Insadong is a very touristy area in Seoul, yet there’s also loads of local Korean business professionals that flock to the area for lunch.

One tiny little restaurant down a small alleyway off Insadong’s walking street gets more than its share of customers, a line of hungry people willing to wait for their mandu dumplings.

Since I sometimes judge a restaurant by the people eating there, and this time I knew it would be a great idea to join the line and get a taste for myself.

Let me tell you: The wait was worth it.

Their menu was simple, a few dishes and soups, but it appeared the majority came to eat nothing other than their wondrous Korean mandu dumplings.

The kitchen was set half inside and half spilling onto the walkway where porky fumes of steam were released.

With just about all South Korean food in Seoul, tantalizing food photographs of the items on their menu were plastered all over the walls of the eatery, making it simple to point and choose what to order.

Not being able to make the decision between deep fried or steamed dumplings, I was pleased to find the mixed mandu platter on their menu.

While some menus with arousing food photos of their dishes can be deceiving, at this Insadong mandu joint, the food was even more attractive in reality than in the photo-shopped images on the menu!

Within seconds, my plate of dumplings arrived at the bar-like communal table I was sitting at. The dumplings were huge, almost croissant sized.

Price for the platter: 7,000 Won

Each and every dumpling appeared to be flawlessly made, it was indeed obvious the ladies forming the mandu knew a few things about sealing a dumpling!

How to get there:

I’m not sure of the name of this place, but here’s how to get there.

First get to Insadong’s walking street by taking the subway to Anguk Station, Exit #6.

Somewhere in the middle of the walking street, turn down the alley at Insadong 9-gil. You’ll see the mandu restaurant about 20 meters down the alleyway.

Arrive at lunch for the best meal!

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