Bukchon Sonmandu in Seoul

After our visit to the UNESCO Heritage Site Chongmyo/Jongmyo Shrine, we headed over to the busy streets of Insadong. After spending some time checking out their small specialty shops, our stomachs started growling for food. Exactly at that moment, we were greeted with a poster which featured photos of deep fried mandu; which seemed like the perfect idea for merienda. We followed the arrows of the signage and ended up in this narrow (slightly sketchybackside alley.At around 5PM, the dining area was jampacked with hungry customers. Seating was communal and the menu solely consisted of mandu. We opted to share two Special Assorted Mandu sets (KRW13,000which featured two to three pieces of a particular mandu variety.Our set came with the Shrimp Mandu, which boasted of a full shrimp covered in their famed ground pork  filling delicately clothed in the dumpling wrapper. We were also served with the traditional Steamed and Deep Fried Mandu. The Kimchi Mandu variant brings color to the generally bleakly-colored assortment as its fiery red color can be seen through the translucent dumpling wrapper. The Ball Mandu is essentially the ground pork dumpling filling without the wrapper; while the Fish Fillet Dumpling trades in the ground pork for some ground fish for its filling.Sauces, chilis, and pickled vegetables are scattered around the communal dining area to complement your dumplings. To be honest, the taste got a bit too one-dimensional once you hit your third or fourth dumpling. The Deep-Fried Mandu was the sole standout; primarily because of the savory crunch which help lend a break in flavor from the others. Overall, it was filling; but it wasn’t mind-blowingly good.

Welove the dumplings so much. aside from that they serve different kind of foods that will surely loved by your taste buds. A good place to visit with family or friends.

Very easy to eat the local food in the city center.

You will know when you have arrived that this is the place for Mandu. A couple of counters inside with seats that overlook the action of dumplings being hand made. Steam pouring out of the outdoor cooking area. One of the best parts of traveling is the food and Mandu is one food to try. It will satisfy your senses and your tummy.

I went for lunch. The restaurant was recommended by a local guy I met on my trip. I had a selection of different dumplings. The menu didnt explain all the ingredients in english, but that is typical for Korea. You just have to try and see if you like it. I did like it but could not finish it because it was so much to eat. Next time, I would probably ask for less dumplings. The price was acceptable for this lunch!

Great mandu. My wife and I love the assorted platter. With rice its enough for the two of us.

OMG!Mouth-watering freshly made dumplings located in the inner street of the Myeongdong night market.Look for the steam!!!!!

Good reviews about their local food. Cold noddles, steam & fried dumplings and many more 😋

Best mandu i tried ever 😋

Located conveniently in Insadong is this restaurant specialising dumpling and noodles.We ordered a variety of noodles each and a mixed platter of dumplings. One thing I definitely got to say is the portions are huge (dumplings are huge in size as well), so share if you are a small eater.The noodles and dumplings are amazing. Definitely try this place for an authentic Korean experience.

Amazing dumplings at a reasonable price. This place is a pretty small, tucked away from the busy street(only a short block). We were visiting Korea for two weeks, and we went there twice while in Seoul along with other restaurants people recommended. If I lived there, I’d go at least once a week. Apparently, this place is popular for the locals too. Highly recommended!

Amazing food but the dishes were too large, couldnt finish it..

Very delicious dumplings for a low price! This was the first meal we had in Seoul since it was near our hotel. It was a little tricky to find since it was in an alleyway, but totally worth it! I can see how some people had issues with the service, but we were lucky and had not problems. They arent the friendliest people but the food was worth the visit.

It tastes alright. My favourite menu is deleted tho.

Food is ok, affordable prices but terribly racists with foreigners. They treated us very rudly, put us on a corner next to the wall when there were plenty of seats available at the center table where air conditioner was. Also they didnt even help us to know where we could have water to drink. If you dont want us there just write it at the door, there are so many places to try.

Great dumplings, rude staff. If you do not want foreigners as customers, do not write the menu in English.

Highly recommended for their dumplings and buckchon cold noodles.Hard to find place, but they do have a person standing on the main Street holding a sign. It is in a tiny alley right next to Nature Rupiblic.This place hit all the wants and needs. Noodles were chewy, cold, and complimented the broth (sour and crisp taste). All the vegetables within it provided the refreshing taste that was needed during the hot and humid summer/fall timeThe dumplings were delicious and well stuffed with the goodies (meat, daikons, onions, scallions, etc.Our favorite were the fried dumplings (crispy, well seasoned stuffing, felt like eating a light, fluffier, and crunchier version of emepnadasand the tiny dumpling balls (the wrapping around it was so thing, I though they are just pure meatballs).Tips: everything is self service. Water is on the right as you enter, kimchi and some side dishes are at the backend/by kitchen. If you get a table, the utencils are hidden in the drawer on the side of the table.

Heavenly!!

This place is an institution when it comes to dumplings. Definetly the best in Seoul and I tried many places in different areas. Personally my favourite is the famous shrimp dumpling but also the spicy kimchi dumpling are delicious. 🇰🇷😋

Had the Bukchon noodles and the Specialty steamed dumplings. The noodles were delicious and had a great texture. The dumplings were huge and tasty.We came here just before lunchtime around 11:30am on a Saturday and there was already a queue. We waited for about 15 minutes for a table however expect longer during peak periods.Service was quick.

Totally love the dumplings. A must visit whenever I come to Seoul.

The mandoos are massive! Especially compared to their Chinese dumpling and Japanese gyoza cousins.We ordered a plate of the assorted and a beef bone soup.The Kim Chi was excellent.Was very filling for two and we couldn’t finish. Taste was fine. Go for the portions.

We had the dumpling special which was enough for two people. Some dumplings are very big and hard to eat. There is also free pickled radish which is very refreshing between the fatty dumplings.

Its good and quite cheap, but the dumplings are far too big

Delicious food and very fast service. As others have said, the actual portions are a lot bigger than the picture

During lunchtime it was easy for us to find a seat here. We only ordered a plate with various dumplings - the fillings were nice and juicy, the pastry was quite thick and the fries dumplings were quite heavy - so it filled you up easily. Overall it was not bad, but nothing special either.

Wide variety of delicious mandu available, but they are not that cheap. Noodles are good as well.

There was a small mixup where we asked for takeaway, waited quite a while, and then they tried to get us to sit in. But once we ordered it was all ready quite quickly. Very busy place which is always a good sign. The fried dumplings were great but were pretty oily. Had a steamed dumpling too and it was so refreshing, it was really delicious. Good value for money.

Food was excellent, but be warned the portions are bigger than they appear on the menu.

Delicious dumplings! The kimchi type was my favourite

One of our dumplings werent fully cook. But generally the dumpling fillings were worth the money.

Food and service was great.

I would travel to Seoul specifically to have these yummy dumplings. I love them!

Okay, heres the deal: go eat here. Ive been in this place in July 2018, and ever since getting back home, not a week goes by where I dont dream about those dumplings at least once, mouth automatically salivating like one of Pavlovs dogs. Cheap and huge portions. I ordered the spicy soup with dumplings, which was the best hangover food Ive ever had, but you really should tolerate spicy food to get that. Enjoy.

Went with my mum after returning to Korea for the first time in 10 years. Needless to say it was one of the best things we ate during our trip. The 곰탕 waa fantastic and the 모든만두 had lots of variety. We did not leave disappointed. Great place

really good korean dimsun and noodles. hard to find but very deliscious.

Came here because the other reviews made it sound really nice. It was a short wait to get a seat but not too bad. The food was really nice and the portions were massive. Staff were absolutely miserable but some friendly locals helped us out. They also commented on the fact the staff were acting differently to us and complained. It was just an unnecessarily awkward experience which is a shame because the food would have been worth going back for.

great! very delicious! one of the best naengmyeon Ive ever had!

Best mandu ever!! Get the assorted plate for 9,000 won. I spilled some spicy noodles on myself and the waitress gave me a cloth apron form the kitchen. The noodles were great. We would definitely come back here and recommend to anyone!! Definitely find it if you’re in Insa-dong or make the trip from anywhere in Seoul!

Fantastic dumplings and value for money. Go for the steamed dumplings!

My favorite restaurant. Dumplings were amazing. Loved the staff. I would recommend the restaurant. My son had the soup an loved it. Such a great place to go.

These Dumplings are Yummilicious! Steamed and Fried versions are best eaten hot and shared amongst friends and family!

Awesome chilled noodle for the hot summer!

This was my first meal upon arriving in Seoul and it was amazing. Really recommend the ball dumplings (mixed vegetable and porkand the fried dumplings as well as shrimp dumplings. They have a good combo platter called the Bukchon special that gives you a few varieties to sample from. Im stuffed!

Some of the most refreshing dumplings in a cozy alley. Try the shrimp and get some kimchi to go.

Was some of the best dumplings that we had in seoul

Love the 만두 (dumplingshere. Try both steam or fried 만두 as both are very tasty.

Instructions online and Google maps to get to this shop are outdated/inconsistent/confusing. Just exit from gate 6 at Anguk station, head towards Insadong street and walk along this main street for some time (maybe halfway or even three quarters downuntil you see a sign on the left pointing into an alley. You will see the shop almost immediately.Generous fillings, very affordable prices, popular with locals and tourists alike

Theres a bargain area for bags just in front of Insadong. 10k won for everything.

Very good dumplings for the price, big too. This place is tucked away down a small laneway and there appears to be more branches nearby.