Mandu or Mandoo (만두) are dumplings in Korean cuisine. Kimchi mandoo, fried mandoo, steamed mandoo, and shrimp dumplings are very popular varieties that can be found in Koreatown LA.
Wool Um Ma “Restaurant” is a small Korean eatery inside the HK Supermarket on Western Avenue for eat-in and to-go. Menu includes Jjin-bbang, Wang-mandu, Fried dumplings, Water (boiled) mandoo, Kimbap, Spicy Squid over Rice, Ddeokboki, Bibimguksu, Jjolmyeon, and Bulgogi over Rice. Open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Myeongdong Kyoja serves kalgooksoo (knife-cut noodles), kong-guksu (noodles in soymilk; available only in the summer), and mandoo (dumplings). Health rating of A as of 06/15/2012. * No longer open 24 hours. Now closes at around 10:00 pm. Opens at 8:00 am.
“Handcrafted Korean-Inspired Dimsum”
Yoocheon is Korean restaurant whose specialty is chik naeng-myeon (cold noodles with the main ingredient being arrowroot, not the usual buckwheat).
The sign outside used to just plainly say “Dumplings.” Business hours most days are 11:00 am to 9:30 pm. Korean name: 천하만두 Chinese name: 包子之家 (House of Dumplings) Opened in January 2015 in the old space of Apples Bakery (aka Flour Etc) on 3rd Street.
Young King serves classic Korean-Chinese dishes like tangsuyuk (sweet-and-sour pork) and jajangmyeon (noodles with black bean sauce). A vegetarian jajangmyeon can be ordered if desired. The restaurant’s name is pronounced “Yeong Gyeong” in Korean.
Opened in 2011 in the southwest area of Koreatown, Som See Neh is a specialty Korean food store that sells jars of kimchi and bags of frozen handmade mandu (dumplings). The shop’s name is pronounced in Korean as “Som-shee-neh.” The thing to get here is the four-pound bag of mandoo that goes for twenty dollars. It contains anywhere from 42 to 46 dumplings. There are two types of dumplings currently available: kimchi and meat that is generously mixed with veggies. * Even though the sign outside includes “Mit Banchan” they no longer sell banchan. Open roughly 10:00 am to 7:00 pm six days a week. Closed on Sundays.
Korean restaurant specializing in dumplings and Koreanized Chinese food. Has a patio out back. Hours are 11:00 am to 9:00 pm on most days. Closed on Sundays. Menu prices as of May 2013 (prices have since gone up) kimchi / meat dumplings: $3.99 + tax = $4.35 seafood jjamppong: $7.99 jjajangmyeon: $5.49 chicken gangjong: $7.99 jjin-bbang: $4.99 tangsooyuk: $9.99 김치/고기만두, 해물짬뽕, 짜장면, 닭강정, 찐빵, 탕수육 * In recent months, customers have found this eatery to be unsanitary. The health department itself has downgraded its rating to a very low B.
PAOJAO is a Chinese-inspired food stall in Koreatown Plaza’s food court that serves dumplings and affordable bowls of jajangmyeon (noodles with black-bean sauce). Items on their menu include shrimp dumplings and also green-colored Chlorella (algae) buns. They also have large steamed buns filled with red bean. Known for bad service towards non-Koreans.