Cheonan dumpling hot pot & tteokgalbi before a movie date: Omi Omi

We were heading to Cheonan for a movie with my husband and wondered, "What should we eat to fill up first?" That's how we ended up here. Today's stop is Omi Omi Handmade Dumpling Hot Pot & Kudzu Naengmyeon Sono Bell Main Branch (오미오미 수제만두전골&칡냉면 소노벨 본점).

Where is Omi Omi Sono Bell Main Branch?

Omi Omi is on Dongpyeong 3-gil in Bukmyeon, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, Chungnam. It's perfect if you're looking for dumplings near Independence Hall, or if you just want a warm hot pot meal in Cheonan. What got me most excited is that they make their own healthy dumplings with shiitake mushrooms and bracken (gosari, fernbrake). Let me show you.

The sign outside says "Omi Omi Handmade Dumpling Hot Pot & Kudzu Naengmyeon" in big letters, so it's super easy to find. There's parking too, so it's very convenient if you come by car. It's also close to Independence Hall and Sono Bell, so it's a decent spot to eat before or after a Cheonan trip. If you're searching for dumplings near Independence Hall, it's worth checking out.

Atmosphere and menu

Inside, the place is bigger than I expected. There are plenty of tables, and it feels clean and comfortable, so it looked fine for a family meal or a get-together with friends. Every table is set up for boiling hot pot, and the menu has not just dumpling hot pot but also tteokgalbi, naengmyeon and more. What I liked most is that after the hot pot you get naengmyeon too! Isn't that a total bargain? Haha.

We ordered 2 servings of handmade dumpling hot pot and a tteokgalbi. When you order the hot pot, you can choose a mild broth.

Handmade dumplings with bracken and shiitake

As soon as you order, before the hot pot arrives, they bring out 4 handmade dumplings for you to try.

Wow, it was already delicious right here. When I split a dumpling in half, it was packed full, and I could see the bracken and shiitake inside. Usually dumplings make you think of meat or kimchi, and Omi Omi's come in meat and kimchi versions too, but maybe because bracken and shiitake go into them, the taste was really mild and clean. The plain, earthy flavor of bracken blends with the savory depth of shiitake, so it's not harsh at all, just clean. Rather than the heavy taste of meat dumplings, it's mild but nutty the more you chew, so my chopsticks kept going back.

"So this is why they call them handmade dumplings~" That's what I thought. Haha.

Handmade dumpling hot pot for 2: how does the mild broth taste?

The pot is generously loaded with not only dumplings but also beef, shrimp, assorted vegetables and mushrooms. It looks hearty from the first glance.

Once the broth starts boiling, the savoriness from the beef and shrimp joins the fresh taste of the vegetables, and the soup gets deeper and deeper. At first it's mild and clean, but as it boils, the flavor of the ingredients seeps out and it turns rich and nutty.

Especially the sight of the dumplings bubbling and cooking in the broth makes me want to eat it again just looking at the photos.

There's plenty of meat too, and fishing out the vegetables and meat first is incredibly good.

There are also lots and lots of vegetables and glass noodles. I love how generous it is.

Side dish: tteokgalbi

And the tteokgalbi (grilled minced short rib patty) we ordered as a side. It came out golden brown, slightly crisp outside and moist and tender inside. Each bite brings out the nutty flavor of the meat with a sweet and salty sauce, the kind of taste kids would love.

Eaten with the dumpling hot pot broth, it made a pretty good combination.

Unlimited ramen and sujebi refills, plus mul naengmyeon for dessert

With the hot pot, ramen and sujebi (hand-torn dough flakes) noodles are unlimited. Just take what you need from the self-serve bar.

This was one of my favorite things about Omi Omi! After the dumpling hot pot, they serve mul naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth) as dessert. I was already fairly full, but when the naengmyeon came out, my chopsticks went for it again. Lol.

It's mul naengmyeon in a cold broth topped with cucumber and sesame seeds, so after the warm, rich hot pot broth it really cleans up your mouth! One tangy, cold bite of naengmyeon was a proper palate cleanser. Dumpling hot pot plus naengmyeon is a seriously great deal!

It was just right for a filling meal before heading to the cinema. Above all, I was impressed that these aren't ordinary dumplings but handmade healthy ones with bracken and shiitake. The filling is mild yet the savoriness of shiitake comes through, and the hot pot with beef, shrimp and vegetables had a broth that was refreshing yet deep. Then finishing with cold kudzu naengmyeon after the hot pot! With this lineup, I admit it's a really satisfying meal.

Overall verdict

If you're looking for dumplings in Cheonan, it's worth a stop!

• Dumplings made by hand in-house
• Special dumplings with bracken and shiitake
• Mild, clean-tasting dumplings
• Generous dumpling hot pot with beef, shrimp and vegetables
• Tteokgalbi on the menu too
• Cold noodles after the hot pot!
• Roomy interior
• Parking available
• Also a good meal spot near Independence Hall

I think it suits people like me who say, "I like dumplings, but overly strong-flavored ones are too much." Maybe because of the bracken and shiitake, the filling was mild and clean, and I kept eating. We filled our stomachs before our Cheonan movie date and off we went to the cinema! Next time I'm near Independence Hall, I think I'll crave the dumpling hot pot again. If you're looking for a hot pot restaurant in Cheonan, I recommend Omi Omi Handmade Dumpling Hot Pot & Kudzu Naengmyeon Sono Bell Main Branch.