Ilsan Korean BBQ with friends: soju and aged-kimchi ogyeopsal, Auseong

Today I went to Auseong Gaeseong Sonmandu (아우성 개성 손 만두) in Janghang-dong, Ilsan, and had a delicious ogyeopsal (pork belly with skin) meal with a friend. The entrance has "Gaeseong handmade dumpling hot pot" written in big letters, so you can tell at a glance what the place sells.

For anyone searching for a dumpling hot pot place in Ilsan, I'll walk you through the location, hours and menu prices first, then what I saw during my visit.

Where is Auseong Gaeseong Sonmandu, and what are the hours?

Auseong Gaeseong Sonmandu is at 31-10 Jeongbalsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, on the first floor, and the entrance says it is open 24 hours. The signature dishes are the Gaeseong handmade dumpling hot pot and Gaeseong steamed dumplings, and the menu board at the entrance also says the hot pot is available for takeout.

• Auseong Gaeseong Sonmandu in Janghang-dong, Ilsan, is a handmade dumpling restaurant with a 24-hour sign at the entrance.
• The Gaeseong handmade dumpling hot pot is ₩12,000 per person, and the sign says it includes 4 handmade dumplings and kalguksu (knife-cut noodles).
• Steamed dumplings, frozen steamed dumplings and separate broth are also sold, so you can look at both dine-in and takeout options.

The entrance of Auseong Gaeseong Sonmandu in Janghang-dong, Ilsan

The colorful "Gaeseong handmade dumplings" lettering on the glass door catches your eye. I took photos of the entrance and looked over the menu board too. When I go to a restaurant, I take pictures of the exterior and the price list as well as the food. It helps when I go back later, and it gives blog readers the information they actually need for a visit.

The big "24" sign at the entrance especially stood out. It's handy to know if you're eating late or need a warm meal early in the morning. Hours on the day can change, though, so I'd call ahead late at night.

How much is the Gaeseong dumpling hot pot, and what comes with it?

The Gaeseong handmade dumpling hot pot is ₩12,000 per person, and the sign says it includes 4 handmade dumplings and kalguksu noodles. Price and composition are probably what people searching for Ilsan dumpling hot pot most want to know, and the menu board I photographed at the entrance listed the following:

• Gaeseong handmade dumpling hot pot, per person: ₩12,000
• Gaeseong steamed dumplings, 6 pieces per serving: ₩11,000
• Frozen steamed dumplings, 10 pieces: ₩15,000
• Broth, 1.8L plastic bottle: ₩6,000

Since it comes with both dumplings and noodles, you don't have to worry about ordering them separately. The hot pot also had a note saying takeout is available for 2 or more people.

Does a dumpling shop in Ilsan really serve pork belly?

Besides the dumpling hot pot and steamed dumplings, the glass door had photos of kimchi pork belly, kimchi duruchigi (stir-fried pork with kimchi) and steamed egg. If you assumed from the sign that it only serves dumplings, you can check the other dishes right at the entrance.

I think browsing the menu in front of the shop is part of the visit. Knowing the prices and what comes out makes ordering so much easier.

Ogyeopsal and grilled aged kimchi with a friend: how did it taste?

My friend and I ordered ogyeopsal at Auseong Gaeseong Sonmandu and grilled aged kimchi on the same grill. The big "24" sign on the storefront and the yellow "Kimchi Pork Belly" pillar sign next to the shop are easy to spot. It's famous for its dumpling hot pot, but in the evening quite a few customers were grilling golden-brown meat.

As the meat sizzled on the grill, the staff piled well-fermented aged kimchi next to it and grilled it for us. The chewy texture of the skin-on pork belly and the spicy, tangy kimchi made a fantastic combination.

I wrapped a piece of chewy pork belly in kimchi that had been fried in the meat's own fat, and all my stress just melted away. Add the bubbling steamed egg and the spicy side dishes that came with the meat, and there's no better place to chat with a friend over a glass of soju.

Takeout at Auseong Gaeseong Sonmandu: frozen dumplings and broth

The menu board at the entrance also listed frozen steamed dumplings, 10 pieces for ₩15,000, and 1.8L of broth for ₩6,000. They're worth a look if you plan to prepare dumplings or a soup at home.

The broth note said it can be used not only for mandu-guk (dumpling soup) but also for spinach soup, bean sprout soup, fish cake soup, doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew), budae-jjigae (army stew), kimchi-jjigae (kimchi stew) and other soups and stews.

Final thoughts on Auseong Gaeseong Sonmandu

Today I put together visit information on Auseong Gaeseong Sonmandu in Janghang-dong, Ilsan, focusing on the exterior and the menu board. I think restaurant reviews stay in memory longer when they hold what you actually saw and ate rather than fancy phrases. I'll keep recording my own experiences step by step. Enjoy a hearty meal today, and may you have a day full of laughter at the table. 😊