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“Wow, this is incredible…!”
The moment the dish arrived at our table, I couldn’t help but exclaim in amazement. Standing before us was literally a “wall” made of meat. The cross-sections of wagyu beef were stacked like a diorama, creating an incredibly impressive sight.
This is the signature dish at “Korean Dining Manre,” currently creating a buzz in Osaka’s culinary scene. Their Mul-galbi (Water Beef Ribs) hot pot has gone viral on social media and frequently appears on TV shows – and seeing it in person, I immediately understood why.
But the striking presentation is just the beginning. The pot is actually filled with plenty of vegetables, making it especially popular among female diners. Plus, the restaurant’s atmosphere, inspired by Korean street food stalls, offers a trendy dining space perfect for dates, girls’ nights out, or casual drinking parties.
Today, I’ll introduce you to this photogenic and delicious new-style Korean dining experience I discovered in Dotonbori.
Korean Dining Manre is located in Osaka’s Dotonbori district. Their signature dish, the Mul-galbi hot pot, featuring Japanese wagyu beef and abundant vegetables, has become a viral sensation for a “special reason.” This Korean restaurant, frequently featured on TV shows, is particularly popular among young diners.
Manre’s popular dish is their super-sized Mul-galbi. The visual impact is extraordinary! The detailed presentation, resembling a towering wall of meat, has become a hot topic and is frequently featured on TV shows.
Meat, meat, and more meat everywhere you look! It’s a heavenly sight for beef lovers.
But don’t worry! Along with the beef, there’s plenty of garlic chives, enoki mushrooms, bean sprouts, and other vegetables for a well-balanced meal. While it looks like a mountain of meat, it’s actually constructed with vegetables hidden inside. The meat essentially forms the outer wall of this culinary architecture.
The pot is simmering… can’t wait for it to be ready…!!
Once it’s boiling, the staff will break down the meat wall to complete the dish. Hidden ingredients like rice cakes emerge, transforming it into the traditional Mul-galbi presentation.
See? Once it’s ready, it looks quite manageable to eat, doesn’t it?
While this viral dish has an impressive appearance, the portion size is actually quite standard, making it accessible even for female diners.
However, note that it requires a minimum order of two portions, so we recommend visiting with at least one other person (¥2,398 per portion)
You might be wondering, what exactly is Mul-galbi?
Mul-galbi is a dish where beef ribs are simmered together with vegetables in a flavorful broth. Unlike grilled galbi, the key point here is that the meat is cooked in broth.
The name “Mul” (물, meaning water) comes from the fact that this dish is served in a soup base.
While beef galbi typically brings to mind grilled meat, the beef used in Mul-galbi is sliced much thinner than regular grilling cuts. This means it contains less fat than typical galbi, and combined with the soup base, offers a lighter, refreshing taste that’s very popular in Korea.
Besides beef, the dish typically includes vegetables like radish, green onions, mushrooms, and garlic. The broth is seasoned with a sweet and spicy blend, sometimes incorporating Korean soy sauce or gochujang (red pepper paste).
Mul-galbi itself is more of a regional specialty in Korea rather than a nationwide dish. It’s particularly famous in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, and Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province (in Jeonju, it’s known as a local specialty).
To draw a parallel with Japanese cuisine, it’s similar to how Hakata is known for motsu-nabe or Akita for kiritanpo-nabe.
Manre’s menu features all the Korean staples like kimchi, pancakes, and yangnyeom chicken. They also offer dishes like oden-tang and steamed eggs, which is great for Korean food enthusiasts looking for more authentic options.
Yangnyeom Chicken
Cheese Steamed Egg
The prices, including appetizers, are quite reasonable. The clientele is mostly young people like university students, indicating it’s an accessible and welcoming establishment.
| Menu | Price |
|---|---|
| Mul - galbi | ¥2,398 |
| Chiritari Nabe | ¥2,398 |
| Nakgopse | ¥2,728 |
| Army Stew | ¥2,268 |
| Menu | Half | Regular |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese Wagyu Bulgogi | ¥715 | ¥1,320 |
| Stir - fried Tripe (Gochujang or Soy Sauce Base) | ¥715 | ¥1,320 |
| Stir - fried Pork with Kimchi | ¥649 | ¥1,188 |
| Stir - fried Squid | ¥693 | ¥1,265 |
| Menu | Half | Regular |
|---|---|---|
| Plain Fried Chicken | ¥616 | ¥1,056 |
| Yangnyeom Chicken | ¥649 | ¥1,089 |
| Yangnyeom Mayo Chicken | ¥649 | ¥1,089 |
| Honey Mustard Chicken | ¥649 | ¥1,089 |
| Magma Chicken | ¥693 | ¥1,133 |
| Menu | Price |
|---|---|
| French Fries | ¥528 |
| Manre - size Fries ★Triple the regular portion - great value!!★ | ¥1,078 |
| Fried Rice Cakes | ¥605 |
| Menu | Price |
|---|---|
| Manre Soft Tofu Stew | ¥968 |
| Tripe Soft Tofu Stew | ¥1,188 |
| Seafood Soft Tofu Stew | ¥1,320 |
| Spicy Beef Soup | ¥1,408 |
| Fermented Soybean Stew | ¥1,012 |
| Rice in Soup | ¥968 |
| Bibimbap | ¥1,045 |
| Stone Bowl Bibimbap | ¥1,210 |
| Spicy Ramen Fried Rice | ¥979 |
| Spicy Ramen Stir - fried Noodles | ¥935 |
| Original Spicy Ramen | ¥880 |
| White Rice | ¥220 |
| Seaweed Soup | ¥770 |
| Egg Soup | ¥770 |
| Menu | Price |
|---|---|
| Korean Pancake | ¥803 |
| Kimchi Pancake | ¥913 |
| Seafood Pancake | ¥1,078 |
| Corn Pancake | ¥858 |
| Natto Pancake | ¥935 |
| Pork Pancake | ¥1,023 |
| Menu | Price |
|---|---|
| Manre Kimbap | ¥803 |
| Manre Kimchi Kimbap | ¥868 |
| Kim - cheese Kimbap | ¥990 |
| Bulgogi Kimbap | ¥1,210 |
| Spicy Minced Meat Kimbap | ¥935 |
| Egg Kimbap | ¥748 |
| Menu | Price |
|---|---|
| Vegetables and Wagyu Japchae | ¥880 |
| Bossam | ¥748 |
| Steamed Egg | ¥858 |
| Cheese Steamed Egg | ¥1,023 |
| Spicy Minced Meat Steamed Egg | ¥968 |
| Korean Seaweed | ¥308 |
| Kimchi Platter | ¥748 |
| Cabbage Kimchi | ¥385 |
| Cucumber Kimchi | ¥440 |
| Radish Kimchi | ¥385 |
| Namul Platter | ¥638 |
| Bean Sprout Namul | ¥352 |
| Carrot Namul | ¥352 |
| Spinach Namul | ¥440 |
| Kimchi Tofu | ¥440 |
The restaurant’s interior is decorated in a Korean street food stall style.
While the space is compact, this actually adds to its charm, creating an authentic Korean street food atmosphere.
The seating consists mainly of tables for four and two, making it perfect for dates, girls’ nights out, or small group gatherings. The two-person tables also make it comfortable for solo diners.
The meat wall Mul-galbi is undeniably Instagram-worthy. But its greatest charm lies in the “deliciousness” and “fun” that goes beyond the presentation.
From the vegetable-rich, healthy Mul-galbi to classic Korean dishes and authentic specialties, everything is prepared with care. Even those who visit after seeing it on TV or social media won’t be disappointed by the quality.
The Mul-galbi, in particular, perfectly balances visual impact with taste, representing the “now” of Korean cuisine. While being conscious of social media appeal, the attention to taste and portion size is equally impressive.
The reasonable prices make it accessible to everyone from students to office workers. Combined with the Korean street food-style decor, it offers an authentic Korean dining experience in a casual atmosphere.
If you’re looking for Korean food in Dotonbori, this is definitely a spot worth recommending. As a serious Korean restaurant that works well for various occasions – be it dates, girls’ nights out, or friendly gatherings – we encourage you to give it a try.
