Jongno Korean restaurant for handmade dumpling hot pot: Jongga Mandu

On a weekday evening, since I love warm, restorative hot pot dishes, my wife and I decided to head out to Jongno and take a walk along Cheonggyecheon for the first time in a while. “Tonight, we’re absolutely going for huge, life-changing handmade dumpling hot pot! 🥟” That’s how we ended up looking around near Jongno 3-ga Station and visiting this place!!

As it turns out, it’s a true handmade-dumpling specialist where the owner shapes the dumplings by hand right at the entrance. With a split-broth hot pot that lets you enjoy both a mild broth and a spicy broth, it was such a well-rounded setup that the stream of customers never stopped—definitely a hot local favorite!

Jongga Mandu’s location and atmosphere near Jongno 3-ga Station

It’s on the first floor along Supyo-ro near Jongno 3-ga Station, so getting there is super convenient!! Cheonggyecheon and Ikseon-dong are both right nearby, making it perfect for a delicious dinner followed by a nighttime walk 💡

It was fully packed when we stepped inside during weekday dinner hours, but thankfully we had made a reservation and could go straight in! There were office workers, families, and international tourists alike!! The whole place was lively and bustling—proof that it’s a seriously popular spot 👍

Especially at the entrance, you can watch the chef carefully making dumplings by hand. My first impression was an instant burst of confidence: “There’s no way the dumplings here won’t be good” 🤩

The menu has their signature dumpling hot pot in mild or spicy broth, the split-broth hot pot for enjoying both, and even special bibim kalguksu (mixed knife-cut noodles), all at easygoing prices. It’s great for trying a little of everything together.

How was the split-broth dumpling hot pot and kalguksu?

We ordered the signature bestseller, the “split-broth hot pot (₩14,000),” so we could try both broths! A bowl of rice is ₩1,000 and is available if you ask a staff member directly 💡

We ordered from the kiosk at the table, and in just five minutes this split-broth dumpling hot pot with an incredible visual arrived!! 🔥 Large, generously filled handmade dumplings, beef, mushrooms, and fresh vegetables were stacked like a tower, neatly divided between the two sections—it was genuinely a work of art 📸

First, I took a spoonful of the clean, mild broth. It wasn’t overpowering at all, and its rich flavor gently wrapped around the stomach—it was crazy good 😋 The dumplings were packed full of meat and vegetables too, and mixing them with rice gave such a lovely nutty richness 🤩

Next came the spicy-broth course, whose peppery kick was absolutely excellent!! 🌶️ The refreshing seasoned broth cut through any richness from the dumplings completely, and my wife and I kept marveling as we devoured it at full speed. The deep flavor was so satisfying 😍 Spicy broth with shabu-shabu beef is honestly an unfairly good combination!!

Then we dropped the chewy kalguksu noodles into the rich broth infused with seafood, meat, and vegetables and cooked them up. We were practically bursting, haha—the ultimate filling meal!! 🤤

A hearty dinner before a Cheonggyecheon walk

From the large handmade dumplings, carefully made in-house, to the mild and spicy broths and that hearty kalguksu finish, this was a meal we left completely satisfied with!!! 😍 With clean service, high chairs, and group seating all in place, I can absolutely call it a real standout for a date near Jongno 3-ga Station or a family meal 👍