Myung In Dumplings

This is one of the three Myung In Dumplings in LA /​OC area and Anthony Bourdain (the host of CNN’s «Parts Unknown») visited the Koreatown location (
). Myung In Dumplings is located inside the S-​Mart (Korean supermarket) and it only accepts take-​out.
Note: $ 10 minimum charge for credit cards and there’s an ATM (Pacific City Bank) right next to the S-​Mart. I actually ordered first, realized that I didn’t have enough cash, drove to the nearest Bank of America, and came back 15 minutes later to pick up my order. Most dumplings are priced at $ 8 ~ $ 10 and you can request for half & half (e.g. two pork & vegetable + two pork & kimchi instead of four of each item).
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#1 King Steam Dumpling w/​Pork & Vegetable (Wang Mandoo) + #5 Steam Red Bean Dumpling (half & half, four buns for $ 8): The word «dumpling» is pretty misleading … these are actually BUNS (as in baozi or bao). King steam dumpling were basically a slightly bigger version of San Gabriel 99 Ranch Market’s pork & vegetable buns. This is from my SGV (San Gabriel Valley) perspective, but I had so many of these buns (both pork & vegetable AND red bean) in my lifetime that I think $ 8 is a rip-​off for four over-​sized average tasting buns (fillings were not good enough to justify its hefty price). It also came with a complimentary pickled radish with jalapenos.
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I think I will stick with the sushi stand (
) and Korean fried chicken stand (
) next time I re-​visit the S-​Mark.

Their sell delicious dumpling, but today I saw the lady in the counter picking her nose. Not so hygienic :(

I usually get sushi next «stand» but thought I’d try the King Steam Dumplings with pork and veggies for a change. Not sure what the hype is about. My order was ready pretty fast. No line at 1pm on a weekday. 2 solid stars all for the fluffy fresh (bao) dough. However as far as the filling… huge disappointment. It was tasteless, could use some salt or soy seasoning. Also it looks and totally tasted like cheap fillings of glass noddles and cabbage. I didn’t even taste pork! It was interesting to finally try but I’ll stick to my go-​to bao place.

Love they have a South Bay location. Things to keep in mind, take out only. Grab and take over to Wilson Park. I love their red bean! Never been a kimchi fan so I went with with pork and veggies. These things are as big as your head and made right in front of you. Will be back and back.

Call ahead so you don’t have to wait unless your shopping at the market. The vegi dumplings are my favorite #6. The king dumplings are also decent. *** The number 10 kimchee pork dumplings were horrible almost to the point of in-​edible.*** Avoid those at all cost. I’ve also tried the red bean it’s decent. Those are the only ones I tried and I plan on trying some more types in the future.

Huh? «Sold out» of Kalbi tang again? Whoever discovered their best item on the menu is ordering out of my favorite beef short ribs soup! I’m not sure if they’re holding out or really out or only making limited amount each day, or no longer making profits on these but it’s the only thing (and #14) that could keep this place going for everything else is just mediocre. I grew up eating dumplings and these dumplings skin is way too think, and too much cheap fillings. in my opinion.
Its owned by Chinese serving Korean food… just like a Vietnamese Phở restaurant owned by Koreans. as the Seinfeld show would say, «Not that theres’s anything wrong with that!»

Yummy dumplings and baos. Had the pork and veggie (i think it’s just green onion) bao looking one. And the pork and shrimp dumpling. They’re tasty and delicious with their pickled ban chan it kimchee.
Inside SMart market and only to go.

I didn’t come here because Anthony Bourdain did. I came here because I was hungover and I wanted some yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) to help me out. I also wanted to try their King mandu (steamed pork & vegetable dumplings/​buns). Myung In is located in the S-​Mart Market on Crenshaw & Torrance in Torrance. There is another sit down location in K-​Town on Olympic.
I went w/​some co-​workers and we all ordered yukgaejang ($ 10) and we decided to split the mandu ($ 7 for 4). First of all, the mandu were excellent. They were loaded with pork & veggies, and weren’t all doughy like a lot of places: 5 Stars. Secondarily, the yukgaejang was very good. The broth had depth, and nice heat to it. There was plenty of meat and veggies, when combined with the ban chan and rice, made for a hearty meal. However, it was not as good as the yukgaejang at Jang Mo Jip in Garden Grove: 3.5 Stars.
The ambiance is nothing, because this is a take-​out place, and there is no place to sit inside, or outside the market: 3 Stars. Regarding the service, it was very good. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the beef rib soup, but yukgaejang is good for hangover or a cold: 4 Stars.
I would come back, but I wish they would put some picnic benches outside, or inside the market. It would be so much nicer to eat on the premises and not have to take the food back to the office.

Came here after hearing the original location was on Anthony bourdain. Was really excited. A bit of a let down though.
Ordered both the kimchi and pork (king) dumplings which are really more like Chinese baos. I really wanted them to be good but they were just average.
Located inside the supermarket.

I used to love this place.
Their tasteful dumplings were my go to comfort food…
Unti…
Today…
I got my usual spicy shrimp and pork dumpling.
But what my $ 10 got me was invisible shrimp flavored and chunks of pork fat wrapped in to a dumpling.
Middle of my second one I kept feeling this disgusting lump.
I spit the dumpling out and it was literally huge chunks of pork fat!!!
I thought maybe it’s just that dumpling so I moved on to the third one and again… That chunk of fat.
So I decided to just open up every dumpling they were ALL filled with mixture of some pork meat and huge chunk of pork fat. It was enough fat to give you an instant heart attack.
I was so disgusted.
You don’t mess with food… That’s just wrong…
Why would you sell chunks of fat for $ 10…
My mouth still feels greasy… I need to go wash my mouth out…

The dumplings are wonderful! Very good quality dumplings all made to order. I ordered their steamed pork and veggies (money bags dumpling), I would have to say they are delicious. They don’t over season their dumplings which I love since everyone’s taste is so different. If you eat them plain you may think it kind of bland but add your sauces and viola so delicious! Plus I make my own dim sum sauce which hits the spot perfectly!

Always down for #1 and #6 steamed mandu! Personally I like the veggie mandu better; it’s steamed to perfection and the veggies are fresh.
Located in S Mart, to the left side of the store when you walk in. Calling in would be the move.

Fresh dumplings from the popular Myung In Dumplings! I am so happy to try out this place made famous by Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown show.
It is not hard to see why this place became popular after the show aired. How can one not like a place that specializes in fresh dumplings. It’s dumplings, dumplings and more dumplings here! It’s simply dumpling galore here where they make all kinds of dumplings from scratch. They’ve got steamed dumplings, fried dumplings, dumpling soup and dumpling casserole! They’ve got dumplings with vegetables, dumplings with pork, dumplings with shrimp and dumplings with red bean! It’s like fifty shades of dumplings lol!
So far, I got to try out the following:
#1 King steam dumpling: these are huge steamed buns and not your traditional dumplings. It is filled with pork and vegetables.
#9 Dumpling beef soup: this soup comes with eight beef dumplings and glass noodles.
#13 Beef short rib soup: this soup comes with three beef short ribs and glass noodles.
Everything I tried was so fulfilling! They are not stingy on their ingredeints. They give plenty. It’s good quality and tasty as well! The dumpling beef soup was my favorite. The dumplings were soft and very tasty. The beef short rib soup was just so-​so for me.
For future trips, I hope to check out the steam dumpling with sweet red bean, the fried dumplings and the dumpling casserole! Dumpling days in the future are in order! :)

I was so happy when I heard they opened in Torrance inside S Mart. I honestly am not a fan of dumplings/​dimsums but I buy them for family and friends.
I wanted to ask some questions about the dumplings but the lady at the cashier did not know how to speak English or Korean so I had hard time communicating. I tried but she wouldnt get it so I just gave up.
I got Korean Style Dumplings and boiled dumplings for $ 8 each. It was good but it wasnt as good as I expected. I was expecting the wrapper to be thin but it was rather thick and I didnt like that. My boyfriend did like his Korean Style Dumplings but I dont think he was WOWed by it.
My order came out pretty quick even though she told me it will take 10 mins. I liked the pickled radish they give you which complements the dumplings. That was definitely a plus! They also provide a small portion of cabbage salad with some dressing already on top!

Really good dumplings, and even better that there’s a south bay location! The #1 is really all you need, so good! I tried the red bean dumplings as well and didn’t care for them. After you place your order, stick around and watch the chef mold the dumplings while you wait. The process is absolutely beautiful.

I had #4 dimsums. They are freshly made and steamed, so it’s best when you eat it right away. There were about 10 dimsums in the box, and it was warm and juicy! $ 10 can seem pricy, but if you are a dimsum fan and are in a need of some hot delicious dimsum, this is the place to be.
Bring cash for transactions less than $ 10 (dimsum you can pay with a card)
*haru sushi next door are WOW too!

Tried the new food stand in S Mart today.
I haven’t been to the Ktown location, so I can’t compare. This one is take-​out only with 10 or 11 items on the menu. You can order and go grocery shop, it will take about 10 – 15 minutes since they make it fresh after every order.
Chinese call them wantons, Japanese call them gyoza, Koreans call them mandoo. However you call them, they’re delicious and just slightly different depending on their ethnic origin. Koreans cook them in a number of different ways, steamed, pan fried, or in soups, and all different sizes too.
The specialty at this place is King Mandoo, which is their humongous dumpling in a light, doughy exterior, different from the typical mandoo skin. They have the regular kind too, if you prefer.
Like most people, I saw the Anthony Bourdain show on Myung In, so I had been curious to try it.
We ordered:
— King mandoo with pork and veggies. The flavor was a little bland, but I really liked the dough. Reminded me of jjimppang (which is a bread they sell in Asia with red bean paste inside), and because they’re huge, you only need 1 or 2 per person. There was 4 in one order that was 8 dollars.
— regular dumplings with pork and shrimp. There wasn’t too much shrimp in the filling, which was a bummer, but the dumplings were very good. Cooked well and the skin was really fresh.
–A side of pickled veggies, which was delish! Loved it.
Overall, I enjoyed my take out here. It would be best to share so you can try different items. You can watch them make the dumplings while you wait for the order, it’s pretty entertaining watching them roll out the dumpling skin and shape the dumplings before they’re cooked.
PS I let Unilocal know that the name of this business is misspelled so hopefully they will fix it soon. Also it’s under Desserts category, and it shouldn’t be.

I AM SO THRILLED THEY OPENED A MYUNG IN DUMPLING IN TORRANCE!!! This place has legit, delicious, and homemade dumplings for a reasonable price. They are absolutely addicting.
The original location (in Koreatown) is always packed but NOW I am happy to say that I do not have to drive down the 110 freeway to get ahold of these bad boys. Myung In Dumpling was featured in Anthony Bourdain’s Part Unknown and ever since then, this place has blown up. It is also featured in LA Weekly’s 2014 list of «99 most essential restaurants in Los Angeles». So now you know you have to go!
I am a huge fan of their #1 which is 4 steamed dumplings for only $ 7.50! I would give this a ⁵⁄₅ hands down. The dumplings are pretty big and one tends to fill me up. The inside of this dumpling has the perfect amount of vegetables and pork. Delicious! You are given complimentary radishes, pickles, and jalapeños as well that give these dumplings that extra kick. These steamed dumplings are so fluffy and light as a cloud. The outside exterior is also slightly sweet. I always buy a few box home and put it in the fridge to eat for breakfast. I seriously cannot emphasize how much I am obsessed with these steamed dumplings.
I’ve had their red bean dumplings as well which are good for when you are in a sweeter mood. I would give these a ⁴⁄₅ because the red beans aren’t too sweet and the outside texture is so fluffy and delicious.
The fried shrimp and pork dumplings are okay. I would give them a ³⁄₅. They’re not as good in comparison to the king steamed dumplings. The outside exterior isn’t as crunchy as I’d like. I’m also really used to Japanese gyozas, which I personally think are much more flavorful than these fried dumplings.
Overall, if you do decide to come here, you have to get the king steamed dumplings! I bought a box yesterday and only have 1 left sadly :(It is also a quick place to order your food and take it to go!

I can’t believe it’s finally open. The first time i heard of Myung In Dumplings was from the Anthony Bourdain’s show. My wife and I were in Koreatown and visited their original restaurant. I really loved it.
When I found out they were going to open a to-​go shop in Torrance (inside S Mart), i was happy. The quality of the food is excellent. I’m so happy that I don’t have to drive to Koreatown when I’m feeling for their dumplings. #2 the steamed bun with pork and kimchi is a must try.
The best thing to do when ordering is to call in. You might have to wait 10 minutes because the cook the dumplings. Other thing also CASH ONLY…

Ok, I’m not sure how long this infamous Myung In Dumpling has been in Torrance but hiyaaa I’m happy! It’s located inside S-​Mart Korean supermarket. For some of you who has never been inside S-​Mart, there’s a mini food court on the left side when you enter the store. There are 4 little individual food shops. Before Myung In Dumplings came along, I used to go to Haru sushi right next to it.
Myung In Dumplings have 3 locations: Los Angeles, Garden Grove and… TORRANCE! (Go Torrance!)
I’ve tried the one in LA before and didn’t seem to enjoy it as much but this time… I’m not sure if my taste buds had changed or they just make it better at the Torrance location but they were a lot more enjoyable.
They have a wide variety of stuff to choose from for being such a small shop, but I’ve tried their #1: King steam dumpling with pork and vegetables $ 7.50 in 4 pieces. They don’t call it King for nuttin cuz they were BAMmmm… huge dumplings! What I liked about it is that the bread was moist and soft and the most memorable was the stuffing. They really packed that thang, they were not stingy on their ingredients! As for the flavor, I think it was just a little bland. It comes with a small container of pickled veggies which you’re suppose to eat with. Regardless, I enjoyed the dumplings and will come back to try other items.
Another thing we got was #14 Yookgaejiang. Spicy beef and vegetable soup. for $ 10.00. It came with a small container of kimchi and white rice.
Now I’m a big Yookgaejiang snob. I swore by the one from Hodori in Ktown but Myung In Dumpling’s was not too shabby. The soup flavor was excellent. It was flavorful and hearty but I felt like they skimp out on the beef. They could put more beef in the soup. The one in Ktown gives you so much that I could barely finish sometimes.
They also have something sweet. Which is the #5 Steam dumpling with sweet red bean. I would like to try that next time. I think it’s great to be able to place an order and then go about with your shopping at the same time. Now folks, be mindful that they only accept CASH.
***Anthony Bourdain digs those dumplings too*** Pics of him attached taken with the owner.