Korean restaurant in Gwacheon for a museum-day lunch: Bibisam

What did we have for lunch before visiting the Gwacheon museum?

On a rainy weekend, my wife and I decided to have lunch before going to the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Gwacheon. After I had taken an exam in Pyeongchon that morning, I was craving a filling Korean meal.

While looking for somewhere to eat in Gwacheon, I came across Bibisam Gwacheon Main Branch (비비삼 과천본점), a restaurant specializing in bibimbap. Since we both enjoy Korean food, we chose bibimbap for lunch.

The tidy interior was the first thing I noticed when we arrived. For us, it was in a convenient spot to eat before heading to the museum.

How close is it to the station, and is it busy at weekend lunch?

The restaurant is about a three-minute walk from Government Complex Gwacheon Station. It was busy when we visited at weekend lunch.

Fortunately, a table opened up just then, so we were seated without waiting. The dining room was full of customers and had a lively atmosphere.

What were the bibimbap set prices and service style?

At the time of our visit, the menu listed à la carte dishes at around ₩12,000 and sets at around ₩15,000. It was self-service: we picked up our food ourselves and returned the trays after eating.

We saw that two set orders came with gogi sanjeok (pan-fried meat skewers), so we chose the sets. My wife ordered the beef tartare bibimbap set, while I ordered the stone-pot octopus bibimbap set. Our total for two was ₩30,000.

How generous were the two bibimbaps and meat skewers?

Our food came out after about 10 minutes. Both the beef tartare bibimbap and stone-pot octopus bibimbap were generously filled with ingredients.

A large fried egg sat on top of the assorted namul (seasoned vegetables) and garnishes.

The thick meat skewers made the spread feel even more substantial. It was a filling amount for us for one meal.

How did the beef tartare and stone-pot octopus bibimbaps differ?

We each served some of our bibimbap onto side plates and shared. The beef tartare bibimbap had tender meat, while the stone-pot octopus bibimbap stood out for its sweet-spicy seasoning and springy octopus texture.

The seasoning blended well into the rice rather than sitting separately on top.

The vegetables were crisp without any tough parts. The meat skewers were crisp outside and moist inside, which went well alongside the spicy bibimbap.

For my taste, it was not overly intense, and its savory flavor meant I did not tire of it by the end.

Would I return on another outing in Gwacheon?

My wife was satisfied after the meal too. I liked that we could share two kinds of bibimbap and have meat skewers alongside them.

The tidy restaurant and generous portions stayed with me, and compared with what we ordered, I was satisfied with the price as well.

The next time we visit the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Gwacheon or Seoul Grand Park, we decided to try another bibimbap.