Waitress, who also turned out to be the chef, sorted through the pile of menus and came up with two…read morethat were in Spanish (on the right). It shows seven dishes - four soups (kimchi & pork, chicken & potato, fish, bean), and three spicy stir-fries (pork, squid, beef). The stack of menus happened to be on a counter next to our table, and looking over, it was obvious that there was a more extensive menu - I mean, nineteen dishes listed, including four that are marked for two or more people. Called her over and she admitted there were indeed more dishes - some noodle dishes, and some other things - it was a little vague. Cue the Google camera translator. It doesn't do so well with handwritten Korean, but it did pick up... "dumplings". Hmmm.... "Do you have mandu like it says here?" "Yes, in a noodle soup." One dish picked.
Our ban chan arrived - a smaller selection that at most places, or, really not, a smaller selection that at the big barbecue joints, but about right for the places that serve other stuff. And, all good, and, no waste, as we finished it all over the course of the meal.
So, indeed, it turns out to be dumplings, mandu, in a noodle soup. Three dumplings and a whole lot of noodles. All good, nice and al dente, and the filling packed with garlic chives and pork. The soup broth a little light on flavor, a sort of basic stock, but a request for gojuchang had her beaming, "You know gojuchang???" And then she gave me a rapid fire description of how she makes her own. Added a good dollop, and that handled the broth. (160 pesos)
Our other choice, the spicy kimchi and pork soup, which was spicy, and delicious, and packed with both of those ingredients, plus a good amount of tofu, and a side bowl of rice to add to it. We added it all. Another winner. (150 pesos)
We'd considered adding a third dish to our order to share - glad we didn't, these are really generous portions, and for the price, basically $9-10 per plate, a bargain. We'll happily return here in the future.