BAP

Was in the area and checked Yelp for some good eats. Came across this place. I didn't even know there was a bibimbap specialty place nearby.

I kind of like the concept of a stand alone bibimbap place. The dining area of the restaurant isn't currently open, so you can call in an order or walk up. I walked up and ordered and received my food relatively quickly.

I ordered the dolsot bibimbap with beef. I didn't know how the dolsot bibimbap was made without the stone bowl, which usually cooks the rice while your eating, so you can a nice crust around your rice towards the end of your meal. Basically the dolsot bibimbap to go was mimicking that experience with frying the ingredients before serving. At first, I thought the portion size was a bit small, but after eating it, I was surprised how filling it was. The gochujang or hot sauce was mixed in. The food was cooked well and it tasted great. It had a good amount of spice.

The only compaint I had about this place was that it's a bit pricey for my specific order. It was close to $14 for a relatively small rice dish. Maybe next time I may order a dish without the dolsot ($1) and beef ($3) upgrade and see how it is. The vegetable bibimbap seems decently priced at $8.95.

Not great, not bad. I ordered the beef dolsot bimbimbap. Skip the dolsot if you are expecting the rice to get crispy - it doesn't. Small portion, light on the meat, but it tasted okay. We ate in, but I think due to this damn covid thing, we didn't get any banchan.
If I came back here, I would probably go for just the veggie bimbimbap - a better value for the money.

I really, really wanted to like BAP, but at the end of the day, even the small hole-in-the wall, owned by elderly couple with small decorations and limited menu could not rescue the establishment from a 4-star review.

The biggest disappointment for BAP is the food, which is tragic. I love Korean food, and I fancy Bibimbap and korean pancakes. However, both versions at BAP were just a few notes short. The pancakes were dry and thick and fairly bland. The bibimbap, granted we got the regular version (non hot pot), was served almost at cool-room temperature without any close attention to how the flavors and texture coexisted with each other. The Japchae (noodle) was the greatest disappointment as it was served with a larger and too generous portion of white rice without any other sustenance.

Objectively, the food was underwhelming, but if you take in the whole picture, the small and unassuming quaint place settings, you'd have a good time.

Food: 2-3 stars
Ambiance: 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: 3 stars

3.5 stars (3 stars for food, 4 stars for price, service)

BAP is a no frills traditional Korean food establishment that has been doing takeout this pandemic. The menu is just a few items long and largely consists of different types of bibimbap, all under $10. Ordering was really effortless -- I called ahead with my order for a vegetable and chicken bibimbap and it was ready within 15 minutes. Pickup was also easy and done at a window in the front of the store with a really nice elderly man who I assume is one of the owners. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they gave us free coffee packets which I have since used (I love me some Vietnamese iced coffee).

The food itself was okay. With the price point, the speed of service, and the no frills menu, I assume the bibimbap is meant to compete with other fast food options, and as a result it should be critiqued as such. Within this category of food, BAP provides a light, healthy, and balanced alternative, which I appreciated. However I think the portion size of the vegetable one was a little small and the flavor slightly bland. You'd do better with spending that extra dollar for additional tofu or meat. Overall, though, it was fine for a $9 bibimbap if you're looking for it. If I lived in the area I could see myself going back if I needed a quick healthy meal and wanted to support a small local business.

Bap is run by a very friendly elderly couple that, coupled with the cozy decor, really make it feel like we're in someone's home.

The wood floors and tables are a dark wood and the warm lighting is dim. There's no music playing and it's often empty. In sum, this makes for a great place on a cold winter day to grab hot soup or dolsot bibimbap.

Prices are reasonable and you'll see from my photos that I got a filling dolsot tofu bibimbap and traditional ginger cinnamon tea.

I'd come back again for a casual meal and suggest you do the same.

Great place with incredible genuine food and a hard working man running the place. I highly recommend coming here for the best Korean food and supporting this family.

I've been told I have nice BAPs. I have no idea what that means.

Booty And Pecs?
Bum And Posture?
B*lls And P**is?

Who knows.

But anyway. This is the only Korean food I've had in Philly and I liked it. A lot. Especially the price.

I ordered Yuk Gae Jang as I always do.

This YGJ was nothing like anything else I've had - in fact idk if it was even YGJ to be honest lol - but at this price who is complaining. Five dollars or so. It was just like really delicious beef soup and I pretty much finished the whole thing despite not being that hungry. Lovely service too.

Speaking of lovely service, want to check out my BAPs?

Nice quaint little hole in the wall for the basic Bibimbap or jap chae. Extremely small menu but overall quality was okay. Portion size it was filling not over the top but enough to be full.

Price was moderate. Shrimp pancake, beef Bibimbap and soondobu soup was about $36 for the two of us.

Normally the Bibimbap is separate and I would mix it myself but in this case they mixed it for me before I got it...so it'll get an average rating...

3.5

I am a japchae fiend. I can eat gallons of that stuff if it's in front of me. I was excited that this popular and well-reviewed place was close to my office. It's a tiny place, so they purposefully only offer a few signature dishes, all under $10.

I finally had a chance to pop in and ordered the japchae with anticipation. I think it was just under $9, a bit pricy in my opinion for a vegetarian japchae with a small scoop of rice. It didn't have that much flavor, to be honest.

Friendly gentleman who took my order, cooked and rang me up.

Very nice korean bibimbap on the go.
It's a small menu so it's great for people that wanna come and look at a simple menu in front of ur face and go.
I do like the japchae, but it was half the box. And do they mean by "vegetable" japchae because there wasn't any meat.
But in my opinion, you get what you pay for the beef bibimbap.
The vegetables and rice did not even fill up half of the height of the take out bento box. The marinated beef was good though.

I was full but it's not enough for a male tummy FYI.