2
My girlfriend and I were visiting Washington, DC and decided to give Mandu a try. The restaurant itself is modern, clean, and nicely decorated, making a great first impression. However, when we walked in and saw only a couple of tables occupied, I had a feeling it might not live up to its appearance. Unfortunately, that feeling turned out to be justified once we looked at the menu and tasted the food.
Overall Ratings
Atmosphere - 4/5
Service - 3/5
Food - 1/5
Parking - Street Parking
Atmosphere -
The restaurant is modern, clean, and well maintained. The dining room is attractive and comfortable, and it feels much more upscale than your average Korean restaurant.
Service -
Service was adequate. Nothing stood out as particularly good or bad. The staff took our order, brought out the food, and checked on us occasionally.
What We Ordered -
-Galbi - At over $40, this was by far the most disappointing dish of the meal. I've had galbi at countless Korean restaurants, many of which charge under $30 while delivering significantly better flavor and quality. The seasoning was noticeably different from what I'm accustomed to, and not in a good way. For the price, it felt extremely underwhelming.
-Pa Jeon - Just okay. It was a standard Korean pancake that didn't stand out in any particular way.
-Tofu Stew - We ordered it mild, but it was surprisingly spicy and excessively salty. The saltiness overwhelmed most of the other flavors in the dish.
-Korean Fried Chicken - Unfortunately, this suffered from the same issue. The chicken itself was decent, but it was far too salty, making it difficult to enjoy.
Final Thoughts -
The biggest issue for me was the value. Nearly every dish felt overpriced for the quality being served, and the excessive saltiness across multiple items made the meal even more disappointing. While the restaurant looks great and has a modern atmosphere, the food simply did not justify the prices. Considering how many excellent Korean restaurants I've been to over the years, this was one of the more disappointing experiences. Unfortunately, I wouldn't return.