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LeDu is a very small restaurant, or rather bistro, on Theresienstrasse in Munich-Schwabing. I first heard about it when a friend told me about her visit, and the photos of the dumplings she showed piqued my interest. So, the other day, I grabbed my friend after work and paid LeDu – Happy Dumplins a visit. LeDu offers a very concise menu. There's nothing more than a few salads, dumplings in various styles, and a couple of desserts. To be more specific: you can choose either six or ten dumplings, decide whether you want them made from light or dark dough, fried or baked, and what filling you'd like in the little pasta pockets. Vegetarians will find the choice very easy, as LeDu only offers one vegetarian filling: organic egg glass noodles, Chinese morels, zucchini, and a Chinese thirteen-treasure spice blend. For meat eaters, there are eight different fillings, ranging from mixed organic minced meat, Chinese cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, ginger, spring onion, and Sichuan peppercorns; to organic minced chicken, peas, tomato, and Indian yellow curry; and finally, to mixed organic minced meat, sauerkraut, glass noodles, ginger, and spring onions. In total, a variety of combinations await you, all of which sound delicious.
Well, we entered the small bistro, where even the only outdoor table was occupied, and saw nothing different than two long wooden tables with red chairs, where numerous people were sitting close together, eating their dumplings. On the right side of the room, which also houses a small counter and the equally tiny preparation kitchen in the back, there's another small wooden bar along the wall – but without any seating. We were actually about to leave because it seemed so crowded and hectic, but then we changed our minds when two other people were leaving. We sat down, and the only young waiter in the place took a good ten minutes to notice us because he also had to handle payments, orders, serving, and cleaning the tables, so he was constantly rushing around and very busy. So, in my opinion, coziness isn't exactly a priority. We opted for „LeDu Special“ – mixed organic minced meat, shrimp, zucchini,
The fillings included shellfish, ginger, and spring onions, as well as the vegetarian option described above. My companion chose the dumplings as part of a meal deal: 10 dumplings for €6.90, plus an additional €2 for a medium LeDu salad. I simply ordered 10 vegetarian dumplings without salad. Six of the small dumplings, filled according to your wishes, cost only €5.
For drinks, we opted for a lychee organic lemonade for €2.30 – which was brought directly to our table. Our dumplings took a while, but we didn't have to wait any longer than usual. They were served on flat, white plates with a small bowl of peanut and soy sauce. Forks are also provided, by the way ;-), in case your chopstick skills aren't quite up to the task of grabbing the hefty dumplings and dipping them in the sauce. The dumplings tasted good and, of course, fresh – they were freshly made, after all – but nothing extraordinary. The first thing we both noticed was that our two dumplings looked exactly the same and, according to my companion, tasted pretty much identical. What bothered me most was that the dumplings couldn't be cut apart. Neither by pressing them from the side with a fork nor by biting into them without them falling into a million tiny pieces. So, you end up with ten mouthfuls of dumplings each, which you have to chew and swallow whole. It might sound funny, but it bothered me. They are definitely filling, though, and worth trying. You can check out the menu at LeDu on Theresienstrasse. here View online. Otherwise, soft drinks are available for €1.80 and special, selected teas (0.4l) for €2.80. We skipped dessert. The options were Chinese yeast dumplings or sticky rice dumplings, each for €3.
The service was fine. While it was limited to serving the dumplings (prepared in the back) and taking payment at the small counter after eating, the young man was very attentive and friendly. The food was decent and something a bit different. I would definitely recommend trying these little dumplings. You can order a salad to go with them and enhance the meal with an Asian tea. I wouldn't say it was bland, but it wasn't anything special either. Payment is cash only. We ended up paying €18.20, which is very reasonable for a filling meal in Munich. If you're looking for a place where you can sit comfortably all evening, perhaps with a larger group, choose from a variety of options, and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, LeDu isn't the right choice. However, if you're looking for a small, satisfying snack, LeDu is a good option.
The restaurant is open daily from 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM. It's definitely worth a try. Have fun! Don't forget to make a reservation; it might not even be possible, as seating is very limited. Generally—and this was also the case for us in the evening—people get up relatively quickly after eating.
I'll be back: For a quick bite, yes. If I want to sit comfortably and enjoy a good Asian meal in peace and quiet, no.
Place visited: LeDu
Address: Theresienstraße 18, 80333 Munich
Website
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