Dumpling House (Duluth)
Did I have you at dumpling? Thought so. This is another of those new establishments in Duluth. It opened about two months ago. It occupies the space vacated by my ultra favorite EERecipe Rice Crepe House (if you never went then too bad for you). Managed, operated, and staffed by a Korean family, everything is made in-house. Handmade, homemade noodles? Check. Handmade dumplings? Check. Korean mommy cooking just about everything from scratch? Check.
Korean dumpling and noodle shops pride themselves with handmade dumplings and noodles. This place is no exception. There are a handful of these in our city, each unique in its own way. But what I really love about this place is the noodles. They are thinner yet just as chewy. And I like that they aren’t as starchy. The soup broth still gets a fair amount of starch but not as much as all the other places. The dak kalguksu, a chicken noodle soup, has flavorful broth, lots of slippery noodles, chunks of white meat chicken, zuchini, and radishes. Unlike other places, it comes with a side of soy-based sauce for dipping or for mixing with the soup. I do both. It adds another dimension of flavor that doesn’t take away from the original taste of the soup. Lovely.
I love the simple banchan here, too. The flavors are bright and really fresh. The cucumber kimchi is phenomenal. Best anywhere. It has loads of thick-sliced celery — a veggie I never got to like because the taste overpowers everything else in a dish but surprised myself by eating lots of them here. There’s a slight sweetness in the background that plays with the spiciness of the brine. The cucumbers and celery are super crunchy, making it like a refreshing salad, really.
This special isn’t on the menu but posted on the wall instead. I don’t know what it’s called. It’s a pork rib kimchi stew with a mandoo in it. At $7.45, this is a steal since the regular menu price is $24.95 for two people. The stew has a very bold flavor with tons of kimchi in it. You get a big pork rib with meat that’s literally falling off the bone. There’s a huge mandoo (dumpling) in there, too, that has a minced meat filling that includes scallions and eggs. The dumpling wrapper has the perfect thinness that allows the filling to stay put even after you stir the stew vigorously, yet it breaks when you bite down. I really liked this delicious, hearty soup.
There are a few more noodle dishes that I can’t wait to try such as the bibimguksu (one of my favorite cold noodle dishes) and a special dish written on the wall. The menu will be expanded in the few weeks to come to include the usual bibimbap and bulgogi dishes. So if you’re not too familiar with the type of Korean dishes they have on the menu, don’t fret, there’s gonna be something there for you soon. In the meantime, live a little, explore, and try one of the best noodle/dumpling shops in the city.
Dumpling House
2645 N Berkeley Lake Rd
Ste 129
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 232-9600
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5 responses so far ↓
1 AsianCajuns Lar // May 3, 2012 at 9:03 am
Yes please! And yes you totally had me at dumpling! Missss you! And miss delicious Korean food!
xoxoxo,
Lar
2 Chloe // May 4, 2012 at 11:28 am
Lar!!!!!!!!!! Miss you so much. But I’ve been enjoying Scotland sun through you
3 Atlanta GA Short Sales // Jun 12, 2012 at 1:39 pm
I love this food.
4 Quick Bite – Dumpling House — Eat It, Atlanta - Atlanta Restaurant | Cooking | Food Blog // Jun 27, 2012 at 2:34 pm
[...] I find myself in Duluth, I take a quick gander at Chow Down Atlanta and see what tasty treats Chloe has for me. This visit led me to Dumpling House, which is newly [...]
5 Woodlands Texas // Aug 15, 2012 at 6:30 pm
That food looks tasty, I love Asian food.
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