Food Column: Mandoo Bar in NYC

Posted on 22 December 2009 by jumelle

Category: Food

Tags: jessica chang, k-town, Korean Beacon, korean dumplings, mandoo bar, Restaurants

I recently had a discussion with a friend about dumplings, and we concluded that each country has its own form of dumplings. The Chinese have their dumplings that everyone seems to love these days. The Italians have ravioli, the Argentineans have empanadas, and the Polish have Kluski. And then there’s mandoo, Korean dumplings.

They may look similar, but Korean dumplings are actually not quite the same as Chinese dumplings. The main difference lies in the stuffing – in mandoo, you will obviously find kimchee but also tofu and sometimes seafood! In New York, there’s something to say about restaurants that have stayed open for over 10 years. Mandoo Bar, which lies in the heart of K-town on 32nd St, has wooed patrons for years with its hearty and flavorful Korean dumplings.

Mandoo Bar offers several types of dumplings, some healthy (steamed ones) and some not so much but the deliciousness makes up entirely for it. Flavors include traditional pork, kimchee tofu, and shrimp. My personal favorite is the kimchee tofu, just because it’s the most unique and the mashed tofu adds a creaminess to the dumplings. You can make your own sauces with various chili pastes and herbs they offer.

What some people might not know is that Mandoo Bar actually has a pretty extensive menu that goes beyond just dumplings There are a ton of salad options, as well as various bi bim baps and traditional Korean stews like Soondooboo (tofu stew) and Yook-gae-jang (spicy beef broth with veggies and clear noodles).

Check out our visit to the dumpling tour de force!