Korean Seoul is a new Korean owned restaurant that opened in July of this year in the Newtown Baker Crossing Shopping Center, with its storefront several doors to the right of the Gran Mart International Market.
Their specialty is a dish known as Cup-Bap, which was first created in the 2000s as a Korean street food truck offering, consisting of Bap (Rice) in a paper or plastic cup with a variety of fillings and toppings.
The Cup-Bap dishes served here are basically build-your-own Bibimbap dishes served in wide, thick, and sturdy cardboard cups.
A friendly Korean woman greets you as you walk in and asks you if you are dining in or taking out. You are given a one sheet menu and an ink pen for checking off your selections.
When you are finished, she takes your menu as you wait at a table for your food to be prepared and brought to you, whether you are eating in or dining out.
This is not a spot where you order and pay at the counter. I ordered from my table at each visit by giving her my checked off menu. My check was also brought to my table when I was finished eating.
Their decor is simple and attractive. I found their bright red table tops especially eye catching.
After three dine-in visits, I have tried the following:
BULGOGI CUP-BAP: I chose White Rice as my base, along with Carrot, Cucumber, Spinach, and a Fried Egg with an upcharge of $1.50 as my toppings. My sauce was the Extra Hot Gochujang.
The Bulgogi slices were tough, dry, and weakly marinated. Fortunately, the flavors and textures of the other ingredients came through successfully and brought this dish back to a passable level of satisfaction. My Rating: 3 Stars.
SPICY PORK CUP BAP: This time I chose Kimchi Fried Rice as my base and the same toppings as before with the addition of Jalapenos, along with the Extra Hot Gochujang Sauce once again.
This one worked much better for me. The Spicy Pork was tender and tasty with a nice spicy zing. The other ingredients came together strongly for an exhilarating flavor experience. The Extra Hot Gochujang Sauce left my hot tooth happy. My Rating: 5 Stars.
JAPCHAE: This is a popular Korean dish made with glass noodles and assorted vegetables. It was listed as one of their Appetizers, yet its generous portion size filled me up easily as would a complete meal.
Their version came with sliced Bulgogi, which was a little more tender and better marinated this time around. The flavors and textures of the noodles and vegetables came through nicely, and I was well satisfied. My Rating: 4.5 Stars.
CHICKEN WINGS: I ordered 6 Hot & Spicy Wings as a take-out order at the end of one of my meals and which I ate at home.
They were meaty, filling, and tasted okay overall, but were still a disappointment. They were much more sweet than hot, as well as overly sticky for my tastes.
The crispy double-fried texture I have enjoyed from Korean style fried chicken elsewhere was also a bit lacking. My Rating: 3 Stars.
BANCHAN: Four Banchan side dishes came with each of my visits--Broccoli, Kimchi, Spicy Cucumbers, and Slaw. My favorite was the Spicy Cucumbers, and I enjoyed the Broccoli and Kimchi as well. I didn't eat the Slaw, as I don't like Mayonnaise. My Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars.
Each visit ended with a complimentary Epoca Cool Plus probiotic drink, which was enjoyed with a soothing effect after each meal. Service was attentive and friendly with each visit.
In spite of a couple of misses, my average food rating came out to 4 stars on the nose. Hopefully, their quality and consistency will improve over time. I will be back, as their Spicy Pork Cup-Bap dish is calling my name once again.
This is a true Mom and Pop restaurant, and I wish their owners the best of future success moving forward. read more