Jonggak clear dumpling hot pot and mandu keyrings: Jongga Mandu

There's a place I go back to whenever I crave dumplings stuffed full like homemade ones: Jongga Mandu (종가만두), between Jonggak and Jongno 3-ga (formerly Seonggyeong Mandu Specialty Restaurant). The crowd is quite mixed, from young people to older folks to families with kids, so every time I go it feels like a long-established dumpling hot pot spot near Jonggak Station.

Jongga Mandu hours and location

Jongga Mandu is at 88 Supyo-ro, 1st floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul. It's open Monday to Saturday 11:00–15:30 and 17:00–21:30, and Sunday 11:00–15:30. Last orders are at 14:30 and 20:30, and reservations, groups and takeout are all possible.

Finding Jongga Mandu from Jongno 3-ga Station: the dumpling-folding corner by the door

Jongga Mandu isn't hard to find from Jongno 3-ga Station. It's easy to drop by whether you come by subway or hop off a bus on the Jongno side, so it works well for lunch or dinner.

Even before you step inside, one spot catches your eye: the dumpling-making corner beside the entrance. The staff are constantly folding dumplings, so it's fun to sneak a peek at how today's dumplings get made.

Jongga Mandu menu: hot pot broth choices and sides

The signature dish at Jongga Mandu is, of course, the dumpling hot pot (mandu jeongol). You can pick a clear broth or a spicy broth, and there's also a half-and-half option so you can have both, so just choose to your taste.

There are also boiled dumplings, fried dumplings, bibim kalguksu and other dishes that go well with dumplings. This time we used the tablet to order the clear dumpling hot pot for 3. If it's not enough as you eat, you can add dumplings, vegetables, mushrooms, beef shabu slices and more.

What's in the clear dumpling hot pot for 3, and the self-serve bar

For the clear dumpling hot pot for 3 at Jongga Mandu, the pot is set down first, then 12 dumplings, vegetables, mushrooms and beef shabu slices come out one after another. And of course the K-dessert (?) that closes out the hot pot, kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), can't be missed.

The basic side dishes are kimchi and pickled radish, and if you run short you can grab more from the self-serve bar at the back. Cups and small plates were there too, and the kimchi was labeled as domestic, which was nice to see.

The order for adding ingredients to the dried pollack broth

Once the clear dried pollack (hwangtae) broth starts to boil, you put the ingredients in. The order is up to you, but we put in the dumplings first since they need a bit more time to cook, then the beef and vegetables.

With bok choy, bean sprouts and mushrooms in, the pot was soon packed and generous.

Meat dumplings vs. kimchi dumplings: which was better?

The clear dumpling hot pot at Jongga Mandu comes with meat dumplings and kimchi dumplings, and my vote goes to the meat ones. Once it was bubbling nicely, the first thing I fished out was the dumplings.

The filling has plenty of meat and vegetables, so it's satisfying to chew, and with the clear broth the whole thing tastes light and clean. The kimchi dumplings, with their spicy kick, are good too, but I'm still a meat dumpling person. Not too intense and packed full, which is why every time I come here it feels like eating dumplings someone folded carefully at home.

How is the kalguksu that finishes the hot pot?

The hot pot at Jongga Mandu wraps up like this: after you've eaten the dumplings, meat and vegetables, you add a little more broth and boil in the kalguksu noodles. You're starting to get full, but it's hard to skip the noodles after a hot pot, right?

I added a little broth, dropped in the noodles and let it bubble again. After all the dumplings, beef and vegetables have simmered in it, the broth tastes different from the clear dried pollack broth at the start. The rich flavor from the dumplings had gone into the broth, so even with just noodles and no other ingredients the soup was quite deep. After hot pot all the way through to kalguksu, it felt like a really hearty meal.

New dumpling keyrings at Jongga Mandu

Jongga Mandu now has mascot dumpling keyrings in several designs, with a QR code beside them explaining how to get one through a review event. Leaving after the meal, I spotted this cute merch I hadn't seen before, and I think young customers especially would love it.

Clear dumpling hot pot at Jongga Mandu: would I go again?

On a day in Jongno when you want a hot, soupy meal and a hot pot generously loaded with handmade dumplings, Jongga Mandu comes to mind. Personally I like mild broth more than spicy, so I'd pick the clear dumpling hot pot again. But the bibim kalguksu looks tasty too, so I'm already torn, haha.

With the kalguksu at the end, it's quite filling, so it's worth a stop for a family meal or a warm bite around Jongno 3-ga and Jonggak.