A solid place to sample Korean-style dumplings in Seoul is Bukchon Son Mandu (북촌손만두). You’ll know you’re in the right place when you spot stacks of bamboo baskets and clouds of billowing steam. The Insadong institution often has a line, but waits rarely exceed 15 minutes. If you’ve never tried mandu before, the combination dumplings (8,000 won or $7 USD) are the way to go: The platter comes with three steamed dumplings, three fried dumplings, and three juicy pork balls (no skin). Dipped in vinegar and soy sauce, the fried mandu are crispy and chewy on the outside, succulent and porky inside. Additional fillings of fresh vegetables and chopped noodles help distinguish these dumplings from their smaller, daintier Chinese cousins. Orders of three (3,000 won or $2.62) are good for snacking on the run, or you can grab a table at the Bukchon Son Mandu’s spacious sister outpost in Dongdaemun.

153-1 Insadong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea; +82-2-735-1238.