Cafe The Mani 더마니 — Restaurant in Lawrence

I ordered takeout today around 1:20 or 1:30 pm for lunch. The building itself was very clean and sleek looking, offering lots of seating. However, the building does not appear to be wheelchair accessible if that is a concern.

I ordered and the staff were very friendly and efficient in getting me my food- it was a matter of less than a half hour. I ordered a new menu item, kimchi sundubu-jjigae, which I feel is the perfect sick-person food. The dish was packaged thoughtfully and reliably, with plenty of napkins and disposable utensils.

I reheated the sundubu-jjigae until it is boiling hot. The soup itself has thick cut vegetables and silken tofu medallions. I ordered it at normal spice with no pork and no raw egg (having this dish with the egg is customary- the heat will poach the egg)- this dish can be prepared to accommodate a pescatarian diet. The vegetables and tofu (to some degree, albeit less) absorbed the spices from the broth.

While the sundubu-jjigae is well spiced and flavorful as I ordered it, I feel like I should have ordered it extra spicy. Even without the extra spice, this dish is very tasty and enjoyable to eat! This dish is very warm and comforting, with a large portion size for the price ($14-15).

However, I do wish that more side dishes were offered with this dish. I have no qualms with the rice that came with this dish, as it complements the dish and absorbs the good flavors from the spiced broth.

While the dish is advertised on this restaurant’s Instagram page to come with kimchi, I received a side of the KMMP, which I did not find to my sensibilities, at least with eating this dish. I have never seen peas in KMMP and did not particularly enjoy the texture or taste, at least in rating it as a side dish to the sundubu-jjigae.

A cold side dish of kimchi would be nice, proving spice and cold crunch, but wish it also came with pickled radishes and other refreshing sides of the sort. The KMMP was not a great choice as a side for my order unfortunately. It was too heavy and did not complement the sundubu-jjigae whatsoever.

I will be coming back for this dish however. I am very glad we have a Korean restaurant that serves this dish. I hope in the future vegetarian accommodations can possibly be made to this dish so I may share it with...

The reason I am writing this review is that I want this business to succeed. I want Lawrence to have a decent Korean restaurant.

To those of you saying how authentic it is, please put your hand on your heart and tell everyone here, in Korea, they cook jjajangmyeon with spaghetti noodles. To the owner/or possibly the owner’s friends: please just try to focus on making decent food instead of trying to right the wrongs by writing how authentic the food is. I believe 95% of the people in Lawrence have not been to Korea, so there is no point in saying how authentic it is. However, I love Korean food, and I understand that everyone has different tastes. I’ve traveled to many countries, states, and cities, and I can tell you none of the dishes I had here tasted like 12 years of Korean restaurant experience in Los Angeles.

I've had jjajangmyeon, bibimbap, and sweet & sour pork. Jjajangmyeon - the sauce is so so so watery and not flavorful at all. Pork? Where is the pork? The meat portion was a shame. Bibimbap - the price point of this dish is outrageous. $15 for just a bowl of veggie rice, $2 for maybe 2oz of minced beef, and $1 for an egg. That’s $18. Oh, and they didn’t include the gochujang (bibimbap sauce). I have to ask for it. Sweet & Sour pork - more like sweet & sour batter. Someone on Yelp said, “It was 90% batter, 10% meat”, and that is precisely what I felt; I am glad I am not the only one. It made my jaw sore after a few bites.

My review might seem harsh, but again, I sincerely want this business to succeed in this town. Lawrence doesn't have much choice for Korean food, and I sincerely hope this is not the reason you choose to cook this way. I will be back one day, and hopefully, you can...

How is it that a Korean restaurant like Café The Mani exists in Lawrence? Residents there are so lucky!

The Jjamppong tastes just like what I had in Korea—rich and full of depth. The Donkatsu is generously portioned, and the accompanying sauce pairs perfectly with it. I’ve tried both the Beef Kimbap and Vegetable Kimbap, and honestly, I could eat them every day without getting tired of them. The secret sauce that comes with it is truly a masterpiece!

Now, let’s talk about the Tteokbokki—this is unlike any other tteokbokki in the world. It’s not overly spicy, yet so delicious that you just keep reaching for more. This special recipe is only available here!

And of course, the Fried Chicken needs no explanation. You can taste the expertise in every bite—it’s impossible for it to be anything but incredible.

The Patbingsu and Strawberry Bingsu are the perfect way to end a meal—they are just the right level of sweetness without being overwhelming. The clean, light sweetness pairs beautifully with the fresh ice, making me want to come back for more!

One thing I’ve noticed after dining here is that even hours later, I don’t feel sluggish or overly thirsty. It seems they don’t use artificial seasonings, which makes everything taste natural and healthy.

This place offers truly wholesome flavors, and I highly recommend it to everyone!

Why is Café The Mani only in Lawrence? I envy you, Lawrence locals! Please consider opening a...