Korean restaurant in Gwacheon for octopus roe rice: Bibi Sam

While looking for lunch near Government Complex Gwacheon Station, I stopped by Bibi Sam Gwacheon Main Branch (비비삼 과천본점). That day, I ordered stone-pot nakji albap (octopus roe rice) and iron-plate Korean pork tteokgalbi (grilled minced-meat patty). With broth and baek-kimchi (mild white kimchi) alongside the spicy rice, it felt like a meal that was easy on my stomach.

How do you get there from Government Complex Gwacheon Station?

From Exit 11 of Government Complex Gwacheon Station, I went into the nearby alley and reached it in about a minute on foot. The address is 101, 1F, 10-13 Saesulmak-gil, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do. Its hanok-style exterior stood out, and there was a waiting-list board and medicine-chest-shaped decorative items at the entrance.

There is no dedicated parking, but there is a public parking lot nearby. The rate listed in the original post was ₩900 for the first 30 minutes and ₩400 for each additional 10 minutes. Lunch and dinner are available, with last order listed as 20:30.

Is it comfortable to eat alone?

Warm lighting and a neat interior were the first things I noticed inside. Office workers and families were eating at table seating, and it felt comfortable to visit alone. Group dining is also possible, with Wi-Fi and a waiting area available.

How do food pickup and dish return work?

Each table had a tablet explaining how to use the restaurant. Because it is run with a small staff, food pickup and dish return were self-service. The self-service bar was neatly stocked with scissors, tongs, sesame oil, baek-kimchi, and bowls for broth.

The country-of-origin notice on the wall said that most key ingredients, including rice, cockles, eggs, radish, and cabbage, were domestic, while the beef was domestic hanwoo. It also listed operating practices such as not reusing food and using tongs and disposable gloves during cooking. There was also a notice that no meat tenderizer is used in yukhoe (Korean beef tartare).

What are the menu and prices like?

The signature dishes were torim Bibi Sam bibimbap varieties and stone-pot roe rice varieties, with prices starting at ₩9,000. A notice said that because the rice is rinsed in broth and then seasoned before serving, plain white rice is not separately prepared. The original post does not include the individual prices of the stone-pot octopus roe rice and iron-plate Korean pork tteokgalbi I ordered that day.

What did the stone-pot octopus roe rice taste like?

The stone-pot octopus roe rice was topped with spicy stir-fried octopus, flying-fish roe, vegetables, and shredded seaweed. The tablet explained how to mix it with chopsticks, so I followed the instructions. I could also add more shredded seaweed from the table to taste.

In the first bite, I noticed the chewy octopus alongside the popping texture of the flying-fish roe. The seasoning had soaked well into the warm rice, and extra shredded seaweed added a nutty note. I alternated it with warm broth and cool baek-kimchi.

How is the iron-plate Korean pork tteokgalbi alongside it?

The iron-plate Korean pork tteokgalbi arrived on a hot iron plate with a fried egg. Juices came out when I cut it with a spoon, and the fried egg added a nutty richness. Its sweet-savory seasoning went well with the spicy octopus roe rice.

Side dishes included hanwoo tteokgalbi, Namdo-style seasoned cockles, and hanwoo yukhoe. I thought these would be good to share when visiting with several people.

Why would I return for lunch?

It is close to the station and has a comfortable atmosphere for eating alone, so I would like to stop by again for lunch. Menu prices starting at ₩9,000 also made it feel less burdensome. The octopus roe rice and tteokgalbi I had that day felt generously portioned, and my stomach still felt comfortable after the meal.