Family dumpling hot pot & beef shabu set in Goyang: Arirang

Let me introduce Arirang Gaeseong Son Mandu, a place I go to all the time since it's right by my house. I first visited on my mom's recommendation, and the broth was so clean and mild that I was completely won over and became a regular at this Korean restaurant. My mom seemed just as charmed by the mild broth when she went with her friends.

Parking and location

The facilities are clean overall and the parking area is spacious, so it's really convenient to visit by car. Traffic around the area isn't complicated, and you can spot the place easily from the three-way intersection. Today I ordered the Gaeseong hand-dumpling hot pot & beef shabu set.

What comes in the Gaeseong hand-dumpling hot pot & beef shabu set

Once you order, a hearty hot pot arrives along with fresh beef, dumplings, and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) sari served in stages. The dumplings come split into two kinds — two steamed ones you eat right away dipped in sauce, and four that go into the hot pot broth — so you get to enjoy both textures. I ordered a mix of meat dumplings and kimchi dumplings.

The basic side dishes are refreshing kimchi and pickled radish, and there's a self-serve side bar off to the side where you can freely grab more whenever you run low.

🥟 Real hand-pinched dumplings, made in-house with real care

The biggest draw of this place is that the dumplings aren't mass-produced — they're genuine handmade dumplings, pinched by hand at the restaurant! They're so big that even a hearty bite takes at least two rounds to finish.

• Packed filling: the moment you bite into a dumpling, filling packed edge to edge fills your mouth — the taste of a proper handmade dumpling.
• Chewy without bursting: the dumpling skin is wonderfully chewy and clings pleasantly to the bite. Even after simmering a long time in the hot pot broth, it holds its shape without splitting, so you can eat cleanly right to the end.
• Rich juices: dipped lightly in soy sauce, moist and rich juices spread through your mouth.

They're not aggressively salty or spicy — the flavor is mild yet deep, so even young kids who can't handle spicy food can join in without any worry, making it a comfortable choice for the whole family to eat out together.

My husband is firmly Team Meat Dumpling while I'm Team Spicy-Tangy Kimchi Dumpling, and since both flavors come together in one order, we each got to enjoy things our own way, which made it even more satisfying. 😊

🥣 A mild, deep broth you keep sipping without meaning to

The real charm of a hot pot dish, I think, is a broth that's so addictive you never get tired of it and end up sipping it over and over without realizing.

• Clean enough to settle your stomach: no artificial or overpowering flavors, just a clean, refreshing taste that leaves your stomach feeling at ease.
• Gets savory the longer it simmers: as the hot pot bubbles away, fresh vegetable stock and beef juices steep into it richly. The longer it goes, the more the beef's savory flavor seeps in, deepening and enriching the broth.
• A perfect base for the noodles too: never salty or spicy, it has a mildness that anyone, young or old, would love. Finishing with kalguksu noodles cooked in this deep broth is the proper end to the meal.

🥩 Beef shabu-shabu and fresh vegetables, a perfect match

Ordering the dumpling hot pot comes with a generous serving of fresh vegetables and beef shabu-shabu on the side. It just keeps coming, straight into my mouth~

• Wrap the beef in bok choy for one bite!
• Pair it with sweet, soft kabocha squash for another bite!
• And another bite with crisp, crunchy mung bean sprouts!

🍜 Fill up on chewy kalguksu — save the porridge for next time

By the time you're nearly done with the hot pot, they add kalguksu noodles into the remaining mild broth. One bite of the chewy noodles coated in broth, topped with crisp kimchi, and it's like — 'yes, this is it.'

Pace yourself for the final porridge: here's one more thing! At a kalguksu place, the real highlight at the end is the porridge — it would be a shame to miss it! After finishing off the noodles, you're supposed to cook up the deeply steeped leftover broth with savory egg and a generous helping of dried seaweed flakes for the true finale. So the key is pacing your fullness from the moment you start eating the noodles, with the final porridge in mind. 😂

But this time the noodles were so good I went all in, and unfortunately I just didn't have room left for the porridge. Next visit, I'm definitely going to manage my stomach better and make sure to fry up every last drop of that broth into porridge!

How is it as a family outing?

This is a place anyone, from little kids to grandparents, can enjoy without any worry, which makes it a great spot for a family meal out. A do-it-all Korean restaurant where any company can settle in for a comfortable, hearty meal — Arirang Gaeseong Son Mandu! If you're looking for a place where the whole family can enjoy a good meal together, Arirang Gaeseong Son Mandu in Siksa-dong is worth a visit. 😊

🕒 Arirang Gaeseong Son Mandu Siksa Branch — hours and info

• 📍 Address: 경기 고양시 일산동구 동국로 81-1 1층 (81-1 Donggung-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea)
• ⏰ Hours: Daily 10:00–21:00
• ⏱️ Last order: 20:30
• ☕ Break time: None (visit any time)
• 🚗 Parking: Dedicated lot in front of the restaurant (free)