Korean restaurant lunch in Gwacheon: Bibisam Gwacheon Main Branch

Is it easy to find near Government Complex Gwacheon Station and suitable for solo dining?

At Bibisam Gwacheon Main Branch (비비삼 과천본점), near Government Complex Gwacheon Station, I had bibimbap and dolsot albap (stone-pot rice with roe) as sets. It was not far from the station and was easy to find on the first floor.

The interior was not especially large. Still, there were several tables for two to four people, so I thought it would be fine for eating alone or dining with family.

How do ordering and side dishes work?

There was a self-service station on one side of the restaurant. I helped myself to side dishes, miso soup, water, and an apron.

There were individual dishes and set meals. As it was my first visit, I chose the Hwangdeung tolyeom Korean beef yukhoe bibimbap and dolsot nakji albap (stone-pot rice with octopus and roe) as sets. For the sizzling tteokgalbi (Korean grilled meat patty) served with the sets, I could choose Korean beef or Korean pork, so I ordered one of each.

I ordered using the kiosk at the table. When the food was ready, I picked it up myself and returned the tray myself after the meal.

What cooking principles and bibimbap instructions did the restaurant provide?

The restaurant displayed three principles: it does not reuse food, does not handle food with cooking gloves, and makes healthy Korean food with good ingredients. It also said that ingredients causing allergies could be left out if mentioned before cooking.

I was told to mix the tolyeom bibimbap once with chopsticks, then add the yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) separately rather than mixing it in. Since the rice arrived already mixed with seasoning, I was initially concerned it might be too strongly seasoned, but I liked that it was described as low-sodium bibimbap. Gochujang was available separately on request, but white rice was not provided separately.

How were the yukhoe bibimbap and dolsot nakji albap?

While waiting for the food, I first brought over the soup. It was tasty with enoki mushrooms added on top. The kimchi at the self-service station also went well with the meal.

The yukhoe bibimbap arrived first, with the rice already mixed with seasoning, so it was easy to eat. There was a good variety of vegetables, and the separately served yukhoe felt fresh. Adding a little yukhoe to each bite of rice made the flavor fuller.

The dolsot nakji albap had more octopus on top than I expected. The octopus was tender and easy to eat, and the stone pot kept the rice warm until I finished.

What was the difference between the Korean beef and Korean pork tteokgalbi?

To my taste, the Korean pork tteokgalbi had a slightly more pronounced meaty flavor, while the Korean beef tteokgalbi had a thicker patty and more chew. The owner said to choose according to personal preference, and after trying both, I understood why. If visiting together, it could be nice to order one of each and share.

Adding tteokgalbi to the bibimbap made the meal more substantial. If I return, I think I would order a set rather than an individual dish. I would like to stop by again when I want a filling Korean lunch near the station.