Mandu

만두 are Korean dumplings — wheat dough wrappers stuffed with a mixture of pork, kimchi, tofu, glass noodles, and vegetables. They can be steamed (찐만두), fried (군만두), boiled in soup (만둣국), or pan-fried. Korea's dumpling culture evolved its own distinct flavour profile, especially kimchi mandu which is not found outside Korea.

✅ Best for: Quick street snacks, cold winter days (만둣국 soup), casual group dining. Gwangjang Market and Insadong street stalls are ideal.

⏰ When: 24 hours at convenience stores. Restaurant hours 10:00–22:00. Gwangjang Market mandu stalls: 09:00–22:00.

How to Experience Mandu

1. Order 찜만두 (steamed) and 군만두 (fried) together to compare textures.
2. Dip in soy-vinegar-ginger sauce — provided on the side, never eat without it.
3. Try 왕만두 (king mandu) — extra large dumplings at Gwangjang Market for ₩3,000 each.
4. Order 만둣국 (dumpling soup) at a 분식집 for a complete warm meal under ₩7,000.
5. At Myeongdong street stalls, eat with a skewer and dip in sweet chilli sauce.

💰 Price & Budget

💡 Insider Tips

• Gwangjang Market's handmade 할머니 (grandmother) mandu stalls are legendary.
• Frozen mandu from Harim or CJ brand from supermarkets is excellent for cooking at home.
• Kimchi mandu (김치만두) has the most distinctly Korean flavour.
• Manduguk (만둣국) on Lunar New Year is a cultural tradition — symbolic of the new year.
• Steamed mandu goes stale within 30 minutes — always eat fresh and hot.

🗺️ Location & Maps

Find Mandu and get directions:

🔗 Useful Links

More Korean Food in Korea

❓ FAQ