeju Shilla Hotel in 2008 with Apple Mango Bingsu, and in 2011, the Seoul Shilla Hotel followed suit, initially priced at ₩27,000. Even now, at ₩83,000, it’s so popular that during peak season, you often face long queues, resembling those for popular Hongdae restaurants. It consistently receives top ratings among all mango bingsu contenders. The question is: what makes this bingsu so special that it sparked a nationwide craze and justifies its hefty price tag, drawing crowds season after season?

Visiting The Library at Shilla Hotel

To find out, I visited The Library, the lounge on the first floor of the Shilla Hotel, where the Mango Bingsu is served. It was a weekday, Tuesday, and just before lunchtime, around 11 AM. Even at this early hour, there was a waiting list of 15 parties ahead of me. The estimated wait time displayed was 48 minutes, but it turned out to be over an hour. Remarkably, almost every table was there for the Mango Bingsu, not just other items on the menu. On a weekday morning, before lunch, so many people were willing to pay ₩83,000 for bingsu! The lobby offered seating, but it was packed with people like me, waiting specifically for the Mango Bingsu.

After about 30 minutes of standing, I finally got a seat. Ordering was straightforward; bypassing the menu after a quick glance at the ₩19,000 iced americano, I went straight for the Apple Mango Bingsu. It’s served with mango sherbet and red bean paste.

Taste and Components: Deconstructing the Luxury

Let’s talk about the taste. The base ice is made from milk, similar to a milk-flavored ice bar like “JjuJjuBa”—sweet and milky. The star of the show, the apple mangoes, are premium Jeju-grown, about one and a half mangoes per serving. While they are supposed to be top-quality, the sweetness level was surprisingly average on this occasion. It wasn’t lacking in sweetness, but it wasn’t exceptionally sweet either. Perhaps it was just my batch on that day. The sherbet tasted like a standard, commercially available product, and the red bean paste was, well, red bean paste.

Here’s a breakdown of the components:

• Ice: Sweet, milky, and reminiscent of “JjuJjuBa” ice cream.
• Apple Mango: High-quality Jeju-grown, fresh, but the sweetness was average on this particular visit.
• Sherbet: Standard, commercially available taste.
• Red Bean Paste (Pat): Traditional red bean paste.

Shilla vs. 설빙: A Price and Quality Comparison

To truly understand the Shilla Hotel Mango Bingsu, I compared it to 설빙’s (Sulbing) Mango Bingsu, the most popular bingsu franchise in Korea. 설빙’s Apple Mango Cheese Sulbing, their signature mango bingsu, costs ₩12,900—nearly seven times cheaper than Shilla’s.

Key differences:

• Price: Shilla (₩83,000) vs. 설빙 (₩12,900).
• Ice: Shilla’s is milk-based; 설빙’s is topped with yogurt ice cream.
• Mango: Shilla uses fresh, Jeju apple mangoes; 설빙 uses frozen mangoes. While 설빙’s mango sweetness was comparable, the quality difference due to freshness was significant.
• Overall Impression: Both were enjoyable, but Shilla’s mango quality was undeniably superior.

While 설빙 is also delicious, the fresh, high-quality mango at Shilla makes a noticeable difference. However, is it a ₩70,000+ difference?

The “Small Luxury” Factor

Ultimately, the value of the Shilla Hotel Mango Bingsu isn’t solely about taste or ingredients. It’s about the experience, the status, and the “small luxury” it represents. For those willing to spend ₩83,000 on a dessert, it’s not just about satisfying a sweet craving. It’s about indulging in a trendy treat at a 5-star hotel, enjoying the ambiance, and sharing Instagram-worthy photos. A quick search for “Shilla Hotel Mango Bingsu” on Instagram reveals over 100,000 posts, highlighting its social media appeal.

This bingsu caters to those seeking a “small luxury”—a slightly extravagant, but affordable indulgence that brings joy and a sense of treat. It’s not about cost-effectiveness; it’s about the experience and the feeling of treating oneself. While I personally might not fully grasp the “small luxury” concept, I can appreciate that for many, the ₩83,000 includes not just the bingsu, but the entire experience and the happiness derived from it.

Final Verdict: Worth It for the Experience

My personal takeaway? The Shilla Hotel Mango Bingsu is undoubtedly delicious with high-quality ingredients, especially the fresh mango. However, if you’re strictly evaluating based on taste and value for money, the price might seem steep. The real value lies in the “small luxury” experience—indulging in a famous dessert at a prestigious hotel, the ambiance, and the social media cachet. For those who appreciate these aspects, the Shilla Hotel Mango Bingsu might very well be worth the splurge. For others, a delicious and much more affordable mango bingsu elsewhere will certainly satisfy your dessert cravings just as well.

The only real downside I found? The price. But then again, that’s part of the “luxury” experience, isn’t it?

Location: The Library, 1st Floor, The Shilla Hotel, Seoul, South Korea

General Rating: Positive experience, especially for the “small luxury” aspect, but price is a significant factor.