Paju Korean restaurant for Friday dinner spicy mandu hot pot, cold

It's gotten pretty cool in the mornings and evenings now that fall is here. By the time I leave work I find myself craving something warm, especially warm soup.

I'd planned to grab dinner with a coworker after work on Friday, and that day I was especially craving warm broth. Then it hit me — Bubyeokjeong Pyeongyang Mandu (부벽정평양만두). I'd been a few times since it opened, so I already knew it was good. Once you've had a great meal somewhere, it keeps coming back to mind! With the weather turning chilly, I kept thinking about the spicy, warm broth of the mandu hot pot, so I roped my coworker into joining me right away.

Parking and waiting area — the Friday evening vibe

Bubyeokjeong Pyeongyang Mandu has a big parking lot, so I rarely worry about parking whenever I visit. The food matters, sure, but having easy parking makes everything so much more relaxed. There's also a well set-up waiting area off to the side, so it seemed manageable even during busy hours.

Being a Friday evening, there were quite a lot of customers. Luckily, though, we didn't have to wait when we arrived and got seated right away.

What two of us ordered

As soon as we sat down we grabbed the menu and started ordering. There were so many options. But honestly, this is the one I always end up loving every time I come.

So — what we ordered that day was mandu hot pot for two, plus Pyeongyang mul-makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles in broth) and mung bean pancake. Quite a lot for two people, right? Haha. But we can never resist when we're curious about the taste. One dish alone felt like not enough, and since we were already there, we wanted to try a bit of everything, so we added the seasonal mul-makguksu and mung bean pancake too.

The self-serve bar is well stocked too

One thing I really like about Bubyeokjeong Pyeongyang Mandu is the self-serve bar. If you run low on side dishes, you can refill without feeling awkward about it. The banchan (side dishes) were clean and tasty, so we kept snacking on them while waiting for the hot pot.

It's also a great spot for family gatherings since they have proper baby tableware. Plenty of high chairs too. No wonder so many families with kids were out for dinner there.

Spicy broth mandu hot pot, like shabu-shabu

And finally, the mandu hot pot we ordered arrived!

Whoa~ The moment I saw the generous pile of vegetables and mushrooms, my mouth started watering.

But it wasn't just the vegetables and mushrooms that were generous — there were big Pyeongyang mandu in there too, which surprised me all over again. Even after multiple visits, it still gets me every time. We went with the spicy broth this time. I generally love shabu-shabu, so cooking vegetables and mushrooms in a spicy broth like this was totally my style.

First, they load the broth up with plenty of vegetables and mushrooms, then add the mandu, then the boiled pork.

As it started bubbling away, the whole thing looked so good I couldn't stop staring. Once it had simmered a bit, I tried a vegetable first — wow, spicy and delicious. Eating vegetables that had properly soaked up that broth flavor warmed me up from the inside.

Since I love shabu-shabu, the mandu hot pot at Bubyeokjeong Pyeongyang Mandu felt like more than just a mandu dish — it felt like getting shabu-shabu at the same time, which made it even better. Vegetables, mushrooms, boiled pork, and those big Pyeongyang mandu one after another — before I knew it, the table was overflowing and so was my stomach.

Pyeongyang mul-makguksu: plain at first, but keeps calling you back

While we were still eating the hot pot, the Pyeongyang mul-makguksu arrived too. Its first taste can feel pretty plain, but oddly enough, the more you eat it, the more it draws you in. It's not intense — light and clean — which paired really well as a break from the spicy hot pot.

I especially liked the chewy texture of the noodles. If you're used to bold flavors, it might feel a little plain at first, but the more you eat, the more you appreciate its clean charm.

You have to try the mung bean pancake!

And one of the dishes I was really looking forward to — the mung bean pancake! Crispy outside, moist inside — the texture was so good. It's quite different from the greasy bindaetteok you'd typically find at Gwangjang Market. This one leans light rather than oily, with a satisfying crisp texture.

Crispy outside, moist inside — I couldn't stop reaching for another piece. My coworker and I must have said 'good thing we ordered this too!' several times. Haha.

The mandu hot pot ends with kalguksu

A trio of side dishes that pairs really well with both the mandu hot pot and the kalguksu (knife-cut noodles). The pickled radish is my personal favorite.

The meal isn't over yet! Once you've made your way through most of the mandu hot pot, the final course awaits — kalguksu! They add knife-cut noodles into the remaining spicy broth and let it simmer away.

I waited for the noodles to cook, lifted a bite with my chopsticks, and — wow, the chewiness was incredible. The spicy broth had soaked all the way into the noodles, so it was delicious right to the very end. Even though I was already stuffed, the kalguksu still found room. I guess a hot pot really isn't complete without finishing on noodles.

Oh, by the way! Bubyeokjeong Pyeongyang Mandu is giving out free mung bean pancakes to the first 10 guests. Make sure to check the details and join in.

Dessert after the meal — nailed it

I was so full I figured that was really it, but stepping outside, a dessert corner was waiting for us. There were various snacks alongside misutgaru (roasted grain drink). We said 'shall we just have one cup?' and had a sip...

Why is this misutgaru so good? What's the secret? It was so delicious I nearly fainted. Haha.

We'd said we were too full to eat another bite, but there was no way we were passing up the snacks either. We tried a bunch of different ones and, in the end, thoroughly enjoyed dessert too.

Patting our full bellies and saying 'we really overate,' our faces were still totally satisfied — a great Friday evening. If you love shabu-shabu and mandu like I do, this is a great place to enjoy both at once.

If you're in Paju craving hot soup, or looking for good restaurants near Paju Lotte Outlet or in the Unjeong area, this is worth a visit! I've been here several times already, and after this delicious meal, I know I'll be back again the next time I crave that broth. Highly recommend Bubyeokjeong Pyeongyang Mandu to anyone searching for a great mandu restaurant in Paju.

Enjoy it at home too — takeout

You can enjoy this delicious Pyeongyang mandu hot pot at home as well. Mandu, mandu hot pot, Pyeongyang mandu, and mung bean pancake are all available for takeout. The prices are quite appealing too. Next time I think I'll grab some to go after eating in. Already craving it again!

Visit information

• Address: 129 Jimok-ro, Dong 1F, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Parking: Spacious parking lot available
• Waiting: Separate waiting area provided
• Business hours and holidays may vary — best to check with the restaurant before visiting.