A Taste of Korea in the U.S. – From Bibimbap to Nostalgic Hotteok! I recently visited Bibigo, a restaurant named after the iconic Korean dish, Bibimbap. The atmosphere was vibrant—I saw groups of young friends enjoying their meals together, as well as several people comfortably dining solo (what we call 'Hon-bap' in Korea). What truly caught my eye on the menu, however, was the Hotteok (Sweet Korean Pancake). Hotteok is a quintessential Korean street food that carries a lot of soul and sentiment. Seeing it served inside a modern restaurant was enough to bring back fond childhood memories. With K-culture and K-food trending globally, if you're in the U.S. and want an authentic taste of Korea, I highly recommend Bibigo. It’s more than just a meal; it’s a wonderful way to experience the heart of Korean cuisine.
Gogobop Korean Rice Bar
Excerpts
A Taste of Korea in the U.S. – From Bibimbap to Nostalgic Hotteok! I recently visited Bibigo, a restaurant named after the iconic Korean dish, Bibimbap. The atmosphere was vibrant—I saw groups of young friends enjoying their meals together, as well as several people comfortably dining solo (what we call 'Hon-bap' in Korea). What truly caught my eye on the menu, however, was the Hotteok (Sweet Korean Pancake). Hotteok is a quintessential Korean street food that carries a lot of soul and sentiment. Seeing it served inside a modern restaurant was enough to bring back fond childhood memories. With K-culture and K-food trending globally, if you're in the U.S. and want an authentic taste of Korea, I highly recommend Bibigo. It’s more than just a meal; it’s a wonderful way to experience the heart of Korean cuisine.
Gogobop - quite scrumptious, unique spin on bowls. Let's jump right into this review. Gogobop is located in the UCLA Village area. High traffic area for students, hospital employees, other agencies employees nearby, & the homeless. I went here with co-workers and we each enjoyed something different, photos attached. Each person reported their bowl was good. No complaints on the food. What did I have - Build your own bowl - $13.55 - calories will vary base on your selections Choose a base, up to 4 - Add toppings, up to 10 Choose a sauce, up to 2 Pick a protein, up to 2, 1 scoop of each protein I appreciate the healthy options like purple rice, grilled cabbage, and sweet potato noodles. Not your everyday white rice and corn options. Pros 1. Unique spin on bowls. Build your own bowl or select from the pre-determined menu options. 2. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Cons 1. Tables were extremely dirty. Food on top, on seats and underneath. 2. Homeless people sitting in the inside. The smell was horrendous. In one incident, as the individual walked by, something was crawling off their body. I am not here to judge, but, this is a food establishment and their should be something done with homeless chilling inside. *We packed up and left after seeing that** Although, I enjoyed my bowl - going back to this location is not something I see in my future. The experience I had still don't sit well in my head. As a customer, if I don't feel comfortable in your establishment; I don't see a need for me to return.
Gogobop - quite scrumptious, unique spin on bowls. Let's jump right into this review. Gogobop is located in the UCLA Village area. High traffic area for students, hospital employees, other agencies employees nearby, & the homeless. I went here with co-workers and we each enjoyed something different, photos attached. Each person reported their bowl was good. No complaints on the food. What did I have - Build your own bowl - $13.55 - calories will vary base on your selections Choose a base, up to 4 - Add toppings, up to 10 Choose a sauce, up to 2 Pick a protein, up to 2, 1 scoop of each protein I appreciate the healthy options like purple rice, grilled cabbage, and sweet potato noodles. Not your everyday white rice and corn options. Pros 1. Unique spin on bowls. Build your own bowl or select from the pre-determined menu options. 2. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Cons 1. Tables were extremely dirty. Food on top, on seats and underneath. 2. Homeless people sitting in the inside. The smell was horrendous. In one incident, as the individual walked by, something was crawling off their body. I am not here to judge, but, this is a food establishment and their should be something done with homeless chilling inside. *We packed up and left after seeing that** Although, I enjoyed my bowl - going back to this location is not something I see in my future. The experience I had still don't sit well in my head. As a customer, if I don't feel comfortable in your establishment; I don't see a need for me to return.
This was a good & cheap favorite student spot in the area according to my cousin. We arrived at 7pm and it was crowded but the line moved quick. I opted for 'create your own bowl' with 4 bases (purple rice, white rice, noodle & grilled cabbage) & half-half protein (beef bulgogi & tofu). The purple rice was firmer than the white rice but both were good. The noodle had good firmness and good seasoning. The grilled cabbage was good and tasted healthy. The tofu was flavorful and the beef bulgogi was tender and super good. The macaroni salad side was delicious. It was creamy & well seasoned. The gochujang mayo was super good: creamy and a hint of spice. The teriyaki sauce was good too.