Originally opened in 1992 in Seoul, I had passed by this fast-casual place a handful of times before finally going in a good while back. While others have called it Chipotle-style, I would compare it more to the poke spots that serve sushi burritos, even if most of the options here are meat. The kimbaps all come with a standard topping set, including green leaf (cabbage/romaine), burdock, pickled radish, carrot, and a choice of either mild or spicy signature sauce. There were also some other customization options, such as brown rice for an extra $1 (I might pay extra for purple rice, which might be a nice option to add here), along with some extra toppings. These included various banchan, and I thought of adding either of the anchovy options but decided against it. There were also options for more proteins, such as crispy tofu, baked egg, and some cheeses.
I went with the Bulgogi Beef/불고기 with no romaine, white rice, and spicy sauce for a very reasonable 14.95. They recommended it be cut in half, and I did that. The roll was very large and filling, and I liked the mix of vegetables, as there was some crunch, sweetness, and freshness. The beef was chopped and tender and not too sweet, while the spicy sauce was on the rather mild end. The latter would probably be my only complaint, as I was expecting a bit more flavor from said sauce. Overall, it tasted healthy, and I would get it again, or more likely, the pricey but delicious-sounding house-cured salmon with gochujang.
There was also free hot self-service soup, likely made with fish broth/yuksu/dashi for those more familiar with the Japanese word, that was a nice touch. It was warming and refreshing and worked nicely to cleanse the palate between bites of the kimbap.
I can see why this chain moved here, and I hope they open a location closer to me, as I think it would be a hit among the health food crowd and others. read more