Mandu Starts Happy Hour

Considering it's dark by like 5 p.m. these days, it seems perfectly appropriate to start drinking as early as your job allows. The newest addition to D.C.'s healthy happy hour scene is Mandu, which just started its specials today. The new Korean restaurant is offering $3 orders of mandu (six pieces, regularly $4.95) and half price sojutinis in flavors like peach and pineapple at the bar from 4-7 p.m.

During dinner this weekend, I went for the aloe (potential ingredient trend alert!) sojutini, which was sweet and refreshing. We also put away an order of pan-fried beef and pork mandu (the dumplings the restaurant is named for), the kalbi (grilled short ribs with vegetables and rice) and the bibim bap in a hot stone bowl, which pleasingly sizzled for the duration of the meal. The latter comprises a base of rice topped with mushrooms and other vegetables, beef and a fried egg that was still cooking when it arrived. A spicy sauce served alongside adds a little punch.

After his first bite of the short ribs, my boyfriend (who is often a harsh critic of restaurants) announced, "We should come here every week." A rare proclamation to say the least.

The kim chee, spicy pickled cucumber and spinach that comes with the meal was also delicious.

All in all, Mandu is shaping up to be a great addition to the neighborhood.

Mandu
1805 18th St. NW
202.588.1540