Hongdae dumpling pub: meat-kimchi steamed dumplings to go, MANDOO BAR

What kind of restaurant is MANDOO BAR in Hongdae?

MANDOO BAR is a spot near Hongdae's Red Road that sells steamed dumplings (mandu) and fusion gyoza with toppings. I was curious about unusual dumpling dishes in Hongdae, so I stopped by.

I was looking for something easy to eat around Hongdae's Red Road and ended up taking home steamed dumplings and fusion gyoza. You get familiar dumplings and a quirky topped one in a single trip, so it stuck with me as a good Hongdae gyoza place to drop into during a day out.

What was ordered at MANDOO BAR, and how much did it cost?

I ordered two things: steamed dumplings, half meat and half kimchi, and the Mexican taco gyoza with guacamole and nacho chips, ₩21,000 in total. The steamed dumplings were takeout, and the Mexican taco gyoza was a pickup-only item.

How do the half-meat, half-kimchi steamed dumplings taste?

I chose half meat dumplings and half kimchi dumplings. It's nice that you can split the order when one flavor would feel like a shame. The meat ones are mild and easy to eat, while the kimchi ones add a spicy kick, so alternating worked well. The wrappers were soft and the filling hearty, good as a snack or as a side with a meal.

I ate them at home, and sharing the two dishes was a great combo. After the plain, familiar steamed dumplings, the taco gyoza with guacamole and nacho chips changed the mood completely, so it never got boring. From a simple snack to takeout after a Hongdae outing, it's a lineup you can pick from by taste.

What does the Mexican taco gyoza with guacamole and nacho chips taste like?

The Mexican taco gyoza with guacamole and nacho chips is MANDOO BAR's pickup-only dish that combines dumplings with taco and guacamole, and the name alone had me curious. I was excited to taste it, and it was fun to enjoy familiar dumplings in a new way. I ordered it without cilantro, and I liked that you can choose half meat, half kimchi. The crunchy nacho chips added texture, which made every bite fun.

If you're hunting for dumplings or gyoza around Hongdae's Red Road, MANDOO BAR is worth a stop. Having familiar steamed dumplings and distinctive fusion gyoza together widened the choices too. Next time I'd like to try the other topped gyoza. When a different kind of dumpling crosses your mind in Hongdae, pick what suits you at MANDOO BAR.

Steamed dumplings and taco gyoza together: a good combo?

Taking out the steamed dumplings and the Mexican taco gyoza together was fun, since I could alternate between them. The steamed dumplings have a familiar, comforting taste that fills you up, while the taco gyoza, with guacamole and nacho chips, offered an unusual combination. Even with the same dumpling base, toppings and sides change the mood, so I was glad I ordered both.

The half-meat, half-kimchi steamed dumplings are also good for sharing with several people. Start with the mild meat dumplings, then switch your palate with the kimchi ones, and the table never feels monotonous. If you can't decide, pairing basic steamed dumplings with a fusion gyoza seems like a good idea.

Can you order MANDOO BAR's taco gyoza without cilantro?

At MANDOO BAR you can have the Mexican taco gyoza without cilantro, so it looks easy even for people who don't like it. The taco gyoza was memorable because it's a different way of eating dumplings than the usual ones in Hongdae. With guacamole and nacho chips, it became a different combination from eating dumplings alone. It seems great as a light takeout when you want something special during a Hongdae outing.

For ₩21,000 I tried both the steamed dumplings and the Mexican taco gyoza, and I was happy to get two different styles in one go. If you want something simple near Hongdae's Red Road, or want to take home a different kind of dumpling, keep MANDOO BAR in mind. Next time I'd like to pick another topped gyoza and compare it with this one.

On a day when you crave dumplings in Hongdae, pick what suits you at MANDOO BAR!

How to choose from the MANDOO BAR menu

At MANDOO BAR, choosing one hearty steamed dumpling dish and one topped fusion gyoza kept the meal from getting boring. What I wondered most while looking through the menu was how to enjoy familiar dumplings in a new way. The Mexican taco gyoza I picked comes with guacamole and nacho chips, so it felt different from the usual steamed dumplings. Filling up on steamed dumplings and adding something new with the taco gyoza made the meal never dull.

I especially liked that you don't have to stick to one flavor. I got half meat, half kimchi to enjoy two flavors of the basic dish, and adding a fusion gyoza let everyone pick by taste. If you go with several people, ordering a variety and sharing sounds fun.

Is MANDOO BAR takeout and pickup convenient on a Hongdae outing?

MANDOO BAR takes takeout orders, so it looks handy when you want to carry food back to your lodging or home after hanging out in Hongdae. There's so much to see in Hongdae that you end up wanting something simple as you walk, right? Dumplings are an easy thing to eat then, and MANDOO BAR has topped gyoza too, which felt like a slightly more special option. When ordering, check the takeout method and pickup instructions for each item to make things smoother.

If you want something a bit different from the usual snack-bar fare near Hongdae's Red Road, it's worth a look. You can eat familiar half-meat, half-kimchi steamed dumplings together with taco gyoza served with guacamole and nacho chips, so it's easy to pick by taste. Next time I want to order other gyoza dishes. If you're searching for a new dumpling in Hongdae, build a combination you like at MANDOO BAR.