Poke shop by Bupyeong Market Station: signature bowl + ade, Slow Cali

When you keep eating greasy or spicy food, sometimes you just crave a healthy meal. But I don't want a healthy meal that tastes bad either, so I often turn to poke bowls when I want both flavor and health. I usually order poke for delivery, but this time I visited the restaurant in person. Today I'm sharing my visit to Slow Cali Bupyeong, famous as a poke spot near Bupyeong Market.

Where is Slow Cali Bupyeong, and what are its hours?

Slow Cali Bupyeong is located at 10-11 Bupyeong-daero 71beon-gil, 1st floor, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, right in front of Bupyeong Market Station. It's open daily from 09:30 to 20:30.

Slow Cali Bupyeong is right in front of Bupyeong Market Station. Since it's close to the exit, getting there by subway was no hassle at all.

Inside Slow Cali Bupyeong: a poke shop built for solo diners

The interior of Slow Cali Bupyeong was clean and pleasant. There were long single-row tables inside so you wouldn't feel awkward eating alone. It looked like a great structure for people who enjoy solo dining, and also handy for a quick meal during lunch hour.

After eating, you're supposed to just leave your tray at the table. There's also a sign explaining how to best enjoy your poke, worth a look. Hair ties were even set out at the seats — a nice, thoughtful touch.

Self-serve bar at Slow Cali: sriracha, wasabi oil and warm broth

At the Slow Cali Bupyeong self-serve bar, you can freely help yourself to mayonnaise, wasabi oil, sriracha sauce, and pickles. There was also a warm broth, something you'd never get with delivery.

Kiosk ordering and what comes in the apple cider vinegar ade set

Ordering at Slow Cali Bupyeong is easy through the kiosk. There's a Slow Cali order guide posted right next to the kiosk. Menu photos are shown too, so even first-timers shouldn't have trouble ordering.

We ordered the signature poke + ASV ade set, plus a salmon poke. I usually enjoy the flank steak poke, but this time salmon just seemed more tempting, so I went with the salmon poke. Ordering with a drink is cheaper, so I'd recommend getting the set instead of ordering the ASV ade separately! For the base sauce, we chose classic.

How does the salmon poke at Slow Cali Bupyeong taste?

After a short wait, our poke arrived. It was loaded with plenty of vegetables, and everything was fresh. I usually mix all the ingredients together evenly, but my friend who came with me kept the rice separate and mixed the rest. I think you can enjoy it best by eating it however suits your taste.

The salmon was also cut into bite-sized pieces that were easy to eat. Dipping it into the sriracha sauce added a spicy kick that made it even tastier. Some people assume poke bowls are small portions because of their healthy image, but this was surprisingly filling. Even after finishing, my stomach didn't feel heavy at all. The ASV ade drink paired nicely with the food too.

I'll be back again next time!

Is Slow Cali Bupyeong worth a visit?

If you usually eat greasy food or fast food often, having a fresh poke bowl once in a while seems like a good idea. It uses healthy ingredients without sacrificing flavor, which is why it's the kind of meal I keep craving periodically. It's tasty even delivered, but eating it in the restaurant made it feel even fresher. If you're looking for a solo-dining diet restaurant in Bupyeong or just want a healthy meal, I'd recommend Slow Cali! Next time I'll try the flank steak poke or some other menu items.