Dumpling hot pot before a Showtaekwon show, Jongno 3-ga: Jongga Mandu

What is Jongga Mandu in Jongno 3-ga like?

Jongga Mandu (종가만두) serves handmade dumplings and mandu jeongol (dumpling hot pot) near Jongno 3-ga Station. Its former name was Seonggyeong Mandu Yori Jeonmunjeom Jongno Branch (성경만두요리전문점 종로점). I went with my spouse for a deep, refreshing clear dumpling hot pot. For the price, you get plump handmade dumplings and a warm broth, which makes it a great-value date spot in Jongno.

Location, hours and parking

• Address: 88 Supyo-ro, 1st floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Location: 311 m from Jongno 3-ga Station Exit 15
• Hours: 11:30–21:30 (weekday break time 15:30–17:00)
• Sunday: 11:30–16:00
• Parking: There is no dedicated parking, so a nearby public parking lot is recommended.

Why I picked Jongga Mandu for dinner before a Showtaekwon show

We were heading to a Showtaekwon performance in Jongno 3-ga and wanted a hearty dinner first, and that's how we found Jongga Mandu. It was our first fun outing together in a while! My spouse is a total dumpling lover who'd get up in the middle of sleep for mandu, so this Cheonggyecheon-area spot was their strong first pick.

Word of mouth is strong and people queue up, but luckily the turnover was fast and we got in without a long wait. It's a short walk from the station, and the Pimatgol restaurant alley and the Cheonggyecheon date route are right nearby, so access is excellent.

Atmosphere: you can watch the dumplings being made

The restaurant was a cozy space, clean yet with the homey feel of an old-school eatery. Stepping inside, I felt both charms at once.

Best of all, in the open area you can watch the staff carefully shaping dumplings by hand in real time, which made me trust the place even more.

The staff were kind and warm, so we felt looked after the whole time. There's no parking, so public transport or a nearby public lot is easiest. If you're looking for a Jongno restaurant or a place for drinks in Jongno 3-ga, it's a relaxed spot that's easy to drop into.

Menu and prices

Dumpling hot pot starts at ₩13,000 per person: clear and spicy are ₩13,000, and the half-and-half broth is ₩14,000.

• Half-and-half broth dumpling hot pot ₩14,000
• Spicy dumpling hot pot ₩13,000
• Clear dumpling hot pot ₩13,000
• Spicy beef brisket dumpling hot pot ₩16,000
• Fried dumplings / boiled dumplings / fried shrimp ₩9,000

Add-ons

• Beef shabu ₩8,000
• Extra vegetables ₩5,000
• Noodles ₩3,000
• Rice cake (jorangi tteok) ₩3,000
• Mushrooms ₩5,000
• Extra dumplings ₩7,000

Smashed bibim kalguksu (spicy mixed knife-cut noodles) ₩12,000

Pollack-broth clear dumpling hot pot for two: how was it?

We ordered the restaurant's signature clear dumpling hot pot for two. It's simmered in a secret dried pollack (hwangtae) broth, so the soup is deep and refreshing.

Before long, a hearty hot pot arrived along with a neat spread of side dishes that filled the table.

Napa cabbage, mushrooms and other vegetables plus beef shabu bubbled away in the light pollack broth, and it looked so appetizing.

I tried the broth first. It wasn't harsh at all, yet it was full of deep, refreshing savory flavor.

Handmade dumplings made daily, and the rice cake add-on

The handmade dumplings, made fresh every day at Jongga Mandu, burst with juice with every bite.

The rice cake add-on (jorangi tteok, ₩3,000) soaked up just the right amount of broth, adding a chewy texture and some fun to eat.

For the side dishes, fresh kimchi (geotjeori) and pickled radish, refills are self-service.

Is Jongga Mandu a good-value date restaurant in Jongno 3-ga?

In these high-price times, I honestly thought there's no better-value date spot in Jongno. The portions were generous for the price and the ingredients were high quality, and my spouse kept praising it.

It's good as a solid meal, and also perfect for a light drink in the evening, a Jongno 3-ga date course. Thanks to it, we enjoyed the Showtaekwon performance afterward and got into it much more.

If you're coming to Jongno 3-ga for some fun, or craving a warm broth after a Cheonggyecheon stroll, I recommend stopping by. The value is so good that I'll definitely come back on my next Jongno visit.