Jongno 3-ga Monday dumpling hot pot with older diners: Jongga Mandu

I was looking for a good dumpling hot pot place in Jongno 3-ga and ended up at Jongga Mandu :)

• Location: 3-minute walk from Jongno 3-ga Station
• Hours: daily 11:00–22:00
• Parking: nearby public parking lots
• Highlights: great dumpling hot pot, shabu-shabu style meat, kalguksu included, best value, fast turnover

How close is Jongga Mandu to Jongno 3-ga Station?

Jongga Mandu is an easy walk from Jongno 3-ga Station, so it's really accessible. It has long been known as a dumpling hot pot spot in Jongno 3-ga and I'd been curious, and after visiting I could see why it stays so popular.

Is there a long wait at Jongga Mandu?

There are waiting chairs set out by the entrance. Luckily we got in right away, and since lots of people just eat and head out, turnover was pretty quick. If you're looking for a Jongno 3-ga dinner spot or a good-value place, even if there's a wait, I think you'd get a table faster than you'd expect.

I went on a Monday evening and the place was already packed. There were so many older customers especially, and personally, just seeing that makes me think a place is the real deal.

Jongga Mandu menu and prices

The menu was simpler than I expected. The signature dumpling hot pot (mandu jeongol) is the most famous item, and you can pick a spicy or a clear broth. We couldn't decide and wanted to try both, so we ordered half and half :)

Long story short, going half and half was a stroke of genius. We got to enjoy both the kick of the spicy broth and the mellow clear one, so it was much more satisfying.

What surprised me most was the price! Considering prices these days, the value was almost hard to believe. You can add extra dumplings or extra noodles, and dumplings are available for takeout too. And soju is a whopping ₩3,000! If you go around Jongno 3-ga bars and restaurants these days, soju prices aren't low either, so the price at Jongga Mandu really shocked me.

Side dishes and the self-serve bar at Jongga Mandu

The side dishes were pickled radish and geotjeori (fresh, unfermented-style kimchi). The lineup is simple, but the kimchi was really good. It was just ripe enough to go perfectly with the hot pot.

If you run out, you can grab more at the self-serve bar, which was kept nice and clean.

What comes with the dumpling hot pot for two?

The hot pot for two came with 8 dumplings in total (4 meat, 4 kimchi), plus meat, mushrooms, vegetables and a kalguksu noodle add-on. The food came out much faster than I expected, and when the hot pot arrived I was surprised once by the amount and again by the lineup. I immediately thought, this much food at this price?

The mushrooms and vegetables were fresh, and there was plenty of meat too. With dumplings and noodles included, it felt like a perfect meal in itself. It was more than enough for two, and we actually ended up properly full. They started by putting the dumplings in to cook.

How do the meat and kimchi dumplings taste?

Once it started bubbling, the smell of the dumplings rose up and I was already excited. The first bite of the meat dumpling: thin wrapper and a really packed filling. The high meat ratio gave it a great chew and it stayed juicy. I don't really like dumplings with thick wrappers, so the thin wrappers here tasted so much better to me.

The kimchi dumplings were satisfying too. The kimchi isn't overly spicy, just pleasantly kicky, so they were easy to eat. Alternating with the meat dumplings, I never got tired of them and kept reaching for more.

Shabu-shabu meat and the spicy vs. clear broth

The meat served with it was good quality too. It was sliced thin, so even a quick dip in the broth left it tender and rich in flavor. With plenty of fresh mushrooms and vegetables, it really felt like proper shabu-shabu.

The spicy broth was fiery yet deep, and great as a drinking snack. The clear broth was light and clean, so the natural flavor of the ingredients came through more. Personally I liked both, so I'd order half and half again next time :)

When should you add the kalguksu noodles?

I added the kalguksu noodles after we'd eaten a fair amount of the dumplings, meat and vegetables and the broth had really developed. Noodles in that broth? There's no way it could be bad. The noodles were chewy and soaked up the broth, so I enjoyed it to the very last bite.

Honestly, after the noodles I was stuffed. It was more than enough for two people. Add ₩3,000 soju on top and I had to admit this is a great-value spot in Jongno 3-ga.

Jongga Mandu: final verdict

Overall, the taste, portions and price were all satisfying, and I could see why this dumpling hot pot place in Jongno 3-ga has been loved for so long. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good restaurant in Jongno 3-ga, dumpling hot pot, shabu-shabu, or a good-value place for drinks :)

• Great dumpling hot pot in Jongno 3-ga
• 3-minute walk from Jongno 3-ga Station
• Half spicy, half clear broth possible
• Good-quality dumplings
• Shabu-shabu meat and kalguksu included
• Fresh vegetables, mushrooms and meat
• Clean self-serve bar
• Fairly fast turnover
• ₩3,000 soju, best value
• Would visit again