MDK Noodles (Myung Dong Kyoja) / Ramen Alley

Typical Korean spot. Perfectly sized for Bellaire. It’s always busy, so I today I stopped in after the lunch rush…around 2:15. The pace was largely empty and I got to try the spicy kalguksu. It was pretty good. The spicy broth was a bit overpowering but much healthier than ramen. I should’ve tried the original. Next time, I’ll order some of the dumplings. The mini dumplings in the soup did not have any taste and I didn’t end up finishing them, but the soup was hearty. See pics of menu and video of the noodles. They were fresh, not hand pulled like I said in my video. :) the service was good. Bathrooms were okay, the dining Space felt like I was in Seoul. The banchan was simple. You have a dongchimi and a grab kimchi which are staples for a kalguksu place. This is right NEXT to mochinut but I do not like this parking lot and my car has been scratched and dinged lots in this strip mall… so FYI but it’s a nice Korean eatery in Bellaire. I’d def come back to dry just dumplings and the cold noodles and other boonshik. There is a good variety of Korean noodles and fast food type of quick dishes to choose from. My server (the only server at this time) was a tatted Korean female. She was great. She was professional, perfectly energetic without being in your face. I had a comfortable meal, alone, and she was efficient without rushing me

We went here for dinner on Friday. The place is spacious and clean. Our waiter gave us barley tea to try. We also asked for water if we didn’t want the tea. We tried kimchi pork dumplings, seafood pancake, galbi, and bulgogi bibimbap with fried egg. The banchan (Kimchi and vinegary cabbage) were homemade and gave each one of us our own separate ones. You can ask for more if you wanted to. We will definitely come back and try their other dishes.

My recent visit to MDK NOODLES has solidified its place as a top contender for the best Korean food in Houston. The star of the show, without a doubt, is their incredible handmade noodles. The cold chewy noodles with bulgogi were a revelation – the texture of the noodles was perfectly springy and satisfying, and the combination with the sweet and savory bulgogi was simply divine. The seafood pancake was another highlight, boasting a delightful crispiness and a generous amount of fresh seafood. The kimchi with pork dumplings were juicy and flavorful, with the perfect balance of spice and savory pork. What truly sets MDK noodles apart is the exceptional quality of their ingredients and the care put into each dish. The side dishes were also noteworthy, with incredibly generous portions and a fantastic variety. And the kimchi? Absolutely the best I've tasted in Houston – perfectly fermented and bursting with flavor. The atmosphere is relaxed and inviting, with a genuinely chill vibe, and the staff were friendly and attentive, making for a truly enjoyable dining experience. If you're looking for authentic, soul-satisfying Korean cuisine, especially handmade noodles that are truly special, MDK noodles is a must-visit.

Our first time here, the kimchi banchan was so tasty. Their Galbi and Bibim Naengmyeon were good. Mul Naengmyeon was a bit salty, we did not enjoy it. Service was nice.

Galbi was some of the best I've had so far in Houston, very nicely flavored. The nengmyun noodles were a bit more pickled/sour-tasting than I've had, but still good. All of the noodles and vegetables tasted great and fresh, although there was not any meat included like at other places we've tried. Service was prompt and polite. Would recommend for anyone wanting to try something different from the usual Korean BBQ joint.

We love MDK. I recommend the beef bulgogi, spicy stir fried squid, and the bibimbap! The kimchi and spinach was fresh. Stop by for your next Korean meal.

Loved their Kimchi and Rice Dumpling Soup. The service was good and you have plenty of sitting space too.

Was looking for a lunch place and decided we wanted noodles. Had no idea there was place like this. Noodles and dumpling mad in house. All the food was hot, fresh and delicious. Thought I was at my mom’s for a minute.

My friends and I go here for the kalguksu. I've only tried the regular chicken one, but it is soooo good! I tried my first kalguksu here and I loved it so much. It felt like an elevated chicken noodle soup. I say that especially because it feels so cozy and warm while you're eating it. The noodles themselves were amazing and every now and then I crave them again. It also comes with a nice sauce and two types of kimchi. I think this korean restaurant has my favorite kimchi I've ever gotten from a korean restaurant. We also tried their shrimp and pork dumplings and their squash pancakes, they were soooo good! Definitely recommend this place and all the dishes mentioned to others!

We went here for dinner on Friday. The place is spacious and clean. Our waiter gave us barley tea to try. We also asked for water if we didn't want the tea. We tried kimchi pork dumplings, seafood pancake, galbi, and bulgogi bibimbap with fried egg. The banchan (Kimchi and vinegary cabbage) were homemade and gave each one of us our own separate ones. You can ask for more if you wanted to. We will definitely come back and try their other dishes.

I have been wanting to try this place for awhile.. but honestly, I was not impressed. I'm giving it a 4, because the dumplings were good and service was nice. We didn't have to wait long for food, although, they were out of the seafood pancake batter. The noodles were eh. Not something I would get again. My friend got the pork dish, and that was good. Bathrooms are clean. Services again, was very nice and efficient.

Enjoyed a nice, big, steaming bowl of kalguksu -- hearty, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. Each order came with two side dishes of kimchi, perfectly complementing the meal. Not my usual preference of kimchi in terms of flavor profile but it was a refreshing crunch to my hearty soup. Note that anything spicy here is actually pretty spicy. The service was friendly, adding to the overall great experience.

MDK Noodles is quickly becoming one of my go-to's in Chinatown when I am feeling hungry or just want a no nonsense good meal. The service is consistently friendly and the food arrives at your table within a reasonable amount of time. The restaurant is never packed but stays busy throughout the night. We did not have to wait very long to get seated as a party of 7. Like many other reviews have stated, their signature Kalguksu is the dish to get. It's a large bowl of perfectly cooked noodles and dumplings enveloped in a rich, hearty, and warming chicken soup. Make sure to add lots of the green onion and garlic sauce to the soup to make it even more rich and savory. Another noodle dish that we frequently order here are the bibimguksu or bibim nengmyun (I believe the only difference in those two types of cold noodles is the types of noodles that they use). The bibim nengmyun features noodles that are bouncier and chewier, while the bibimguksu has noodles that have a very slight herbaceous flavor. Another item to not sleep on is the seafood pancake. The haemul pajeon at MDK is always crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The pancake sauce here is probably my favorite too. MDK serves two types of kimchi--both advertised as made in house / on premises. The white kimchi is sour and slightly sweet, while the red kimchi is spicy, garlicy, and intense. I find that the red kimchi goes amazingly well with the kalguksu or any of their noodle soups and their white kimchi is great with their dumplings. I am a big fan of their kimchi offerings. Unfortunately, during my most recent visit, I found a little twig or stick in my bibim nengmyun. I would have brought this to the server's attention but I found it as I literally took the last bite. Either way, I still believe that MDK is a great spot and a restaurant that has a very long tenure in Houston's Chinatown. The vibes are typically a bit more laid back and relaxed compared to the hustle and bustle and slight craziness of Bellaire.

This is my go-to spot for cold noodles here in Houston. The portion size is honestly huge, and since it's a noodle dish, I find myself getting full each time I go. The flavor is great and especially during this summer heat it's a perfect way to cool off. Service here is good, and they provide you with water for the table. The physical space is good as well, there's usually not a lot of traffic so I have never experienced a wait time for seating. Hours can be confusing, though, as I have encountered a few times where they closed ahead of their posted schedule. Definitely a bit of uncertainty there so I might recommend calling ahead to make sure they're actually open.

My boyfriend was feeling ill so we stopped by here for Spicy Kalguksu. I ordered the Spicy Bibim Nengmyun with bulgogi and pork dumplings to share. If you've never had Korean cold noodles before, this is the perfect restaurant to try it. The portions are large, so you'll never leave hungry. The pork dumplings are so juicy! This place really hit the spot. I appreciate that their food is consistent :) Very cute restaurant and the location is great! Service is pretty quick, too.

MDK is a very famous mandu and noodles spot in Korea. I have been to the original spot in Seoul and it was worth the hype. Everything there was the best I've had of that specific food. Obviously, this is not Korea and I ordered it for delivery so I had to keep my expectations realistic which was a good idea. Don't get me wrong, MDK here was ok but do not have the expectations that it'll be even close to the Korean stuff. The Tteokbbokki was very average. The rice cakes were not very chewy. Sauce was watery. Overall, it wasn't spicy. I would not recommend getting it. 3/10. The bibimbap was decent. There was a good amount of vegetables and the balance between vegetables, rice, and meat was good. It would've been nice if it came with gochujang on the side. 5/10. The rice cake and dumpling soup was meh. The same dish I tried in Korea was full of flavor and had depth to it. The one here tasted similar to what you can get from a plastic bag at the Asian supermarket. 3/10. I really liked how they provided a good amount of kimchi on the side. That was the only banchan provided though. It would've been nice to have some others. I look forward to trying this place out in person next time I'm in Houston and will edit my review if my experience in person is different.

Came here in desperate need of hot soup to get my sinuses running, and this place did wonderfully. Service was great, and the ambience was relaxing. This place offers some of the best kimchi in the town, and they aren't shy about refilling it either. We got the pork dumplings, spicy kalguksu, and bibimguksu w/ bulgogi. Pork dumplings - these were delicious, the skin was thin, it was super juicy almost like a soup dumpling but not quite. Spicy Kalguksu - definitely a good amount of spice in this one, I would say it's on the same level as Buldak's spice. The knife cut noodles were cooked extremely well, tender but not soggy. This dish cured my congestion. Bibimguksu - My partner got this dish and she loves it, it's perfect for a hot summer day, as the sauce is sweet and spicy paired with the chewy cold noodles, and cucumbers makes for a very refreshing combination of flavors. P.S. my favorite thing about MDK is the amount of food that they give you for the price that you pay, you'll definitely be leaving full.

Went here with my daughter bc she heard the food was good. We were definitely not disappointed. We Absolutely loved all our dishes! Service was excellent and the restaurant was simple and quaint. I will be returning for sure!

I recently got to try this place and it's now one of my favorite places to get Korean food in Houston. I especially enjoyed trying the spicy cold noodles which they are known for. The noodles are the perfect level of chewiness and also a good mix of spiciness and flavor. Here's everything I tried: Kimchi - Tasted so fresh, homemade, and authentic. Pretty spicy, and probably the best kimchi I've had in Houston! Rice Cake Soup - The rice cakes were a perfect addition to this yummy soup Mixed Spicy Wheat Noodles - Perfect noodle chewiness texture, also served with veggies and an egg Bulgogi Bibimbap - Served in a stone bowl, so the rice is nice and crispy at the bottom Seafood Pancake - Was made fresh and had a nice crispy texture! Beef Bulgogi - Had a nice sweet flavor, served with rice The lady at the counter is so friendly and the service is very fast and friendly in general.

My friend and I happened to be in bellaire and they didn't want any Chinese food so we decided to go to MDK noodles. I got the kalguksu (knife cut noodle in chicken broth) again and they got the mul nengmyun (arrowroot noodle in cold beef broth). The cold noodles come with some vinegar, mustard, and a pair of scissors. They both come with a side of kimchi and pickled cabbages and radishes. They also provide complimentary barley tea. The kalguksu comes with some kind of meat sauce? The broth is pretty bland at first and you put that sauce in to your liking to add more flavor. It definitely helped, adding savoriness and more depth to the broth. The dumplings were pretty soggy from being in the broth but were pretty decent. They provide a lot of noodles and the portion size is pretty big. I thought it was average but I think it would hit more on a cold day

Craving for noodles and remembered MDK Noodles. Been here a couple of times. When we arrived, it was pretty empty with just another couple eating. We started with the seafood pancake. Taste-wise, it is very good but though they undercooked it as I would have preferred to be a bit toasted esp on the bottom side. We ordered the Kulguksu (noodle with chicken broth) and Galbi (bbq short ribs). Kulguksu was delicious and good for sharing. They also provide a sauce you can add to base on preference. Noodles were firm and minced meat and dumplings complements it well. Galbi is super tasty. Both mains are highly recommended. Good sign is we saw Koreans eating so must be authentic. Place is well lighted and design is clean. There were just one person at the counter and another person cooking so it may take time to get their attention. Will continue to come back whenever we crave for casual Korean noodles/food..

cold noodles in texas's summer heat are a blessing. their bibimguksu was so deliciously chewy, definitely my favorite item. the pork & shrimp dumplings had thin wrappers and a nice flavor. however the bibimbap, bulgogi, and noodle broth were bland even with the sauce, and in quite small portions. we enjoyed the cold barley tea and friendly service a lot though!

Food wasn't good. The taste was just off. Service was meh. Kimchi wasn't good either and they didn't give any other side dish. Won't be returning. Get authentic Korean food somewhere else.

Came in because there was a 50% discount for November. Our server was super nice! Restaurant was relatively busy for there only being one person but she was still able to come to us. The food is extremely photogenic and unfortunately this was the only photo I took before I started eating LOL, but my overall judgement - I wish the kimchi didn't cost anything but it was so good - the spicy noodles were a bit bland but the texture of the noodles were so good - seafood pancake was good - dumplings were perfectly crispy - cold noodles were just a hint of spicy Overall everything was really good! Also the inside is pretty cute.

I love this place! It's definitely one of my favorite places in Chinatown. I wish more people knew about it and came. The food is great they have a good selection but the cold noodles here are some of my favorite, especially the chlorella noodles bc they are easier to chew than the buckwheat. I didn't get a picture of the steam dumplings but they are so good and a must try. Overall all the food is always great. It is such a quick and easy thing to come try and I think the combos are a good deal. The services is always great. There's generally only one person on the floor, but they are on it. It's never crowded when I come so lots of open tables. It's a super open, bright place. It's a great place to eat alone or with groups of people.

I always walk by this place in bellaire but never stepped foot in it, finally decided to try it this new year 2025. And wow! They had some of the best pan fried dumplings ive ever hadddd and the bulgogi was so flavourful and yummy and just blew my expectations. Now the star of the show: spicy kalguksu! It was spicer than expected which is what i like and the portions were huge! The broth is on the thicker side but still yummy . Perfect for this cold weather! Everything was so good im so glad to had checked this place out

I've been to the Koreatown location in CA and fell in love with this place. I wanted to bring my mom here since I saw they opened a location in Houston. I hoped it would be just as good. It was definitely close but not quite there yet. Upon walking in, the place is completely empty. It's a huge location so it was definitely weird to see that we were the only ones there. Later there was one solo diner that came in but that was it. We did come on a weekday lunch though. We ordered the dumpling and rice cake soup, fried dumplings, and a squid dish. The soup was good, but not as flavorful as the LA location unfortunately. However, I really liked the fried dumplings and the squid. The fried dumplings were really crispy and delicious. The squid dish was also good. It came on top of a sizzling pot and on top of a bed of rice. It is quite spicy though. The girl who serviced us was really sweet and nice as well. My mom wants to come back to try the cold noodles. However, it's not comparable to the LA location unfortunately. I wouldn't mind coming back though.

Food was delicious. Serve fresh hot rice was nice and steamy. It didn't taste old seasoned very well. I was not a fan of the broth, but that's a personal thing. Dumplings were not pictured, but very delicious and crisp. Service was great. Staff was friendly, helpful, and informative. Prices were reasonable portion of food was great. The vibe of the place super chill. The bathrooms are nice and clean. Actually the whole restaurant is very clean. Super relaxing place will definitely come back when I don't want to go to the Korean buffet barbecue. Five stars very happy and full.

For a supposed transplant from Los Angeles Ktown, poor job. Hongeo hoe - neither flavor nor aroma, just the chew of skate. Jjajang guksu - sauce tasted as if it was not fried. Mul naengmyeon and bibim naengmyeon - broth lacked depth, noodles had no real chew. Haemul pajeon - average.

Maybe it's wrong for me to compare them with L.A. location, but unfortunately it could not be helped because the remembrance of the taste of the L.A. location was the single reason for picking this MDK as the dinner spot over many other places I was contemplating. This was my family's first time visit to Houston, so when we landed and finally sat in the rental car to open up Yelp to pick a dinner spot, I went into a deep dilemma. I spent no joke, around 15 minutes just sitting there with hangry daughter and wife, trying to decide if I should drive to the coast for some seafood, to find a BBQ spot, or to go for Korean food. I know, I know, we're in Houston. Why wouldn't it ALWAYS be BBQ? Well, in retrospect, I think it ALWAYS should. But I didn't know any better. Both good seafood and good Korean places are all scarce where I live!! So whenever I'm presented with more than one choice for either, I get super tempted. Again, considering the reason why I decided to get a rental car over taking a Lyft was because of the prospect of visiting the Gulf coast, I'm thinking I should have gone with seafood, especially because I DID end up getting some good BBQ the following day. Back to MDK. We had some pan fried mandoo and two types of kalguksoo noodles. Simply put, mandoo stank of boar taint, and noodles were nothing to maul over. MDK in general is known for their hand made noodles, which is supposed to be all about the perfectly chewy texture, and the strongly garlicky flavor of their mandoo + soup stock. Neither existed, which partly explains the boar taint, but doesn't necessarily explain the plainness of the soups. My hunger aside, I knew immediately after the first sip that my wife and daughter were never going to finish. I was dissappointed to say the least. We left wanting to wash our palate with some desert offering in the area, which unfortunayltely lead to even more disappointments.. more on that later.

GREAT VALUE! Ordered the number 1 combo, which comes with #1 hot soup noodle, a #10 cold noodle, and dumplings of your choice. Split between two people, this was more than enough food. A great value at $35. My personal favorite was the hot soup - it was flavorful and the noodles were soft and chewy. The dumplings inside of the soup were delicious as well. The cold noodles were spicy, chewy, and bouncy. We ordered the shrimp and pork dumplings which were reminiscent of Chinese soup dumplings although there was not soup inside of these. Flavor was good but nothing notable. Cons: I think our batch of kimchi was subpar. It was very bitter and thus, not really enjoyable. The white pickled veggies were decent, however. The cold noodles did not come with any meat, just half of an egg for protein. Overall, a solid place with a large variety of hot and cold noodles, dumplings, and meats. I am looking forward to trying some new things on the menu, including the grilled meats.

Pretty solid knife cut noodles! Plenty of space and high ceilings. + Noodle soup hits the spot! + Decent size bowl + Spicy counts towards the combo + Combo is worth it + Has white radish banchan - I arrived earlier than the gf so I was just waiting at the table, they came by several times to ask if I was going to order.

We've started going here more frequently and I can only say that it has quickly become one of the best Korean restaurants for us. The food is always good (we usually go for the grilled meats and dumplings), their kimchi is 10/10! Their white kimchi is out of this world as well. The servers are always so lovely and helpful! Love MDK Noodles! Can't wait to try more of their stuff!

When it's hot as Satan's balls out in Houston, you want spicy and sour cold noodles, this is the spot. We've always passed by this place wanting to try it. We got pan fried dumplings ( never had rectangular shaped dumplings lol), tteobokki and bibimksu. Their noodles and rice cake tasted hand made. I also loved their kimchi! If you really like sour, you'll like this spot. As for spice level, I would say its okay but as soon as u stop eating, u can feel the kick lol One note is that we added beef to the noodles but the beef portion felt rather small. Will want to try their other items next time!

I had been waiting to try this place for a while now and I'm so glad I did! The banchans given were pretty good, only the original kimchi was a little plastic tasting to me. The white kimchi and marinated cucumber were really good though! We ordered the kimchi pancake and fried dumplings as appetizers. The kimchi pancake had well balanced flavors and was great paired with bulgogi meat. The fried dumplings had a nice flavor and great texture, the shape was a bit weird but I would recommend. For entrees we got the bibimguksu and the bulgogi beef. The bibimguksu was perfect for a summer dinner. It was bright and refreshing and the portion was generous so we shared it and I still had leftovers! The bulgogi was so tender and not greasy! This was some of the best bulgogi meat for my preferences. Overall for the portion sizes, the price was fair! I would recommend trying this place, and I will definitely return for noodles and bulgogi!

Got bibim naengmyun and mul naegmyun for to-go. Their to go packaging is super impressive. Noodles were great. Houston's Korean food scene is so sad and lacking but MDK's presence in the city fulfils a little bit of that void.

It was a super hot day and I was really craving cold noodles. I've never tried MDK before but i've always been curious. My partner and I stopped by and got two bowls of noodles with a side of pan fried dumplings. I really wanted to try the steamed dumplings but I was already pretty full from earlier that day. The lady who served us was very nice and polite. The restaurant itself is huge with lots of seating. It was also very clean. I would recommend!

Went in at 11am on a saturday and we were the only people there. Most of the workers were not even in yet. I liked this place a lot, enjoyed the service and options on the menu. The only complaint is that the kimchi was not good. It tasted old and not right. It's literally brown in the picture. Yet the kimchi in our noodles was fresh

So their menu mimics the actual famous myeongdong noodles located in myeongdong Korea. Having been there though, it is a completely different recipe. I personally enjoy MDK noodles for their clean restaurant and even for to-go orders they utilize premium packaging while also giving you a choice of cooked or uncooked noodles. The food is fairly average. Something about this place has me returning nevertheless since there aren't many similar options unless you go into deep korea town where they only speak Korean. Ordered: Pan Fried Dumplings, Knife Cut Noodles in Chicken Broth Would I Go Out of My Way to Try? No Would I Return? Yes Ambiance- 8/10 Food Taste- 6/10 Service- 6/10 Value- 6/10 Date Worthy- No

I've been a few times and it's always good. The hot soups and the beef short ribs are my favorite. They're tender. The remain sizzling on the hot plate for a bit, caramelizing the onions. The cold soups are good too if that's your thing. The waiters are always friendly. Food comes out quickly. I like their combos, which let you try a little of multiple items. It's a good value too. The kimchi is better than some places in the area because it's spicier. Everything is priced similarly to other places on the areas. The place is always clean. No issues. Highly recommend.

Drove around lost in huge shopping center, the sign is on the side of the store. Located next to Bingsu. My cold noodles were yummy, very cold, the broth had a tad kick bc it's in kimichi broth, even though it's not labeled as spicy. Dumplings were crunchy and good but wish they offered some kind of sauce, besides soy and kimichi to dip it in. Cold noodles were a bad idea though on the cold day I went, will definitely come back and get this again on warmer day, great summer lunch, very light and refreshing.

The first thing we noticed here was that the water tasted like japchae. If you drink it before your food comes out, you can definitely tell it has some sort of flavor/greasiness to it. But! Once you start eating your food, it blends in and you can't tell anymore. We ordered the seafood pancake which was super good! It was nice and thick and chewy, but I do think the outside could have been a little crispier. We also got the spicy pork bulgogi. They give a good amount of meat and this was also delicious, but my personal preference would have had a little bit of a sweeter sauce. Overall, everything was still delicious. But since they're called a noodle restaurant, maybe we should have tried some noodles.

I love mask noodle their noodles are so delicious however i had their kimchi pancake and it was way too soggy i'd say they should make it crispier other than that everything else is perfect

Great service-- super prompt. The combos aren't able to be made spicy if not spicy originally even if same price which is fine. I got the spicy kalguksu which had very delicious noodles. I wasn't a huge fan of the flavor itself however. The spicy chlorella noodles were very refreshing. Normal portion sizes for the price. They gave complimentary kimchi and both were delicious.

Myeongdong Kyoja!!! Whenever I go on a business trip to Korea, I always make sure to visit Myeongdong Kyoja in Myeongdong!! It's been over 30 years since I first had their kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and dumplings. The one I visited this time is the Myeongdong Kyoja (MDK Noodles) located in LA's Koreatown. I've been coming here regularly since they first opened (by the way, I really love noodles and dumplings!!). However, the last three times I've been here have made me reconsider. The taste is different from before, the broth has changed... even the vibe feels different. Koreatown, which used to be so lively, has cooled down, and many of the vibrant restaurants are no longer the same. I hope things will come back to life again.

Ordered some rice cake and dumpling soup and seafood through Door Dash and was sorely disappointed. The soup was so bland and there was a strange metallic after taste I couldn't put my finger on. I'm sure it was from an herb or spice but with no other flavor to balance it out. The seafood pancake was also kind of bland. Not bad but I've had much better. I thought I was a hard-core garlic lover, but the kimchi was so overwhelmingly garlicky (and, yet again, somehow bland) that I didn't have more than one bite. I've had plenty of Korean food, so I know the flavors to look for and none of them were present. I'm pretty baffled by the strong reviews. I'm only giving an extra star because everything was impeccably packaged.

The best ever. A must try. I've had them in Los Angeles and in Anaheim. I've had them in Korea. I knew it was destiny when I realized the third location was in Houston because I was moving to Texas. The original location has a Michelin star. That should tell you some thing. I would recommend the original soup. It is comforting and mild if you're not into spicy, or some thing really potent. I recommend this because the menu seems to be really diverse now. You have to try the dumplings because they're known for the soup and the dumplings. But the main star is the red kimchee. It might be intimidating because it is really red, but it is so flavorful. If you love garlic, you would love this because it is drenched in garlic much more than the average cabbage kimchi. I've tried to replicate this recipe, but I have been unsuccessful. I have reached out to people who are really great Korean cooks that are skilled in making kimchi from scratch, but they cannot figure this recipe out. So I was ecstatic to find out that they sell them in jars. All that to say, it is a privilege that we have access to this in the Houston area. You should try it out amongst other wonderful things such as the seafood pancake. I drive an hour and a half each way just to eat this at least once a month. I like the interior of this location and the service has been on point every single visit. It's really large inside so it's never overcrowded.

My family and I have been here a handful of times now and it's been a good alternative to your typical beef noodle soup and ramen. Service is hit or miss as it seems sometimes they are understaffed. For whatever reason it feels like they only turn on some fans (not A/C) which gets quite warm when the Houston heat hits. We typically order the combination of two noodles with one choice of dumplings, which is enough to feed our family which includes two toddlers.

I had lunch here today with my family. The setting is very casual and clean. The restaurant is also very large. The service was very good. We shared the two dumplings: Shrimp and Pork Dumplings - 5/5: I think these are my favorite dumplings so far in Houston, whether Korean, Chinese or other. Very flavorful and tastes freshly homemade. Pork Dumplings - 4/5: these are good as well, I just think the shrimp and pork has more flavor and are better. Spicy Knife Cut Noodle Soup - 3/5: this is just so-so. Nothing bad not nothing particularly special about it either. The two types of kimchis they serve as Bandhan (side dishes) are good. The spicy one is both very spicy and garlicky so be warned.

Yummy yummy Korean food paired with great service from the staff led to a fantastic lunch experience. As soon as we sat down, our waitress greeted us with the option of complimentary tea or water. I chose tea and it was definitely strong! The tea almost had a nutty flavor and it was quite unique. We ordered the number one combo which came with a cold noodle #10, hot noodle, and choice of dumplings. We also ordered a kimchi pancake for our table of three. Dumpling choice ended up being pan fried and it was delicious. The filling was flavorful and the bottom was crispy. The cold dish was mixed slicy chlorella. The noodles were chewy and coated in their red sauce. I would desribe the taste as a milder version of kim chi. I loved the boiled egg on top. Hot dish was dumpling soup 5. It was very comforting! Chewy noodles in a thicker more viscous soup. The dumplings were juicy too! Kimchi pancake had great flavor. Someof it was a little burnt but it did not affect the taste.

This was my first time trying MDK noodles or any type of korean noodles, and it was so good!! They served us barley tea in place of water but I didn't really like the tea. I got #1 - the noodles in chicken broth. The broth was super flavorful and very soothing! I had a little bit of allergies and cough and this was a perfect soup to help me feel better. It also came with dumplings, which I did not expect, and they were yummy as well. The noodles were perfectly chewy, and this is definitely a dish I would get again!! I cannot wait to come back and try the cold noodles as well!! My friend got it and they served it with ice, which I've never seen before. The prices for all the items were pretty affordable as well! 10/10 meal and would definitely return! The staff was also nice and friendly as well :-)

I am a huge, and by I mean, HUGE fan of Myungdong Kyoza in Seoul, South Korea. That being said, I had extremely high expectations of this restaurant, believing that they would continue to produce their delicious soups abroad and ordered their noodles and dumplings. However, although the food was good, it wasn't the same as the ones I had in Seoul and not as good. I also noticed that their kimchi tasted very different and somewhat odd --but my husband seemed to like how "garlicky" it was. Additionally, I was disappointed with their unsanitary menu, as the pages were all suck to each other and smelled very strongly of soy sauce and other condiments. We visited at around 3 PM, where there we were the only customers, and I think the staff could have attended to minor things like wiping down the menus during those down times. We don't live in Houston and have to drive hours to get here, so we don't see ourselves coming back to simply dine at MDK again. However, it was definitely worth a try and brought back a lot of nostalgia of living in Seoul!

Overall, it was okay, but I want to come back to try more things. The stuff is SPICY. I brought my mom here to try since she mentioned she wanted Korean food. We always pass by it on our trips to hmart, and we love jjampong, so I thought this place would have it (it doesn't). When first entering and sitting down, I noticed a few things that turned me off. 1) The AC was probably not working. There were a bunch of box fans everywhere and the ceiling fans were on, but it was still warm inside which wasn't ideal on a hot summer day. 2) A couple tables were not bussed, even though it wasn't busy at all and felt rather empty. 3) the water tasted weird. Almost had the pickled radish aftertaste. However, I was thirsty, and after we started eating I couldn't taste the difference with the water anyways. For food we ordered the spicy chicken broth, spicy squid, and kimchi pancake. Spicy chicken broth (kalguksu) I wanted to try one of their cold dishes but my mom wanted the soup, so ok whatever. HOWEVER that sh*t was SPICY. I thought it'd be like jjampong (seafood noodle soup) but it was so much thicker and spicier. Imagine the spicy ramen with the chicken on it, but in soup form. It was kinda addicting so I was ok w/it in the end, just not something you'd want during an extreme heat warning, so we didn't finish it and didn't take it home. My mom also barely touched it *sigh* Spicy squid My mom enjoyed this dish. That was also spicy and hot. It's also served with rice under it! Kimchi pancake This was probably the most average pancake I've had, it weirdly tasted more like this egg pancake dish my mom makes than the traditional Korean pancake. But my mom enjoyed it in the end so that's good. The two of us could not finish the food so we took the squid and pancake home. If it was a cold day I'd probably get the kalgaksu again to try (with friends) but I definitely would rather try their non-spicy food items. Service was ok. Plenty of parking around the plaza.

Delicious option for Korean food in the Chinatown area. Yay I say! MDK was formerly known as Myung Dong at a different location. They were one of the OG Korean restaurants that existed before Korean food became the phenomenon it is today in Houston and statewide. Here they specialize in knife cut noodles, bu I haven't tried them. There's no banchan offered here besides the kimchi, though they do offer two varieties. The seafood pancake is tasty but very green onion heavy. The pork bulgolgi is simply amazing! This was definitely one of the best renditions I have had the pleasure of tasting. That succulent pork and sauce was mouthwatering good, and even the smell was awesome, as it comes out on a hot skillet! When you're finished, visit next door for dessert!

This place has been on my list for a while now and I'm so glad I got to go try it. Tucked away in the corner, it is an easy place to miss, but if you know where to look, you'll definitely find it. MDK is located to the left of Mochinut in the shopping strip in front of HMart. Before going, we did the research and many people suggested doing the combo deal for a good value and a good way to try multiple dishes. Obviously, we had to trust our Yelp community and that was what we focused on. My husband and I did the first combo deal, which was pretty much a hot soup, a cold noodle dish, and an order of dumplings for $34.99. We did upgrade to the pork and shrimp dumpling, which added an extra $2, but overall, still a great deal. The portions were really big and like any Korean restaurant, came with a multitude of side dishes. My favorite dishes were the pork and shrimp dumpling and the Kalguksu soup. I love a good warm dumpling soup and would consider getting it on my own the next time. The spicy chlorella noodles were okay, but I've never been a personal fan of cold noodles, so it just didn't do it for me. The service and atmosphere was overall pretty good, and nothing to complain about. I would definitely come back here for more Korean food!

Came in with low expectations. Didn't expect much from another typical korean noodle place. I liked how every dish was the same price regardless of what different protein went in. I tried the cold noodles which was good. The noodles were just VERY CHEWY. I understand that may be normal for what the noodle is made out of but..there was actually some noodles that were not even cooked and just stuck together.... Our waiter was this really young looking boy with curly hair that spoke with a volume of 0.5 and just looked miserable working there. One more thing that was the worst part of eating here... Their AC machine was either leaking or dripping water on top of me.... Their spicy Kalguksoo was actually pretty good so IF you're going to come here..get that.

Easy, casual, delicious Korean noodles. What is not to love about this place? The noodles are fantastic! My favorite is the Bibimguksu. It's a cold noodles dish that has a bright acidic tone with a bit of spice and sweetness. Great dish for the summer, but I'll order it season. I can see that this dish isn't for everyone though. If you aren't sure what to get, the beef bulgogi bibimbab is an easy winner too. The dumplings are a must have. They are pan fried so they come out with a crispy and chewy texture. The side salad that goes with it balances out the flavors. Everyone loved the sea food pancake. Gets a bit floppy when it's not fresh, so make sure you eat it fresh! MDK stands for Myung Dong Kalguksu. Doesn't quite roll off the tongue for me though, so I'll just call it MDK.