🇰🇷I'd like to introduce a delicious buckwheat kalguksu-mandu restaurant at Wonju Doraemi Market

Wonju in Gangwon-do is a place truly devoted to dumplings. They say Wonju's kimchi dumplings originated after the Korean War, when people made them from leftover cabbage at Doraemi Market, Wonju's first wholesale fruit and vegetable market, just to ease their hunger. That's why Doraemi Market is considered a historic place that has preserved Wonju's kimchi dumpling tradition. They have a variety of dumpling dishes, including "kalmandu," where dumplings are mixed into kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup). Besides this place, you can also easily find hand-made dumplings at the nearby markets. Ever since I was little, I grew up eating kimchi dumplings until I was sick of them. But after becoming an adult and moving away from my hometown, you wouldn't believe how much I missed those dumplings...

There's more seating if you go further inside. It has air conditioning, so it's cooler and not as hot as you'd expect~ Since it was late, after lunchtime, there weren't many customers, but... you can see the older folks each enjoying a bowl despite the heat, haha. Even after we went in, customers kept coming in.

This is a restaurant that has appeared on TV a few times. There are famous restaurants around this area too, so quite a few of them have been on TV~~ If only the weather weren't so hot, I would have wanted to buy some kimchi mandu (kimchi dumplings). Most of the mandu sold at Wonju Market aren't frozen dumplings, they're all freshly made dumplings. And the price is really cheap~~

My mom loves kalguksu, but I like mandu (dumplings) more than kalguksu. So this time I ordered kal-mandu, which lets you enjoy a bit of both here^^

The buckwheat kalguksu noodles come with buckwheat kimchi dumplings, plus ongsimi (rice balls) and tteokguk rice cakes, so it has the advantage of letting you enjoy a nice variety of flavors! I was really curious about how they make the broth~~~ haha

These are dumplings packed with kimchi. Honestly, I actually prefer these kimchi-filled dumplings over the meat ones. The flavor is so clean and refreshing~hehe

This one has ongsimi (rice balls) in it, and it also has meat in it, haha. Taste is a matter of personal preference, so please keep that in mind..haha. Actually, I like kimchi mandu (dumplings) better, lol.

It even comes with rice cakes for tteokguk, so I can enjoy a variety of flavors — really love it~~

The portion was quite large so I left a little, but my mom finished hers completely, haha. I used to go to wheat-flour knife-cut noodle and dumpling places a few times before, but I prefer buckwheat, so I only come here now. For those who like wheat flour, this place also sells regular kalguksu and mandu. There are a lot of restaurants around, so you can just pick whichever you like.

Here's why buckwheat is good for you. Buckwheat is rich in lipolytic enzymes, so it is effective against high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and constipation, and it is a pesticide-free, pollution-free crop. (Rural Development Administration) Buckwheat strengthens the intestines and stomach, boosts energy, clears the mind, and removes putrefactive matter from the five internal organs. (Shokuryo Honzo) Buckwheat clears stagnation, stops neuralgia, and relieves diarrhea. (Compendium of Materia Medica) Wonju Dumpling Festival Oh! I heard they're holding a dumpling festival in Wonju at the end of October. There was nothing like that when I was little, so later on I'd love to go down there timed with the festival dates... haha. I looked it up and it turns out last year was only the 2nd time they held it... no wonder I didn't know about it... lol.

It's not a very big spot in the old downtown area, but it's surrounded by markets nearby... Gangwon Gamyeong is also within walking distance, so I think it would be nice to visit both while you're at it.. Location [Naver Map] Wonju Daraemi Market 35-4 Jungangsijang-gil, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do https://naver.me/GwEupnPQ