I'm used to Korean places being serviced by Asians, so it was unusual for me to have a white male waiter. He told my hubby that they didn't serve sake since that's Japanese, and this is a Korean restaurant. We laughed since all the Real Korean restaurants we've been to serve sake. I'm Korean btw. But they do serve soju, which is a cloudy, milky rice wine with very low APV. The design is pretty cool and was definitely thought out to be Asian-esque without being stereotypical. The menu is a little limited but gives you the good basics. The paejun, which are scallion pancakes, was pretty original in that rather than being dense, chewy and flat like a pizza, were more like veggie burgers with a consistency similar to fritters. Didn't detect any scallions, or seafood. I'm giving Mandu four stars for it's amazing dumpling soup. The broth was perfect and the boiled dumplings were outstanding. They were so good I was envious that I didn't order it. Best I've ever had, and I've eaten Korean in CA, NY, NJ. I had the beef soup which is spicy, but wasn't overly spicy considering it's supposed to be. It was also delicious and satisfying. I was pleasantly surprised that a modern Korean restaurant did traditional dishes very well and kept the ingredients true to form in the stews. Left happy and full. read more

Terrible service! Our waiter seemed to almost be intentionally avoiding us. We arrived right before the lunch rush and were not able to flag down our server to get our check and leave until after the rush was dying down. A two hour two course meal. Everything is delicious though! The dumplings are wonderful and the soup and noodles are some of the best you can get in the area. Just don't go here if you don't have plenty of time to waste. read more

Nice decor - It makes the place feel trendy and their detail and cleanliness makes me feel comfortable eating here. The food is not 100% authentic and that is a good thing. They improve upon tradition and put a modern and American spin. read more

Mandu - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I like you Mandu. And not just because your name is my name misspelled. Mandu is how non-Koreans should be introduced to Korean food. Beautiful atmosphere, great service, a fairly simple menu. Finally a waitress that doesn't mean mug me when I ask for a description of a meal, or a suggestion of a kind of food I've never heard of. I get it, I'm way behind on this food trend. But how am I supposed to learn unless someone nicely explains it to me? Anyway. I got the Dolsot Bibim Bap. A really great meal for $13. The hot stone bowl they serve it in eventually made the rice crispy at the bottom, which turned it into my all time favorite Persian treat - tadeegh. Oh and I initially ordered hot tea, but the waitress brought out iced tea. She laughed at her goof-up, told me to keep it and brought the hot tea out for me too. I felt like a queen with a glass of water, iced tea and a cup of hot tea in front of me. A queen! No one would call me a Korean food expert, but until coming here I had enough to know that I don't like it. Thanks for changing my mind boo. read more

Epically delicious! Got the Dolsot Bibim Bap, which the waiter called "old trusty." it came in a hot stone bowl which was hot pretty much the whole time we were there. It made the rice crispy in the bottom. Before our entrees, they also brought out some delicious tastes- ban chan (like a mini appetizer) that was complimentary, with little bits of tofu, black beans, tiny fish cakes, kimchi, and more. The happy hour specials were also on point- $4 dumplings, and some drinks, including sojutinis. We tried an aloe sojutini, which was very smooth and refreshing. Pork/beef steamed dumplings with dipping sauce were also yummy. The next time I'm in DC, I'm coming back for more! My brother says it's his favorite place in DC, and I can see why. read more

This ain't your Halmoni's Korean restaurant, that is for certain. However, in spite of what one may first think upon reading that statement, it is both an aspersion and a compliment. Mandu (or dumpling in American speak) is neither a fusion restaurant, nor is it a traditional Korean BBQ. It is neither a bastardization of Korean food in a sterile P.F. Changs corporate chain mold, nor is a strict adherent of Korean customs and ways. What Mandu is, upon reflection, is a modern, urban American styled restaurant that serves Korean food with a slight American accent. In other words, this is the kind of place where you could take your cousin from Iowa to, in order to get a sampling of Korean food, while in a fancy, city setting. To the point - the breakdown of the meal. appetizers: shrimp mandu - nicely fried and delicious enough for a 6 year old girl to gulp down each and every one of them. pa jeon - a mixed seafood cake w/ green onions (in name only). the odd thing about this pa jeon is that it tasted almost like hash browns. the outer layer of the pancake was crisp and all i could taste was onion. it was very good, but was unlike any pa jeon that i have ever tasted. panchan: the vegetable sides that are traditionally served right before the main meal were well prepared well, but was only half the amount that is usually served at most Korean restaurants and served on a single plate divided into four sections. main course: mandu guk - a dumpling soup with bits of shredded beef, egg, and green onions. there was a $1 add for rice cakes. it was satisfactory, but the broth was bitter. i have tasted worse, but i have tasted much better, as well. bulgogi - Korean bbq marinated rib-eye which also came served with a side of grilled vegetables. satisfactory, but i don't understand why the bulgogi was served with a side of grilled vegetables. Koreans pickle their vegetables and then bury them in the ground all year round - they don't grill their vegetables. dak jjim - a spicy chicken thigh dish simmered with potatoes and onions and served in a little (and i do mean little) pot. the best way to describe this dish is to liken it to a curry that is tinged with kim chi. it was very good, but not very filling. desert: a triple sampling of three different flavored gelatos, which i only had a small sampling of, solely to keep the 6 year old from inhaling it whole. All in all, the meal was enjoyable and although I am certain that I am likely to come back to this restaurant again, I could not shake this vexing feeling that what I had just eaten, may not have been truly Korean, but I was at a loss as to what to name the flavors lingering in my mouth. read more

This place was wonderful! It's a bit pricier than your typical Korean place, but the great ambiance, attentive waitstaff, and authentic Korean food. We ordered a pa jeon (seafood pancake, $9), a soon doobu (tofu soup, $17), mandu (of course! they were only $4 because of 4-7pm happy hour), dwejee bulgogi ($25), and the dolsot bibimbap ($16) to share. The portions were quite generous, and we all felt stuffed afterwards. The side dishes were delicious as well. The pa jeon was one of the most unique I've ever seen, and the soon doobu really exceeded expectations. There was a lot of seafood, including scallions, shrimp, etc., the tofu was soft and tender, and the broth was flavorful. Overall, very happy with our dining experience here. read more

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I was visiting DC for a few days and ate here on my second night. All I could think about every meal after was how much I wanted to eat here again. I still have forgotten about how ridiculously good the Dolsot bibim bap was. The bowl is really hot, it cooks the egg yolk once you start eating. But the flavors are amazing and it's HUGE. I barely finished but just because it tasted so good. Coming back here for sure. read more

Mandu - Dolsot Bibim Bap - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I don't like Korean food. Typically. But I like Mandu. When my husband and I drove by this new Mandu location on K street last week we had two sudden thoughts: 1) A new, swanky restaurant a block from our house = bringing up the neighborhood. Yes. 2) A new locale for my hubs to satiate his obsession with Korean cuisine without driving all the way to Annandale. We mentioned this restaurant's mysterious opening to a friend, and before we knew it, we had a reservation for 6 for last night. Of course, I was a bit reluctant given my blase attitude towards Korean in the past, but I determined to go with an optimistic attitude. In a nutshell, Mandu merits four stars from me for the following reasons: 1) The vibe is cool and simple AND inviting - not always an easy combination. Seating upstairs (for more privacy) and downstairs. The restaurant doesn't feel or look or sound like a Korean joint. In fact, they play Radiohead and Led Zepplin. Sweet. 2) The staff - friendly, attentive, warm. Excellent service. 3) Happy hour is DAILY - yes, including weekends - from 4-7 pm. Amazing. Knocking a few bucks off the drinks always makes patrons feel easier about knocking a few more back (and trying a larger variety of their specialty drinks). 4) The food...was good. Not amazing, not my first choice of cuisine, but it was good. Truth be told, my husband (whose love for Korean cuisine dates back many years and throughout many trips to Asia) said he'd rate the quality of the food more like 2-3 stars. I guess it is more like Korean done in an American-friendly way - which is a-ok for me! We decided to split several apps and entrees between us all. We started with the deluxe appetizer plate ($24), which included stuffed green peppers (spicy ones...so I did not partake), egg-fried-hamburger patties, egg-seafood pancakes, and veggie and shrimp pancakes. We also got the dumplings ($5 for 6 - sooo worth it) and a side of the grilled eggplant (6 pieces for also $5). The flavor of the eggplant was incredible - slightly grilled and seasoned. The texture was also spot-on - cooked so that it wasn't al dente but wasn't mushy either. For the mains, we split three entrees - two orders of Dolsot Bibim Bop ($13 each) and an order of beef & veggies (not sure of the name). The bibim bop (served "dolsot" means it comes in a hot clay bowl - the egg and rice continue to cook through the heat from the bowl - cool little fact) was super tasty. Good proportion of veggies, meat, and rice. The beef entree was disappointing. The beef was way overcooked and tough, but the veggies were outstanding. We all drank sojutinis - the yogurt and aloe were the favorite picks of the table. Yes, an aloe drink. I was mystified but knew I had to try it. Clear, with gel-like aloe at the bottom of the glass, slight white grape-ish flavor. All in all, a great experience. And, a fantastic addition to the neighborhood. read more

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I drove up to Washington DC a day early for my interview and was excited to try some of their Korean places. I have a lot of friends from D.C./NOVA area who tells me how much better and authentic their restaurants are compared to Richmond's. I decided to put them to the test and whipped it out my trusted yelp app to hunt for nearby Korean food. Mandu popped up 10mins from my hotel so I ventured over for lunch. I started off with the scallion pancake and for $9 was served two large portion pancakes. That was too much for me, I figured I would only be served one, but after finishing both i didn't have much room left for the main course. I still wanted to get their bibimbap even though I knew at this point I would not be able to finish. The dolsot bibimbap was served in hot clay pot for 2$ extra, but because I was going to be taking most of it to go for dinner anyways I opted for the regular bibimbap which ingredients were served cold. It was the first time I did this because I felt mixing all my food in the hot clay pot was fun and part of the Korean dining experience. Surprisingly, even without it, the bibimbap was still good! Now for the verdict, yes the food was great. But I still don't seem to have developed the fine taste to differentiate authentic from Americanized Korean food. So far I've enjoyed them all, and they taste pretty similar to me, both in DC and in Richmond read more

Mandu - Pa Jeon (scallion pancakes) - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I've been curious about this place ever since I walked by their other location on 18th. Tried out this location with two friends on Sunday night, and liked it a lot. First things first -- this is not traditional, authentic Korean food. It's not bastardized, but this won't satisfy the purists. (If you are one, then you should be in Annandale, not DC). I'm not Korean, but have plenty of first-generation Korean friends who educate me about these things, and you have to realize that good Korean food takes a LOT of time and effort to prepare well. You can tell when something has been marinated or simmered or prepared for long hours (or even days) before being served, or you can tell how finely they sliced and diced the ingredients. You won't get that impression here. However, if you're just looking for something that *reminds* you of Korean food, this will be more than adequate. We ordered the steamed dumplings, the pa jeon (seafood pancake), half platter of the modeum jeon (mini pancakes with veggies, beef, fish, shrimp, etc.), chap chae (Korean potato noodles with beef and vegetables), and the spicy grilled chicken breast. I thought the food was quite tasty. The modeum jeon and the chap chae were my favorites. Generous portions, at very reasonable prices too. To complete the picture -- comfortable atmosphere and competent service. There really isn't much to not like about this place (again, unless you want pure unadulterated Korean food). I would recommend it, and look forward to returning. read more

I am re-upping this review to inform you that I now KNOW that the hands down best way to enjoy Mandu is for the happy hour or late-night happy hour. After 11 pm (and for regular HH) they are serving up dirt cheap cocktails, discounted beers AND some really good food! The pork & kimchee tacos and WINGS are great and like $3/$4. AND if you're lucky, sometimes, randomly they have ramen, which I hear is pretty damn good, too. Do it. read more

When you start writing a review, can almost taste the items you're describing, and it gives you an immediate craving - chances are, it's a great restaurant, and that's the case with Mandu. Sure, it may not feel very authentic (I mean, there will be no one giving you the side eye for not knowing what all the dishes are, or mispronouncing them), and there's not bbq gadgets in the middle of the table, but if you get the right server, they can show you the world - korean food style. Let's start with the banchan - these are the complimentary little side dishes that are provided with every meal. My favoritest is the dried anchovies dish, but sadly they did not have this. They did however have plenty of kimchi ... which we may have ordered extras of .. 3 times. I decided to get two appetizers as my entree - the seafood scallion pancake (not the best I've had .. maybe the color threw me off? I felt like maybe the pancake wasn't fluffy enough), and a special appetizer they had on the menu that night. Sadly I do not remember the korean name of this dish, but it was SO good. The texture was that of a chicken porridge with soft poached egg in the middle - it is exactly what comfort food dreams are made of. I was sufficiently full off both of these appetizers, and even had leftovers to take home. My friend ordered a ramen like dish - It included beef in a clear broth with vegetables, and was met my cravings for ramen better than ramen sometimes does. The clear broth ensured that it wasn't too heavy and was just what one needs on a chill fall/winter night. We ended the meal with mochi, because why not? The mochi portions were large, and generally what I expect from my mochi. All in all, Mandu is definitely a place I'll revisit. And with these dropping temperatures, it'll probably be sooner rather than later. read more

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My wife had suggested we go here, but we never made it, so I felt I had to try it and I was craving Korean food. The inside is average size at best if not quaint, so I would recommend reservations. It was not super busy when I was there but better to be safe. They have Happy Hour everyday of the week, so because I arrived 5 mins before it ended I was able to get a Sojutini and Shrimp Mandu both at half price ($4) and they were both very good. For dinner I ordered the Dwejee Bulgogi (spicy pork). It came out sizzling and was served with a side of vegetables, rice and lettuce wraps. They also serve the traditional sides complimentary with all dinners. The food was great and the service was good and prompt. Restaurant was clean and had a great ambiance. This is the best Korean I have had in the actual city. read more

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Korean food is hard to come by in DC. This restaurant has a refined feel to it and the service is on point. Although the dumplings (mandu) were good yet underwhelming and the kimchi and pickled veggie side dishes missed the mark with me and my +1 (who may be a little picky after a life of yummy homemade Korean dishes), they definitely made it up with the rice dishes, specifically the kimchi rice dish and the dolsot bibim bap. The dolsot was scrumptious in every bite. The meat was tender and the veggies were full of flavor. I felt like I had more veggies than rice, but didn't mind it! All in all, a great place to fulfill Korean food cravings - though on the expensive side for Korean food. read more

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I came here for brunch and I would say it was a pretty good deal. I got a soju bloody mary, which was pretty spicy and much better than normal bloody marys. For $12, you get a small omelet, a couple chive pancakes, a few pieces of some sort of veggie sushi, Korean hash browns and a fair amount of protein (either beef, chicken, pork, or veggies and tofu). I was not a big fan of the omelet but I enjoyed everything else. I would say that it is definitely worth the price. I will definitely be sure to come back for the happy hour, which consists of $3 mandu (dumplings), $3 drafts, $4 sojutinis and $4 rail drinks. read more

This review is only for their happy hour, not their food. I was looking for a good happy hour place near the office and HELLO $5 happy hour deal! As with everything in life, there was a reason why it was so cheap. The sojutinis were very very flavorless... We got yogurt (the server didn't know if it was a regular yogurt like Yoplait/Dannon or yakult, but yes, it's yakult), mango, strawberry, and pear flavors. They all tasted like "adult capri sun" or "watered down vodka." And next morning we all work up with a terrible hang over (we each had ONE drink!). My companions got the vegetable and shrimp dumplings (also included in the happy hour deal) and I was told that they were yummy. They have a very nice ambience. The traditional cabinet display and the bird figure on the wall, all leading to a nice modern interior. However, we won't be returning for the happy hour. read more

As I write this, I am forced to undo the top button of my skinny jeans. That's how full I am. But man, it was worth it. Mandu and I have had an ongoing flirtation since I first noticed its Dupont Circle location as it advertised its Brunch Menu option. I meant to make it up there for Brunch a couple of times but was never able to... and THEN, I read on the Washington Post about the opening of its second location on K St. I was SO there. I met a friend here around 6pm on a Sunday and, although not empty, we were able to snag a seat right away. I then proceeded to order the much talked-about happy hour priced Sojutini ($3), and made mine Aloe flavored. It was definitely tasty, but a little weak... the perfect girly cocktail. Immediatly after, we were presented with a complimentary platter of Kimchi, pickled zucchini, beans, bite-sized pancakes, and diced seasoned tofu. All of the appetizers were delicious (and free!). A great start to the meal. Some of the entrees on the menu were marked with a "v" indicating that they could be made vegetarian, so I ordered the "dduk bok gi" ($11), which the waitress told me could be made with tofu rather than beef. Described as "thick rice cakes simmered in spicy chili paste w/beef, mushrooms, and onions", my dish was more or less a soupy combination of all of the above (minus the beef of course) and the thick ride cakes were more like chewy tubes with a very interesting texture, but also very filling. The sauce was a little spicy but also flavorful, and not at all oily. My favorite part was the generous portion of shiitake mushrooms included in the dish. For dessert, my friend and I split a serving of the famous Red Bean Mochi, and we also decided to try the green tea flavor (two pieces for $5). The Red Bean mochi was every bit as delicious as I was told it would be. A definite must-have when eating at Mandu. i can't wait to come back. read more

3.5 stars = not bad at all! I love Korean food and find it disturbing that there's not any authentic Korean restaurant "IN" DC. I tried the Mandu in Dupont Circle and wasn't too impressed. However, this newer and trendier branch is quite alright. I actually wouldn't mind coming back. Here's what I recommend: Mandu (appetizer): The bite-size dumplings come in six per order and you can get them steamed or fried. My favorite is the fried pork & beef mandu. Chap chae (clear noodles): This is not a big plate, but it's not stingy in ingredients. You get nice pieces of marinated beef and veggies. I thoroughly enjoyed this noodle dish. Bulgogi (barbecued beef): I like my bulgogi to be on the sweeter side, and it's served like that here. The plate comes with grilled squash, rice and fresh lettuce. Although the squash is pleasant to have, I would really love to see the more traditional veggies like mushrooms, green peppers and sliced onions! Oh, the cocktails here looked pretty good too. I ordered a fruity cosmo (can't remember the flavor). It was big and stiff. Yum. Will make a trip back sometime. read more

Went here last weekend with two of my girlfriends after a suggestion from my coworker. Best decision we've made since we've been in DC so far--Mandu is a great find for Korean food lovers. Definitely a lot swankier than what we're used to in California, but it definitely delivers with their food. Upon entering the restaurant, we noticed the candles and the dim lighting and I assumed the food was going to be expensive but mediocre. Somehow, I expect delicious Korean food to come from mom and pop type restaurants. After looking at their menu, we decided to order the haemul pajeon to share for an appetizer, regular bibimbap, and soondubu. Appetizer came out quickly and piping hot. If you're used to regular giant plate-like pajeon, you won't get that here. The pajeon comes in smaller disks, but don't let the size fool you! Each little pancake is packed full of seafood and onions--very flavorful and absolutely delicious. Service here is pretty quick because soon after we scarfed down the pajeon, we got our entrees. What I like about how they serve the bibimbap is they place all the different veggies on a plate so you can add in as much or as little as you want. Convenient for those of you that don't like certain things like carrots or spinach, etc. The soondubu I got came out boiling, which is always a good sign. They add the raw egg in for you, so you might want to mix a bit while it's still boiling or your egg might not cook all the way through. I don't think they use the super soft tofu in the soondubu because it was a little firmer than I'm used to, but that doesn't take away too much from the dish. Great level of spice and good variety of seafood in the pot. Mandu is definitely not your traditional Korean restaurant, but definitely a great place for those craving Korean food. The atmosphere is pretty nice with the soft lighting and modern decor. It is a little pricey though, so not a place that you could go to often. Highly recommended since it doesn't seem like DC has a lot of Korean restaurants. read more

Everything tasted wrong. I don't know why... I heard great reviews about this place and it was like everything we ordered from the bibimbap to the bulgogi just tasted wrong. Plus the sides tasted wrong also. Food portions were small and I didn't see a single asian person in there other than myself. I judge places based on the number of asian people eating asian food. I'd say... save your money and go to Annandale, VA or Rockville, MD to get your korean fix. read more

Wow. Been awhile since I've yelped, but I had to after hitting up Mandu on K st. Place is beast!!! Good beers on tap (with only 4 selections they should be) but a lot of places don't even try. I could eat plate after plate of their mandu (dumplings) and their fried chicken wings are the best I've ever had. Seriously. Even better than Bon Chon which I thought was the pinnacle. Rest of the menu is awesome and the Bulgogi is amazing. Bartenders are super friendly and I watch them be cool with the worst guests without ever batting an eye. Says a lot about the character of the place. Brought my girl and her folks one night for dinner, none of who had ever eaten Korean food, and they can't stop talking about the place. Kind of ruined it for me to tell the truth. I liked it being my place. Will be back. Maybe even tonight. Solo for sure. read more

Good happy hour. Decent draft beer options for $3, drinkable rail drinks for $4 (stoli as a rail? hmm, ok, I'm not going to complain), and 6 dumpings for 3 bucks. And unlike many other places, happy hour isn't strictly the bar area. read more

Excellent Restaurant. I've gone to a lot of Asian cuisine restaurants and this one is by far one of the best. The food comes in very large potions, twice as large as most other restaurants. The average price of food is around $16, so be prepared to spend a little bit more than a fast food restaurant. Regardless, the portion size is more than enough for the price and the food tastes so clean and fresh. The meat is soft, tender, and rich. I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for a nice meal read more

I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that I was a very fat Asian child in a past life, because hot bowls full of rice-and-stuff (or noodles-and-stuff, as the case may be) that you mix all together before devouring generally send me into borderline inappropriate rapture. I eat socially sanctioned portions of stuff like bibimbap only to avoid obesity and friendlessness, otherwise I would pretty much have the rice bowl version of a feedbag permanently strapped to my face. Combine rice-and-stuff with free snacks (banchan) and $4 sojutinis and dumplings during a happy hour that extends into dinner time, and Korean food at Mandu becomes particularly dangerous kryptonite. While you can get more generous servings of bulgogi at a lower price point out in suburban Virginia, no one who doesn't live there is realistically trekking to Annandale on a weeknight for happy hour/dinner (I'm not, at least). Thus, Mandu. I've been to both locations and ordered the bibimbap both ways. Last week on K Street I asked the waiter what the difference was between dolsot and regular other than the dolsot bibimbap being served in a hot stone bowl, and he said it was "pretty much just the bowl" (for which you will pay $2 extra, which is kinda gimmicky although it does stay piping hot for longer that way). At any rate, it is delicious, there is a lot of it, and you can scramble your leftovers with eggs for breakfast the next morning when it's 19 degrees in DC in January. Win. Appetizers are fine, but haven't tried anything remarkable yet. Service seems to be similar both places - the staff are super busy and can be tricky to flag down, but they also know their stuff and are very kind and professional. In summation: Get dinner reservations for before 7pm to enjoy half-price sojutinis. Order rice-and-stuff, in a fancy bowl if you're into that. Eat your leftover rice-and-stuff for breakfast. Feel great about life. read more

There are lots of things to like about Mandu, especially this location. It's definitely swankier than the Dupont location, but not overly so. They have happy hour every day, including in the restaurant area, as opposed to just in the bar. Service was very friendly, and food was really good overall. They started us out with a complimentary appetizer plate, which had kimchi, some sort of root vegetable, and a bunch of other stuff, including what might be the best broccoli I've ever had. I have no clue what they did to make that broccoli so delicious, but I could have happily eaten lots of it. We started with a couple of appetizers. We felt we had to try the restaurant's namesake, so we ordered the mandu (dumplings), which were a bargain at 6 for $5. Flavor options included veggie, shrimp, or beef and pork, so we decided to get two of each flavor. The veggie was kind of bland, and the wrapper was a bit thicker and tougher than I like on both the veggie and the beef/pork mandu. The shrimp came wrapped in a different wrapper, and they were perfect. My friend also ordered egg battered fried tofu, which wasn't all that great. Kind of bland, and the tofu was too soft and fell apart too easily. Based on the appetizers, I would only be giving three stars, but they really shined on the entrees. Between the three of us, we had the bulgogi, beef somyun bowl, which was soup with ribeye steak ,bok choy, scallions, bean sprouts, egg, and rice noodles, and a vegetarian version of the somyun bowl. I was the one with the beef soup, and immediately after I ordered, a waiter walked by with a huge plate piled with sizzling meat (I think short ribs), and I had some major order envy. That went away though once my soup came and I took the first bite. The runny egg complimented the beef and bok choy perfectly, and with a bit of siricha, I was in heaven. I also tried the bulgogi, which was quite good, and my friend also seemed happy with her veggie soup. I'm excited to go back and try some of the martinis. We had several bottles of soju which I was really happy with, but after reading other reviews, I'm really intrigued by the aloe martini. I'm already looking forward to my next visit! read more

3 stars for the place, two for the food. The place first: it combines a bar with a restaurant. The bar has a nice, long counter, and in some parts of the counter people can have face to face drinks. The restaurant is also pleasant. Somewhat upscale, but relaxed. Overall, judging just by the cover, this is a very pleasant restaurant. Really DC. Foodwise, sadly, this is just another mediocre, banal, americanized korean: The usual, fairly boring dishes one finds in dozens of americanized korean restaurants. Very few interesting flavors, and nothing authentic. (I had the pork belly, which was fairly bland.) Winewise, it's not really impressive! It says a lot when the best white is an oyster bay. (I like oyster bay wines, but still.) read more

If you like $3 dumplings and $3 beers, then this is the happy hour for you. It's cheap, delicious, and walking distance from Gallery Place. What's not to like? You can get beef/pork, vegetable, or shrimp dumplings steamed or fried - 6 dumplings per order - and if that doesn't make you happy, well, then, Jed, I guess I don't even wanna know ya! ...not West Wing fans? Okay, this is embarrassing. Forget the reference and let's move on to the drinks! Everyone likes drinks! Drafts, rails, and "Sojutinis" are only $3. You can't go wrong, even if you have no idea what that last thing was. read more

Such a great spot for happy hour. The staff is always friendly and the food is pretty solid. I usually visit for the HH, and you can't beat Bullet for $6 and $5 mandu. For the most part, the mandu has been good, but could can be bland. Most of the other dishes are pretty good, but sometimes lack in flavor and complexity. Give it a shot for HH and you won't be disappointed. read more

Probably the best brunch in the city, food and price-wise. You cannot beat $13 for a Korean version of steak and eggs, free ban chan, and $4 sojutinis. The flavors aren't immensely intense, but for a city lacking good Asian food in general, I'm not complaining. If you are in the camp that can be satisfied by throwing hot sauce in anything, you probably won't complain either. This is not to say that Mandu gets by simply by throwing hot sauce in their dishes, but I'm of the belief that rarely can things not be improved by the addition of gochujang. Service has always been good, except ironically when the restaurant is at off-peak times (ban chan was brought out after we got our food). Even when the air conditioning was broken one sweltering day in August, the server didn't let her (and my) profuse sweating faze her. Food comes out pretty quickly, too, so it's a good option if you're in a hurry or just outrageously hungry and can't wait. read more

Kinda loved this place. $3 happy hour beers is definitely reason to be happy. My friend and I also ordered pan fried mandu (dumplings) that were perfectly crispy and chewy. I ordered the Doslut Bibimbap. Luckily they served it with some spicey paste that we proceeded to mix on into the bowl - the flavor is something I have a hard time describing because it was my first time eating it, but I can say that it was flavorFULL. My friend got one of the soups that had ribeye in it. He sold it as better than Pho. I totally disagree, but I love Pho so I'll leave this one up to the reader to decide. Anywho, an app, two entrees (which we couldn't finish) and a decent number of beers later and our bill was still only around $40. I like. read more

If you're into authentic Korean fare, you should head to Annandale. But if you're looking for a savory, solid meal that won't break the bank and appreciate trendy décor, this is a very good spot. Since you'll be paying $14 bucks for a regular bibimbap anyway, suggest you go for the dolsot (stone bowl) version - it comes out scalding hot and nets you some delicious crispy rice. It's a very good version of the dish. Highly recommend. The mandu themselves are solid but not extraordinary - you order dumplings and you get dumplings. The soon doobu (spicy seafood stew) wasn't excessively spicy, but didn't have the depth of flavor of some of the other dishes. The banchan (served in adorable dishes at the start of your meal instead of, say, bread) are a nice complement. I would definitely come back here next time I get a hankering for funky Korean. Suggest you give it a try! read more

Decent Korean food at a decent price once you factor in the banchan--Korean side dishes. Overall I would say the food is a touch Americanized, but I wouldn't say that's a bad thing. It's a testament of the chef recognizing the taste buds of his customers. I could go on and on about this review, but for the sake of brevity, I will highlight my favorite components. From my times visiting, I can definitely tell that Danny Lee, the owner, has a knack for flavors. He's participated year-round in national culinary competitions, consistently placing top marks with exceptional complimentary flavors. Eric, the front-of-house manager, along with Phil and Avery, run an amazing crew of servers and bartenders that make you feel like home. They definitely understand that quality service plays a huge role in serving a good experience. The drink selection may seem sparse to some--four beers on tap, handful of wines of different grapes--but they have a sprawling bar and amazing seasonal cocktails. Phil, the bar manager, has an exquisite palate for drinks. I talk with him on a periodic basis about new drinks that's he's manufactured. Have I mentioned that he's won several cocktail competitions? For late summer and fall he had the "Beets by Dr. Phil," a testament to his conscious balance of flavors: sweet, savory, tart, herbal. Some of my favorite hidden gems at this restaurant are the dishes that people don't seem to know too much about: duru jiggee, dduk bbok gi, and dak jjim. These are all spicy (in the subjective sense) dishes--duru jiggee is a hearty dish that starts with stir-fried Kim chi to release and enhance its flavors. Pork belly is added and the fat that renders acts as a pan deglazer to get all the flavor off. Served with green onion and tofu on the side as a nice break from the savoriness of the whole dish. Dduk bbok gi is like a Korean curried dish that uses chewy rice cakes to absorb the flavor from the hot, smoky pepper sauce that they use. Additionally the light sweetness of the ribeye marinade contrasts the savory elements of the dish. Lastly dak jjim--think of like a thick, spicy beef stew but with tender chicken thighs instead. While this dish is plated in a smaller bowl than most other generous dishes at Mandu, do not be surprised by its size. Take your time and enjoy your company with the occasional bites and you will see that the dish will fill you up. And lastly I adore the service at this restaurant, especially Liwen. On slower days she's a delight to talk to. On faster-paced dinners she is always mindful of her customers and holds a high bar of service that she meets constantly. She kept my guests entertained during happy hour while the bar was constantly brimming with customers. read more

Mandu - Little delight: "duru jjigee." Stir fried kimchi, pork belly, rice cakes, and steamed tofu in sweet-spicy, slightly smokey curry-like sauce - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went to Mandu today for a lab luncheon, and I must say I was extremely impressed! First Impressions: When I first stepped in, I thought it was going to be a disappointing meal... this is the first Korean restaurant I've ever stepped into where everyone wasn't Korean haha. Additionally, the servers had no idea what Bori Cha is... the traditional barley tea that's served at almost all Korean restaurants. PRICING: HOWEVER, misgivings aside, I ordered the spicy pork bulgogi (14$) while the rest of my lab ordered bulgogi (15$) and dolsot bibim bap (12$). I feel like the pricing is about right, maybe a little cheaper than other Korean places, especially since this is in a nice part of D.C. FOOD: It was amazing. As good a meal as you could ever hope 14$ to buy you. Instead of the traditional method of serving only the meat + rice, the bulgogi came with a side of grilled vegetables, still sizzling on a hot cast iron plate. The vegies included various squashes, peppers, and eggplant. When these were rolled together on the lettuce with the meat: ABSOLUTE HEAVEN. The meat was juicy and tender, as were the vegetables, which soaked up just enough of the meat juices and oil to flavor them. For dessert, we ordered a round of flavored mochis (vanilla, green tea, mango, and red bean) all of which were delicious as well! The skin was thin and chewy, and the ice cream was still frozen, but warmed up enough that it didn't hurt your teeth to bite into it. SERVICE: very friendly and fast, our waiter was knowledgeable about both the establishment and the food. When we were having difficulties deciding, he offered helpful tips, and gave good recommendations to my friends who had never had Korean food before. Overall, a great meal for a great price. Would definitely eat here again! If you're looking for great Korean food at a decent/cheap price, this is definitely the place to go! read more

Love this place! Great food and great staff! You can't go wrong here! One of the best hidden gems in the city

A friend recommended this place to me, so we decided to get a group together and try it out Saturday night. So glad we did. So freaking good. *praise hands emoji* There were about 7 of us so we decided to do more of a "family style" dinner. We got so much food it was slightly ridiculous, but I definitely recommend coming with a group and getting a bunch of things to try. Since we got there during happy hour (every day 4-7pm), we each had a couple sojutinis and we ordered a bunch of dumplings and one Saewoo Jeon (shrimp pancake type thing, pan fried). The dumplings were AMAZING. We tried every type (shrimp, veggie & pork - a mix of steamed and fried). My favorites were the fried veggie and steamed shrimp, but you really can't go wrong with any of them. For entrees we ordered the Chap-Chae, Kimchi Dolsot, Bulgogi, and a couple others. My favorite by far was the Bulgogi (marinated ribeye with vegetables). You can't go here and not get that. The flavors were spot-on and I could've eaten the entire thing myself if I had no table manners. My second favorite was probably the Kimchi Dolsot (kimchi fried rice with a spinach bowl in the middle and a raw egg yolk). It was pretty spicy but delicious and had amazing flavors. I am by no means an expert on Korean food, but this place was delicious and every single thing I tried was wonderful. The service was great and really quick as well, which was a plus. I would definitely come back here again. read more

This place was a pleasant visit and is a-ok. They were quite busy, so service was a bit off - slow and not exactly attentive. But I don't think they were prepared to be that busy (convention happening nearby). The menu was filled with unfamiliar items, but our server did have enough patience to explain a lot of it to us. The portions are huge. And everything we had was tasty. It's also deceptively vegetarian-friendly. While there isn't much on the menu that is totally vegetarian as typically prepared, they can actually make most dishes vegetarian (which is noted on the menu). Overall, it was a good meal and I would return if I was in the area. But I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here. read more

Great spot for food and a light happy hour. They have outdoor patio seating. Mandu (dumplings) are 6 for $4 during happy hour and soujitinis are also on special for $4 (aloe and yogurt are both very tasty). You get a lot for your money here with many entrees falling around $15. The food is very good. read more

Great dumplings! Fried or steamed. During the warmer Months, sit outside and enjoy fantastic drinks and amazing food. read more

Wow, Mandu serves some seriously westernized Korean food, but if you're stuck in Metro DC it might be your best bet for a Korean dinner in a polished restaurant atmosphere; I think it's the only option outside of a food truck or one of the "Korean delis" around town that are actually much better reviewed. The actual MANDU--in our case, steamed vegetable mandu--was pretty good, but the sauce was so sweet that the actual flavor of the dumpling was negligible. SOON DU BU - light on the seafood, heavy on the tofu, so-so on flavor. Good portion, not too large or small. I had some leftovers without eating the rice and enjoyed the sumptuous house-made tofu. That said, they could probably afford to use less oil. CHAP JAE - this was utterly delicious and served in a massive, family-style portion. Like the Soon Du Bu, though, its awesomeness was mitigated by its substantial oil content. Major bonuses: It's reasonably priced and the service is excellent. THE BOTTOM LINE: Mandu is a good option if you're introducing friends to Korean food for the first time, or you can't get out to VA or MD for something more authentic. They have all the staples served right for a great price. read more