Korean restaurant in Gwacheon for bibimbap sets: Bibisam

How long was the weekday lunch wait?

I had lunch at Bibisam (비비삼), on Saesulmak-gil in Gwacheon. As a newly opened restaurant, it was clean inside and out, with a relaxed atmosphere. However, when I arrived during the weekday lunch peak, four parties were waiting ahead of us. I thought it would be better to come a little early for lunch.

There were two entrances: the main entrance and a rear entrance accessible from inside the building. The waitlist was just inside the main entrance, and I had to write my name down by hand to wait. At the time the original post was written, the listed hours were 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with last orders at 8:30 p.m.

What were the seating and self-service setup like?

Bibisam is a Korean restaurant with bibimbap as its main menu. Most tables seated two or four people. Collecting food and returning dishes were both self-service, and the staff were kind.

I also served myself water, side dishes, clear soup, and the drinks we ordered. Staff cleared tables and checked the self-service bar, so it was kept clean.

The accompaniments included water kimchi and clear soup. I could also pick up scissors, tongs, small plates, and sesame oil from the self-service bar as needed.

What bibimbap menus and set options were available?

At the time of my visit, the menu included Korean beef yukhoe bibimbap, namul bibimbap, octopus bibimbap, bulgogi bibimbap, dolsot albap, and dolsot octopus albap. Sets came with a fried egg and tteokgalbi (grilled minced meat patty), while yukhoe and tteokgalbi could also be ordered as sides.

How do you collect your order?

While waiting for our food, I looked over the restaurant-use guidance and policies. Signs throughout the restaurant made the self-service process easy to understand, and dishes and wet wipes were conveniently within reach.

There was an ice water dispenser, so I could help myself to cold water. When the food was ready, a notification came through the tablet on the table, and I went to collect it.

How did the dolsot albap set taste?

We ordered the dolsot albap set and the Korean beef yukhoe bibimbap set. Each arrived as a full set meal. I worried the pot might slide around while mixing the rice, but its recessed base held it in place, making it easy to mix.

The dolsot albap (hot-stone-pot fish roe rice) had so many toppings that the rice was barely visible. I also liked the aroma from the hot stone pot.

Bibisam says all of its rice dishes are made with torom rice—rice warmed in broth—then seasoned. The rice was red, but it was not spicy when I tried it. The large bite of albap was flavorful, and the dolsot albap was especially memorable to me.

Is the yukhoe served separately with Korean beef yukhoe bibimbap?

The Korean beef yukhoe bibimbap came with plenty of vegetables over torom rice, while the yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) was served separately. At first, I mixed only the vegetables and rice, then added the yukhoe later. It let me eat one dish in two different ways.

Rather than mixing all the yukhoe into the rice, it was also nice to add a little at a time. Its savory nuttiness became more noticeable as I chewed, which suited my taste because I usually enjoy yukhoe.

How were the tteokgalbi and fried egg in the set?

I could choose either Korean pork or Korean beef for the tteokgalbi, and we chose Korean pork. It was cooked just right and was not tough. After mixing the rice once, I added the fried egg with seaweed flakes and mixed again. The yolk made the rice feel softer as it blended in.

After the meal, I returned our dishes myself at the return station. Dental floss and mouthwash were also available above the water dispenser. There was a wait during the lunch peak, but I liked that the self-service process was clearly explained and that I could eat the bibimbap in the way I preferred.