It's difficult not to gravitate towards Bobby Box because of its giant blue mascot right in front of their store. Bobby's half lidded eyes and dark bags reminded me of myself as a college student barely surviving her hell week, which may be the reason why I decided to grab lunch at this newly opened restaurant. (Hey, if Bobby, worse looking than I was that moment, found solace here, then I could too.)
The interior reminded me of Hot Star's. There were tables at the wall, high tables in the middle, and a long ledge by the window where you could watch vehicles speed by along Katipunan Avenue. The counter, the walls, and the ceiling were reminiscent of crates at a shipping dock. Their menu was flashed on small television screens opposite the counter which I thought was great because I never liked being pressured by the smiling faces of a restaurant's servers while choosing my orders.
The food wasn't what I had first expected in a Korean restaurant. Most didn't actually seem very Korean apart from the bulgogi and japchae. That doesn't mean the menu was any disappointment though. In fact, I would have been fine ordering anything. It was a matter of what I wanted to try first.
So I settled with a Seasoned Chicken Box with fresh kimchi on the side. I loved the crunchy potato strips much like that of the Piknik snack. My chicken tasted sweet yet spicy and paired well with the fresh cabbage that went with it. The kimchi was, of course, perfect.
And yes, it's true. I did find peace dining on my own at Bobby Box, sitting by the window to enjoy the scenic view of Ateneo's nature, eating my simple, affordable, and downright delicious meal, unbothered by the noise of other diners. I didn't even mind the Korean music they played over their speakers, and that's saying something! read more