Bupyeong poke restaurant: salmon salad at Slow Cali

Lately, even when I eat a full meal, I've been wanting something filling without feeling too heavy. So I looked for a place near Bupyeong Market where I could have a proper fresh salad. Slow Cali Bupyeong had everything from poke to salads and wraps, so I didn't have to compromise on taste either!

Slow Cali Bupyeong near Bupyeong Market Station

Slow Cali Bupyeong is near Bupyeong Market Station, so it was easy to reach by public transit. Once I went into the alley, the neat exterior and clearly visible Slow Cali sign made it easy to find, even on a first visit.

Inside, the atmosphere was bright and tidy overall. There were tables for two and four, as well as dedicated seats on one side that are great for dining alone. It was a nice setting for a quiet solo meal, so it would work well for anyone looking for a diet-friendly solo dining spot in Bupyeong.

The self-service bar behind the solo seats was especially convenient. Along with cutlery, I could freely help myself to wasabi oil, sriracha, mayonnaise, pickles, radish, jalapeños, and jang-guk (clear savory soup).

How to order poke for the first time

You order at the kiosk, and there is a Slow Cali ordering guide right beside it, so even first-time poke eaters can choose without trouble. The menu is broadly divided into poke, bowls, and grill dishes.

• Poke: cold toppings and sauce mixed over rice or salad
• Bowls: cooked protein served over rice or salad
• Grill: dishes centered on protein cooked at high heat

For all three menu categories, you can choose from brown rice with salad, buckwheat noodles with salad, or salad only as your base, so you can put together something that suits your taste.

There was a wide range of choices, from salmon, tuna, and octopus to chicken breast, tofu, mushrooms, and steak. They also have soup and wraps if you want something more substantial.

Drink options included apple cider vinegar ade, sparkling water, soft drinks, organic ABC juice, and kombucha, but the ₩1,000 Americano promotion really caught my eye. That is a whopping ₩2,000 discount, making it an easy addition to a meal.

They also sell protein cookies, though they do not appear separately on the kiosk. I was told to ask at the counter when buying one. They cost ₩1,800.

Salad-only salmon poke and a flat-iron steak whole-wheat wrap

I ordered the salad-only salmon poke with an extra half avocado, a flat-iron steak whole-wheat wrap, an iced Americano, and a protein cookie, and the tray came out completely full. Delicious food has zero calories, so once I started adding things, this is what happened 🤭

First, even though I ordered the salmon poke with only salad, it arrived in a generously full bowl and looked great right away. The vegetables were vividly colored, and every piece of salmon and topping looked fresh—a perfectly matched visual.

I chose the classic sauce, a salty soy sauce-based sauce. Chili mayo for dipping the salmon also came with it without needing to order it separately. Rather than pouring in all the classic sauce at once, add it little by little and adjust the seasoning as you go. It had that savory, umami-rich character of a soy sauce base, and with the fresh vegetables and salmon, the seasoning was just right.

The salmon was soft yet pleasantly springy, and I liked that it had hardly any fishy taste. Its subtle nuttiness came through the more I chewed, and it was even better lightly dipped in the chili mayo.

I was glad I added the avocado. It was fresh, nutty, and softly mashed as I ate it, making the salmon taste even smoother. The assorted fresh, crisp vegetables and crunchy onion flakes added texture too, so every bite had something different going on.

I tried the Americano alongside it too. It had a savory, clean style that felt easy to drink for almost anyone, and it paired nicely with the salad served cold.

I was happy with the flat-iron steak whole-wheat wrap as well. The whole-wheat wrap itself was mildly seasoned, and it had a pretty generous amount of flat-iron steak inside. In particular, there was chewy steak right to the end of the wrap, so the meaty flavor never disappeared while I was eating it.

On days when a salad alone feels a little lacking, adding a wrap like this seems like a great way to get plenty of protein. It was perfect for days when I wanted to eat lightly but definitely did not want to be hungry.

A protein cookie after the meal

For a dessert-like finish, I also picked the White Dirty Choco Cranberry Protein Cookie. It was a thick cookie style with little pieces of white chocolate dotted throughout.

It was nice because it was not overwhelmingly dry in the way protein cookies can be. Sweet white chocolate and cranberries appeared here and there, making it great as a dessert after the meal.

A light meal that does not leave you hungry

Slow Cali's salmon poke did not feel heavy afterward, but it was still quite filling thanks to the salmon and avocado. It is especially spot-on if you are looking for somewhere comfortable to eat alone. A light meal that does not leave you hungry—it is the kind of place I think of on days when I want both fresh vegetables and protein.