Bibimbap hunting in Bangkok

It’s been 7 months since I moved from Singapore to Bangkok and I had kind of given up on eating out in Korean restaurants. Looking at the Korean grocery shops here, I didn’t think a lot of people did much cooking or enjoyed eating good Korean food.

I passed by what it looked a like restaurant chain bibimbap place near Emporium shopping centre in Bangkok 5 months ago, but I never gave it a chance. A restaurant chain bibimbap place in Bangkok? I probably can make a better one at home myself. After that, I never gave it another thought until last week. I was heading over to a Korean grocery shop do prepare for a big Korean feast at home with some friends visiting from Singapore. It was almost 2 o’clock and I haven’t eaten and I noticed the bibimbap place. Out of desperation, I thought I will give it a go. What a surprise….. I actually went back again with my husband last week to get him to try and also try a few other dishes.

Octopus bibimbap (Nak ji bibimbap – 낙지 비빔밥)

Fish row bibimbap (Al bibimbap – 알비빔밥)

Chilli beef soup (Yuk ge Jang – 육계장)

Despite being a chain restaurant, bibimbap had all the right ingredients and the hot stone was hot enough to sizzle the rice on the bottom. The side dishes were delicious. The kimchi was just ripe and crunchy, the dry fish had enough seasoning, the fish cake was good enough but brocoli with chilli sauce was a bit too spicey. The bibimbap came with a radish soup which had a deep stock and radish flavour.

For the Thais’ who have not tried bibimbap, it even has an instruction on how to eat bibimbap in a hot stone. This way you get to enjoy the crusty rice on the bottom of the bowl.