diary of a MAD HUNGRY WOMAN

The adventures of a Mad Hungry Woman

  • Home
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Delish Dish
  • Anecdotes
  • Sponsored
  • Newsworthy
  • ABOUT MHW
    • FULL BIO

Dumpling & Noodle House

May 12, 2011 Mad Hungry Woman 2 Comments

I’ve been here many times and through the years I’ve managed to weed out what I don’t like and stick with what I like.

I don’t know why it has such bad reviews on Yelp, but I figure if you go to a Korean joint and order “Japanese” food and then complain about it not being good — well, I don’t know what to say.

Dumplings & Noodles is a Korean establishment and serves predominantly Korean style dishes but there is also ramen, udon, Japanese curry, katsu, teriyaki and tempura on the menu. I pretty much stick to what I like and that means the Korean offerings.

I usually come here with my friends Lena and Jenny, both Korean, and we always order steamed dumplings, #1 on the menu ($5.52). I’m really picky when it comes to dumpling — well, maybe not only dumplings — and the wrapper and filling has to be just right or else it ruins the entire eating experience.

These are in my top three Korean-style dumplings in Orange County, and that says a lot. The filling has a good vegetable to meat ratio and that is very important to me. I loathe dumplings that are  filled with mostly meat because the inside becomes a hard lump. The moisture from the vegetables help keep it a good consistency.

Generally, steamed dumplings tend to be drier than boiled dumplings but these are so good with no sign of dryness at all.

You can create your own dipping sauce from the condiments available on the table — soy, vinegar and a sprinkle of chili powder is what I like.

Chewy cold noodles and vegetables with chili sauce #44 ($7.36) are indeed chewy and so refreshing on a hot day.

The sauce is made from gojujang (Korean red chili paste), vinegar and sugar, so the end result is tart, slightly sweet noodle dish with a kick to it. Julienned cucumbers, soybean sprouts and shredded lettuce are mixed in and half a boiled egg lends a little protein to the dish. It is quite delicious.

I make kimchi fried rice at home with very fermented kimchi. The version here — stir fried rice with kimchi #90 ($8.28) — is milder than what I’m used to which means fresher kimchi is used.

It is topped with a fried egg — a really soft and runny one — and when broken into, the runny yolk oozes onto the rice making it even tastier than ever. I’m such a sucker for a runny yolk!

Kimchi dumplings are good too if you are a fan of kimchi. If you are not, well I don’t know why you would even go eat Korean food — just kidding! There are so many different things to eat in Korean cuisine that you can bypass kimchi altogether if you wanted to.

They do give you three types of banchan — kimchi, vinegared daikon cubes and Japanese pickled daikon called takuan, but they are lame.

There is a reason why the name of the place is Dumplings & Noodles. My advice is to stick with the Korean fare — namely, dumplings and noodles — and stay away from the items they borrow from other cuisines.

Dumpling & Noodle House
13256 Jamboree Road
Irvine, CA 92602
714-508-8989

Dumpling and Noodle House on Urbanspoon

dumplings, Korean, noodles, Orange CA, Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Lindsey@Lindselicious says

    May 12, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    Hi Anita, I found your blog through Priscilla at She’s Cooking! I can’t wait to read more of your foodie adventures, I dont make it down to the OC that often anymore but now I will know where to go when I do!

    Reply
    • Mad Hungry Woman says

      May 12, 2011 at 2:15 pm

      Thanks Lindsey, I write about LA restaurants too, although not as often as OC ones — thank you for reading.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Socialize with me:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Blog Updates via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

About Me

This blog is a journal of mostly my eating adventures, but also, other things I'm passionate about, including travel, the arts, and also, necessities to complete my life. Centered predominantly in and around Orange County, CA, some will extend to Los Angeles, San Diego and beyond. I am constantly searching for delicious food to eat and fun things to do, nothing is out of bounds. Sometimes it doesn't end well, but I can definitely say, it will always be an interesting journey.

Search my adventures

Affiliations:

LDEI

Recent Posts

  • a Taste of Beauty for the soul
  • seafood galore in Mexico City
  • A at Crystal Cove
  • Ear buds that are truly noise canceling
  • Le Shrimp Ramen revamped

Archives

Categories

Lifestyles & Happenings

Goodbye 2020, Welcome 2021

Delish Dish

DELISH DISH: wild boar chili

DELISH DISH: tempura cauliflower

DELISH DISH: Crab Congee

Newsworthy

Ear buds that are truly noise canceling

delectable date-sweetened chocolates from Dateolate

spiked coffee at your fingertips

Copyright © 2025 · Daily Dish Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in