Clear dumpling hot pot office lunch in Jongno 3-ga: Jongga Mandu

My real "I keep coming back for lunch" place in Jongno 3-ga used to be Seonggyeong Mandu Yori Jeonmunjeom, and I naturally kept going back! But the name has changed to Jongga Mandu (종가만두)?! So in case you remember the old name and can't find it, I rushed over with this Jongno 3-ga lunch story, hahaha~

Why does everyone head to Jongga Mandu for lunch in Jongno 3-ga?

Jongga Mandu is a dumpling hot pot place near Jongno 3-ga Station. The dumplings taste great and the portions are generous, so it's a great value too. The dumplings themselves are so good that it's been a popular office-worker lunch spot in Jongno 3-ga for a long time~

As you can see, it's packed even at dinner time, so it's popular at lunch and dinner alike. The quality is good for the price, it's easy to visit without worrying, and the taste is great, so I personally recommend this dumpling place! Haha

Why I keep going back to Jongga Mandu

The first reason is the kindness. Popular restaurants are sometimes unfriendly, but the ladies at Jongga Mandu are really kind, and I feel good every time I go. It's like a little bit of healing, so I naturally return, haha

Also, when you order the dumpling hot pot, you get not just dumplings but beef shabu-shabu, vegetables and kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) all at once, as in the photo, so the setup is really satisfying~ For office workers lunch is everything, and Jongga Mandu gives you a filling meal with nothing lacking, so I can fully recommend it as a Jongno 3-ga lunch spot and I end up going often~ haha

How are the dumplings? Why it's worth a wait

The dumplings at Jongga Mandu are mild and a little nutty. And the dumplings.. honestly, they're really good! I usually don't like dumplings much, you know?

So I'm always like "No kimchi dumplings!" But the kimchi dumplings at Jongga Mandu aren't too spicy and are mild, easy to eat, and I kept reaching for more, hahaha

The beef shabu-shabu was clean and tasty too, and the vegetables in the hot pot were all fresh and varied, so anyone who loves eating will like it even more. I could see why there's a wait, haha

Is the wait at Jongga Mandu long?

The restaurant is fairly large and tables turn over fast, so I got seated sooner than expected. Even when there was a wait it wasn't a burden, and the hot pot is prepared quickly too, which is one more reason it works for an office lunch!

Jongga Mandu hot pot prices and menu

The clear hot pot is ₩13,000 and the spicy/clear half-and-half is ₩14,000. The menu is really simple: bean sprouts, bok choy, assorted mushrooms and beef shabu-shabu, but the dumplings are truly good. I ordered the clear one, and since you can choose half-and-half, you can order to your taste!

For office workers, fast food matters, but so does a comfortable stomach. Jongga Mandu's hot pot has lots of vegetables, so it sits easy and the portion is filling~!

Dipping the ingredients in the clear soy-based sauce brings out the savory flavor and makes you happy, so I recommend it as a Jongno 3-ga lunch spot! Haha

Why I recommend eating in rather than takeout

The dumplings are so good that quite a few customers were taking out fried dumplings. Personally, I was more satisfied eating the hot pot in the restaurant than taking food away. Sitting down lets you enjoy the broth and the whole spread properly, so I recommend it more~

Finish with kalguksu: do you need extra rice?

One reason Jongga Mandu is an office-lunch favorite in Jongno 3-ga is the kalguksu at the end, haha. Putting the noodles into the broth enriched by the dumpling juices makes a filling yet clean finish and I was very satisfied, so if you can't decide what to eat, give Jongga Mandu a try~!

You can add a bowl of rice for ₩1,000. It's so filling you won't think of anything else, but if you want to mix rice into the leftover broth, add one~ The portion was a bit small, but fine for a finish~! For the record, we ordered it because we wanted porridge from the hot pot, but the hot pot portion was generous and we felt we shouldn't have ordered rice, haha. Maybe that's why they give a small amount~ (whispering)

Drinks and alcohol are self-serve

At Jongga Mandu you bring your own drinks and alcohol from the fridge. They had a zero-sugar grape drink, Podo Bongbong (₩2,000), and I was curious so I tried it. It works as a light dessert-like finish, so I thought the ending was good too~ hehe...

Overall verdict on Jongga Mandu, a Jongno 3-ga lunch spot

• Taste: mild, somehow-delicious dumplings that keep pulling you back
• Friendliness: all the ladies are kind, so it's healing~~
• Price: ₩13,000–14,000 per person, cheap for what you get
• Portion: two people can eat very well
• Atmosphere: fast turnover, quick food, a bustling vibe
• Overall: ★★★★☆

That was my true-regular story of Jongga Mandu, a Jongno 3-ga lunch spot! The address is 88 Supyo-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 1st floor.