Chilly-day dumpling hot pot with Mom in Jongno 3-ga: Jongga Mandu

Jongga Mandu near Jongno 3-ga Station: our third visit with Mom

This time I went to Jongga Mandu (종가만두), near Jongno 3-ga Station, with my mom. When the weather turns chilly, you just crave something hot and brothy, right? So we headed to Jongga Mandu, known as a go-to dumpling hot pot spot near Jongno 3-ga Station!

Actually, this is already my third visit. I remembered loving the dumpling hot pot the first time, so I wanted to go back with Mom. A steaming hot pot on a cold day warmed me right up and made for a hearty meal~

Jongga Mandu hours, parking and reservations

• 📍 88 Supyo-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• ⏰ Daily 11:00-21:30
• Break time 15:30-17:00
• Last order 14:30, 20:30
• 🚘 Paid parking lot
• ✔️ Naver reservation, takeout available

Does Jongga Mandu make its dumplings by hand?

Jongga Mandu says it folds its mandu in the shop by hand every morning. It describes itself as carrying on the taste of the royal-court-style dumplings Mom used to make, built on the stubbornness and care of folding more than 2 million dumplings over 7 years. If you love handmade dumplings, this sounds like a place worth your attention!

What sets Jongga Mandu apart is that these aren't factory-made frozen dumplings but ones folded by hand with fresh vegetables and meat~ And they really were folding dumplings non-stop in one corner of the shop! The dumpling hot pot comes with not just dumplings but also vegetables, mushrooms, beef and kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), so it's quite a filling meal on its own.

Jongga Mandu dumpling hot pot types: which broth to choose?

This time we ordered the dumpling hot pot for 2 and a plate of steamed mandu. Jongga Mandu lets you pick a hot pot to suit your taste, and the signature options include clear dumpling hot pot, spicy dumpling hot pot, half-and-half broth dumpling hot pot and spicy brisket dumpling hot pot.

Clear dumpling hot pot

The clear dumpling hot pot has a clean, deep savory flavor from a seafood broth. It seemed like a good fit for people who like a mild, light soup~

Spicy dumpling hot pot and half-and-half broth dumpling hot pot

The spicy dumpling hot pot is known for its sharp, refreshing broth. I hear it has enough depth of flavor to work as a hangover cure, so it should be a good pick if you like spicy soups. And if you can't decide, I'd also recommend the half-and-half broth dumpling hot pot, which lets you enjoy the clear and spicy broths in one go!

How was Jongga Mandu's dumpling hot pot for a meal out with Mom and family?

It was also nice for eating slowly while chatting with Mom about this and that. When you eat out with family, you tend to look for something warm and filling rather than anything too intense, and the dumpling hot pot was a good choice on that front too!

The area around Jongno 3-ga, Ikseon-dong and Euljiro has lots of places for sightseeing or dates. If you're wandering around and want a proper hearty meal, Jongga Mandu seems like a convenient spot to stop in.

Jongga Mandu steamed mandu: a first taste

I tried Jongga Mandu's steamed mandu for the first time this visit, and they were so tender and delicious~

Why I keep going back to Jongga Mandu (three times now!)

Since this was our third visit, I think there's clearly a reason we keep coming back. It's not a one-and-done place: whenever I'm in Jongno and start craving dumpling hot pot, this is where I end up. We'll probably go again next time too, haha.

I visited Jongga Mandu for the third time with Mom, and a hot dumpling hot pot on a cold day tasted even better ☺️ It's the place I think of when I want a generous, filling meal, so I'd recommend it to anyone looking for somewhere to eat around Jongno~