Rookie opening a Korean restaurant right in the heart of Shanghai has recently become a hot topic among Chinese netizens. Partly because many believe this is a sign that he is about to “retire,” but mostly due to curiosity about the complaints regarding the high prices of the dishes at this restaurant.
Recently, GimGoon – the former FPX player, sparked controversy in the online community by bluntly criticizing Rookie’s restaurant, claiming the prices were too high for the actual quality, despite never having tried the food there:
“If eating here costs about 200 yuan per person? […] I’d rather pay a bit more and go to Haidilao instead.
A bowl of bone soup that costs 228 yuan (nearly 800,000 VND)? Just bones? Potatoes are cheap, throw a bunch in the pot and add a pinch of meat and some vegetables. Given the cheap ingredients, I think it should be a huge pot to justify that price. I also want to try it to see what it tastes like; I am quite the master chef myself.
Coca-Cola for 22 yuan (about 77,000 VND)? Don’t fool me! Is that price acceptable? Convenience stores sell it for only 3 to 5 yuan a can. The location he opened his restaurant seems very expensive, probably comparable to Gangnam (the area known as the upscale center of South Korea), so I don’t feel worthy to eat at this restaurant.”
GimGoon’s remarks immediately sparked a plethora of opinions online, most of which criticized him for continuously mocking Rookie’s business – a fellow colleague and even a compatriot.
Some other opinions suggested that Rookie’s restaurant prices are indeed quite high compared to the average, but they do not agree with GimGoon “putting down” Rookie like that:
“- These prices are normal in Shanghai, not to mention this is also in the southwestern part of Nanjing.
– To be fair, doesn’t this guy know that Shanghai is one of the most expensive cities in the world?
– Just because they charge high prices doesn’t mean the menu doesn’t list the prices clearly; if you want to eat, eat, if not, then don’t. I haven’t heard many complaints about the food quality at that restaurant; they just complain about not getting to meet Rookie.
– If you don’t want to eat, let others eat; they know the prices and are willing to pay to support the restaurant and meet their idol, who is interfering with your livelihood?
– If I open a restaurant in the future, I’ll remember to set drink prices equal to convenience store prices; otherwise, don’t blame me.
– Clearly, the southwestern part of Nanjing is comparable to Gangnam, so why complain about the prices?
– Completely tactless.
– Running out of ways to gain fame?
– It seems like the customers who go to Rookie’s restaurant only do so to check-in or get a chance to take a photo with their idol. If they manage to take a photo, they probably won’t return a second time. I agree that the price of Coca-Cola is outrageous.
– A fried chicken dish costing 98 yuan is quite outrageous; I can’t eat at this restaurant.
– 22 yuan for a Coca-Cola is too expensive, but didn’t the people who ate say they only spent about 200 yuan each? Then that price is completely reasonable.
– The average spending of people living in the southwestern part of Nanjing is 150 yuan/person/day; a meal at Rookie’s restaurant only costs them a day and a half’s worth of expenses, expensive but not excessively so. For the people of Shanghai, this price is usually acceptable.
– Just asking, are GimGoon and Rookie both Koreans? They’re both far from home making money, yet still trying to undermine each other’s livelihood?”
When suggested that he should open a similar restaurant, GimGoon responded: “Can you lend me 3 million yuan? Because I have no money; 30 GimGoons would equal 1 Rookie and half of Faker.”
It seems that GimGoon wants to imply that his annual income is only 1/30 that of Rookie and 1/60 that of Faker. In fact, this is not too surprising, as compared to Rookie or Faker, GimGoon is not a well-known star and does not have a fan base as large as these two icons.