Jongno 3-ga dumpling hot pot for a hangover lunch: Jongga Mandu

Where is Jongga Mandu in Jongno 3-ga, and when is it open?

Jongga Mandu (종가만두) is a dumpling hot pot restaurant you'll find if you leave Jongno 3-ga Station and walk toward Cheonggyecheon. It's open Mon-Sat 11:00-21:30 and Sunday 11:00-16:00, and it takes reservations, takeout, groups and baby chairs.

A lunch date brought me back to Jongno after a long time! We're both Korean-food people, so we settled on a spicy, steaming dumpling hot pot for lunch. It's close to Jongno 3-ga Station, so it's easy to get to.

The hot pot is built around handmade dumplings, and the place is known for them, so even weekday lunch was packed and you might hit an unexpected wait. Groups may want to reserve ahead!

What's on the menu at Jongga Mandu?

The menu has various dishes made with the signature dumplings, plus kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and bibim kalguksu (spicy mixed noodles). It's a simple but filling lunch.

Dumplings and hot pot seemed to be the main event, so we quickly picked the dumpling hot pot 😋

Dumpling hot pot broth: clear, spicy or half-and-half

You can choose a clear or spicy broth, and since we like it hot, we picked spicy! There's also a half-and-half broth, but we went with just one, haha. It's perfect for people who love half-and-half, like jjamppong-and-jajangmyeon combo fans.

I still regret not getting the bibim kalguksu, T_T. If three of you come, I think hot pot for 2 plus a bibim kalguksu would be great.

Inside Jongga Mandu and how to order

The inside is neither big nor small, a decent size that works for lunch with friends or eating alone.

You order on the T-order tablet at each table. The hot pot already includes meat, dumplings and noodles, so we didn't add any extras!

How does the spicy dumpling hot pot for 2 arrive, and how do you eat it?

Ta-da, the hot pot for 2 came out fast! The staff bubble up the broth and cook the meat and vegetables first.

8 dumplings, wow! Once the broth is bubbling, put in the dumplings, and add the kalguksu noodles at the end as a finisher, haha.

The side dishes are pickled radish, the best friend of dumplings, and geotjeori (fresh kimchi), the best friend of kalguksu.

If you need more side dishes or tableware, use the self-serve bar.

The hot pot simmering away. I couldn't wait to fish out the meat and vegetables.

When the broth boils, drop in all the cute dumplings.

The spicy broth is fine even for low spice tolerance

The spicy broth at Jongga Mandu is mild enough that even people who can't handle heat will enjoy it. I tried the broth first and, ahh, hot pot really is best spicy. It's hot and kick-y yet deep and savory..

I scooped out plenty of vegetables and meat. Dipped in the soy-vinegar sauce, it's delicious diet food, hands down. I gobbled up vegetables I normally don't eat 🐽

How do the signature dumplings taste?

The signature dumplings are almost fist-sized.. The wrappers are thin but packed with meat filling. Dumpling time at last: I split one in half and dipped it in the broth, so good 😋

Both the kimchi dumplings and the meat dumplings were so good. I'd even take just the dumplings to go, haha.

Midway, a can of Bongbong juice for a sugar boost! If you do the review event, you get a free drink!

When do you add the kalguksu noodles at the end?

For the kalguksu noodles, turn the heat back on and add them once the broth boils.

I boiled them until they were really soft, and the umami-packed broth soaked right into the noodles. Amazing 👍

The two of us totally demolished it. It's been ages since I scraped a pot clean with no leftovers..

On the way out I saw the staff lady shaping dumplings by hand, one by one, and I wanted them so badly 😭 Even though I was full, I wanted to take a whole tray home.

We even enjoyed the hard candy after the meal~ I highly recommend Jongga Mandu, a great spot near Jonggak Station and Jongno 3-ga.