Paju dumpling spot: rainy weekend hot pot for 3, Bubyeokjeong

Last weekend I took my parents to Bubyeokjeong Pyeongyang Mandu, a favorite near Lotte Outlets Paju. It had been a while, and wow.. even more customers than before. This used to be a tasty Paju dumpling hot pot place that only our family knew about 😂

How do you park at Bubyeokjeong Pyeongyang Mandu?

There's even a second lot, so space is fairly roomy (40+ cars). Parking support is available if you eat there, so be sure to register your car when you pay!

Getting to Bubyeokjeong in Paju and what's nearby

Bubyeokjeong is in the area with big famous cafés like Malttong Donut, Dirty Trunk and Brick Rouge, so it's a perfect drive course for coffee after your meal. Lotte Outlets, Book City, Heyri Art Village and Provence Village are all within 20 minutes by car.

How long was the rainy weekend wait at Bubyeokjeong?

For weekend lunch I joined the waitlist on Catch Table, and our turn came faster than expected. It was busy at lunchtime on my last visit too, but this time (a weekend) I registered my phone number on Catch Table and could check on KakaoTalk how many teams were ahead. So you can sit on the chairs by the entrance inside or wait comfortably in your car. The restaurant is big with lots of tables, so our turn came sooner than I thought!

Bubyeokjeong also sells meal kits to take home. Good Paju mandu hot pot places are surprisingly rare, so if you're a fan, it's worth picking one up too.

Atmosphere and reservations at Bubyeokjeong Pyeongyang Mandu

We got a table at the very back of the restaurant again, haha. There's a terrace outside too, and I like the atmosphere. It's not much different from when it first opened. Clean interior~

✅ You can also reserve in advance on Naver Place, with options for 1–4 people or 5+, so keep that in mind!

I hear that if you join the Naver review event, the first 10 teams get a free mung bean pancake (nokdu bindaetteok), so give it a shot. I had it on an earlier visit: a North Korean–style pancake, practically fried in lard, and I remember its nutty, savory flavor :)

I'd always wondered what "Bubyeokjeong" means, and apparently it comes from the hometown of the owner's grandfather~ If you love original Pyeongyang-style dumplings, you can't help but be satisfied here!

Bubyeokjeong menu, side dishes and self-serve bar

Bubyeokjeong also has Pyeongyang mul naengmyeon-style cold noodles (mul makguksu) and spicy bibim makguksu, which makes this Lotte Outlets Paju area restaurant great for a cool summer meal. I always get the Pyeongyang mandu hot pot, but that spicy-looking Hanwoo jjabagi (beef stew) made me curious. Red broth in an earthenware pot, and it looks amazing even without tasting.. I'll definitely try it next time!

Among the side dishes, my favorite is the white kimchi (baek-kimchi). It's homemade, clean and perfectly seasoned, and I got several refills. At the self-bar you can grab side dishes, broth and tableware as much as you need.

Half plate of beef shank suyuk for 17,000 won: how was it?

This time I ordered a half plate of beef shank suyuk (boiled sliced beef) for ₩17,000 as an appetizer(?). There's a bigger full plate, but we had to focus on the main dish, so we just wanted a taste~

It's top-grade beef shank boiled in-house, so there was no gamey smell at all. For anyone sensitive to odors, that matters so much ㅠㅠㅠ Tender and juicy, it's perfect eaten plain with chives.

Dip it in the special sauce and yum- Not tough at all, it melts, and it vanished so fast in my mouth that I was a little sad to see it almost gone, haha. Next time I'll try the seasonal side dish and tofu.

Pyeongyang mandu hot pot: how many portions for 3 people?

Finally, the mandu hot pot our family loves most! Bubyeokjeong's broth comes in two kinds, mild and spicy. We always order the same one, and it doesn't feel spicy, so I think it would be fine to eat with kids.

The Pyeongyang mandu hot pot is ₩14,000 per person, but if you order by headcount, I can say for sure you might burst, haha. This time three of us came and ordered 2 portions of hot pot and a half plate of suyuk, and it was just right. (Our family is somewhere in the middle, neither light nor big eaters.)

How to enjoy Pyeongyang mandu hot pot

The mandu hot pot is loaded with fresh vegetables and eaten shabu-style, and the staff explain how to eat it well. Once the broth starts boiling, add the vegetables and suyuk. The dumplings come already steamed, so the key is to dip them in for just 1–2 minutes before eating! (That way the wrappers don't burst.)

You can watch staff making the dumplings live in the open kitchen, so you can trust the hygiene. As you can see, the filling has lots of tofu, so it's mild and soft. If you're a dumpling lover, definitely order extra!

It's bubbling, so in go the vegetables~ No matter how much I eat here, it never sits heavy and my stomach feels fine. And even when you think you'll burst, you end up going for the dessert the restaurant has ready, haha.

What does the mandu hot pot broth taste like?

Bubyeokjeong's mandu hot pot broth isn't heavy but clear, and the cool, clean flavor deepens as the vegetable stock comes out. That's what makes this Paju hot pot place special! It's definitely not a harsh flavor, so it's also great as healthy food. It's not just a pile of vegetables, there's meat too, so wouldn't everyone like it? And at the end, noodles come out too!

The longer it boils, the more it reduces and may get salty, but I normally avoid salty food, and this is so mild that I kept slurping the broth. It was rainy and chilly that day, and isn't this menu perfect for that weather, haha.

Pyeongyang-style dumpling wrappers and filling

Bubyeokjeong's Pyeongyang-style dumplings have thin wrappers with absolutely no floury smell, a total five stars!

Isn't the soft texture that goes down so easily, good for young kids and for older folks alike, the strength of these Paju dumplings? Not dry at all! I'm a mushroom fanatic, so I happily fished out all the bits~ If it tastes bland, dip it in Bubyeokjeong's special seasoned sauce and the saltiness is just right. Shabu-shabu and dumplings are my favorite foods, and getting both at once here is so good 😋

Kalguksu noodle finish and free dessert

The mandu hot pot ends with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles). Use the hourglass on the table to time the noodles just right and the meal is done~ They don't get soggy fast, the noodles were chewy, and it was just the right amount to leave me full.

To the right of the cashier there's a row with a misutgaru (roasted grain) slush and the assorted snacks you see at Korean restaurants, and you can take as much as you want in a paper cup. The mandu dishes are delicious, but I think thoughtful touches like this are also why this Lotte Outlets Paju area restaurant is worth the wait.

Bubyeokjeong Pyeongyang Mandu opening hours

⏰ Bubyeokjeong opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. Break time is 3–5 p.m., and there is none on weekends. The place is clean and comfortable, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a Paju mandu hot pot restaurant where you can have a healthy, properly filling meal.