Korean restaurant in Gwacheon for bibimbap: Bibisam tteokgalbi

Is it easy to walk there with children from Government Complex Gwacheon Station?

My family and I had lunch at Bibisam Gwacheon Main Branch (비비삼 과천본점) while we were in Gwacheon over the weekend. It is on the first floor along Saesulmak-gil, close to Exit 11 of Government Complex Gwacheon Station, so it was easy to reach on foot with the children.

The exterior was clean and neat. The interior was also well organized, with a water dispenser and a drinks refrigerator.

How were the dolsot albap and yukhoe bibimbap sets?

Each member of the family ordered according to their taste. I chose the dolsot albap (hot stone pot rice with flying-fish roe) and Korean beef tteokgalbi set, my husband ordered the Hwangdeung toreum yukhoe bibimbap set, and our elementary-school-age children chose Hwangdeung toreum bulgogi bibimbap.

The dolsot albap had a pleasing popping texture from the flying-fish roe. The ingredients came together with a nutty flavor, and it stayed warm until the end of the meal.

What I remember from my husband's Hwangdeung toreum yukhoe bibimbap set was the tender texture and nutty flavor of the Korean beef yukhoe (seasoned raw beef). The yukhoe went well with the assorted namul (seasoned vegetable side dishes).

With yukhoe on top of the warm toreum bibimbap, it tasted nutty yet light alongside the vegetables, mushrooms, and egg.

When I tried the rice my husband mixed and shared with me, it had a lingering savory flavor. The seasoning had lightly soaked into the rice, and the set felt filling with the tteokgalbi (grilled minced-meat patty) and egg.

What did the elementary-school children and baby eat?

Our fifth-grade children ate the Hwangdeung toreum bulgogi bibimbap. The toreum bibimbap was a little spicy, but the children, who usually like sweet and spicy seasoned rice, ate it well.

The Korean beef tteokgalbi served on a hot plate came with a soft-fried egg on top. The children sprinkled gim garu (seaweed flakes) over their bibimbap and finished their rice with tteokgalbi and miso doenjang-guk (soybean-paste soup).

Our second child also sprinkled gim garu over Mom and Dad's bibimbap.

Our youngest, at 22 months, ate the vegetable-and-beef cube baby meal we had brought, then tried small amounts of tteokgalbi and egg. The tender tteokgalbi seemed to suit them, because they asked for more.

The adults enjoyed bibimbap, while the children ate bibimbap and tender tteokgalbi well, so the whole family finished feeling full.

How was the solo-dining atmosphere and seating with a baby?

We went as a family, but I also saw several people eating comfortably alone throughout the spacious restaurant. It looked suitable for lunch after coming to Gwacheon alone to run an errand.

There was no high chair during our visit. We sat at the back, where there were cushioned seats, and our youngest ate between Mom and Dad.

There happened to be a table available when we arrived, so we were seated right away. However, it was busy at lunch, and people were waiting while we ate.

Where is it, and what are the hours?

The address is 101, 1F, 10-13 Saesulmak-gil, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. The original post states that it is 59 m from Exit 11 of Government Complex Gwacheon Station. At the time of the original post, the listed hours were daily 11:00–22:00, with last orders at 20:30.

How much are the bibimbap and tteokgalbi sets?

The individual-item and set prices listed in the original post are below.

• Hwangdeung toreum vegetable bibimbap: ₩9,000
• Hwangdeung toreum bulgogi bibimbap: ₩10,000
• Hwangdeung toreum Korean beef yukhoe bibimbap: ₩11,000
• Hwangdeung toreum octopus bibimbap: ₩11,000
• Dolsot albap: ₩10,000
• Dolsot octopus albap: ₩12,000
• Hwangdeung toreum vegetable bibimbap and sizzling pork tteokgalbi set: from ₩14,000
• Change to Korean beef tteokgalbi: ₩1,000 extra