Mandoobar — Restaurant in Paris

Worst "korean" food I've ever had. The ambiance of the restaurant was fine; no bad notes on that front. However, in terms of the food and the culinary description of the restaurant's background, I could not have been more disappointed -- truthfully, I was fuming when I left the restaurant.

My friend and I found this restaurant on a list from Vogue France about the best Korean restaurants in Paris. We were very excited for our meal because we were missing having Asian food on our Europe trip and saw Mandoobar had great michelin reviews. Our expectations were high because of how this restaurant prided itself in being "authentic" and the chef's upbringing in Seoul.

We ordered the Korean side salad, gougi mandoo, shrimp mandoo, kimchi mandoo, and the sea bream tartare. All of these dishes stated they had sesame oil, vinegar, gochugaru, and/or gochujang (all staple Korean ingredients) in these dishes. This could not have been farther from the truth. The dishes were ridiculously bland, leaving my friend and I to drown our mandoo and sea bream in the sad "soy sauce" (which isn't even Korean) dish they gave us on the side.

Aside from the five-year-old level taste profile of our meal, to make matters worse, our kimchi mandoo DID NOT EVEN HAVE KIMCHI IN IT. We had to open up our dumplings after eating the first one to check if there was kimchi in it because, once again, the taste was not there at all. We were met with two red pepper flakes in the filling that were supposed to "mimic" the flavors of kimchi (which it absolutely did not).

Not a single dish lived up to our expectations, nor should any of them be considered Korean food -- let alone AUTHENTIC Korean food. To validate my review, I am Korean, have grown up eating homemade Korean food made by my immigrant aunts/grandmother/mother, and have visited Korea multiple times. We were furious when we had to pay $80 for the food we did get and we were still hungry when we left the restaurant. We were happier to leave the restaurant hungry than continue to order more food at this establishment.

If I am ever in Paris again, I will never spend a single euro at Mandoobar and would strongly advise anyone who is craving and looking for a delicious Korean meal to NOT go to this restaurant. Save your money and time and visit Shin Jung (7 min walk away from Mandoobar) instead. My friend and I went here immediately after leaving Mandoobar and were pleasantly greeted not only by Korean restaurant staff and chef but also with delightful Korean aromatics.

Tldr; DO NOT GO TO MANDOOBAR -- scam, NOT authentic Korean food, go to Shin...

It was located right across from the hotel I was staying at, and I had heard it was notoriously hard to book. I initially struggled to make a reservation using my Canadian phone number, it wouldn’t go through, so I had to use the hotel’s number to finally secure a spot. They also required a credit card deposit when booking, which added to the exclusive, fine-dining vibe.

Once seated, I immediately appreciated the concept: a focused menu built around mandoo (or gyoza, Korean dumplings) and 육회 (Korean-style beef tartare). The food didn’t try too hard to impress; it was simple, elegant, and well-thought-out. What I found most impressive was how they reinterpreted Korean flavors like sesame oil and soy sauce in a way that suited French palates, without compromising authenticity.

As a Korean-Canadian, it was especially interesting hearing the staff speak Korean in the heart of Paris, it added a personal layer to the whole experience. And then there was the music… soft, sentimental Korean tracks from the 1970s playing in the background. I could actually understand the lyrics, and it gave the space a deeply nostalgic and heartfelt vibe. You could feel the sincerity of the chef-owner in every detail.

Now, is it the best Korean food I’ve ever had? Not necessarily—but that wasn’t the point. It’s about the story, the setting, and the beautifully balanced fusion of Korean heritage with French sophistication.

One thing I do wish for is a wider drink selection. There was only one type of sake available when I went, and they were out of Baekseju. Having options like soju or a broader range of whisky would elevate the experience even more.

Still, Mandoobar stands out as a Michelin-starred experience with soul, not just shine. I'd absolutely return, and I’m glad I made the...

Overrated! Having read consistently positive reviews of Mandoobar, we were very eager to try. We found the menu a bit too minimalist - only mandu (Korean raviolis) and tartars, which were concocted with quality ingredients but nothing exceptional and lacking creativity. Also we found the servings of tartar a bit skimpy. A vegetable accompaniment would have been appreciated. For deserts, only a choice of interesting ice cream flavors. We expected more creativity and more generous portions all around. It is also worth noting that space is at a premium in this restaurant. The few tables can accommodate no more than two people, which means that parties of three or more have to be seated at the counter. As a result of the very compact size of the space, you must squeeze in to be seated and the noise level can be a problem. On the positive side, the wooden decor is attractive and the staff is very friendly and helpful, but this is not enough to encourage...