만두 (sometimes romanized to be maandu) is a common dish for many Koreans.  But most people do not know what this is.  So what is it?  It is a Korean word that people take to mean dumpling, wanton or are called by some Americans as potsticker.  This dish will be very popular during colder months when many want a warm dish to make the day go well. While you may have had the dish from Chinese food, have you ever had it Korean style?  I’ll quickly go over a some ways you may have this dish at a Korean restaurant or home.

군만두

군만두 (guun maandu) is what is shown in the picture above.  It is a fried dumpling.  This will  usually be on a menu as an appetizer.  This dish you would share among friends, or if you are me, by yourself.  Do not get this dish as a meal, as it may not fill you up if you have a large appetite.  In case you can are worried about giving this to kids, this  is a tasty dish that is not spicy.  But since it is fried to order, it may be greasy when you get it.

왕만두

왕 (woaang)  is the Korean word for King.  So 왕만두 is the Korean term for King sized dumpling.  As the name suggest, it is a bigger version of what you see in the screen.  This large version will be more filling, and can be cooked different ways.  You may not see it on a lot of menus, but it would be worth trying if you can find it.

만두국

During winter time, 만두국 can be a favorite of many people.  In this case 국 (usually shown as guk, but can be shown as gug) means soup.  In this case, the dumplings are boiled in a clear broth for a dish that will warm you up on a snowing Korean day.  Other things, such as rice or some veggies, can be added to the dish to make it more filling and flavorful.  This soup is not spicy, so it is safe for small children to eat.  This dish is usually available all year round, in case you want to eat this dish in warm weather as well.

If you have never had Korean food, this may be a safe dish for you and your family to try out.  No matter how you eat it, 만두 is a true Korean food that everyone can enjoy.  If you’ve had it before, let me know how you enjoy eating it.  Or if you have never had it before, please let me know how you had it and how you enjoyed it.