- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Bibim-Bar
Category: Restaurants Korean Korean [Edit]
141 1st Ave(between St Marks Pl & 9th St)
New York, NY 10003
Neighborhood: East Village
(212) 529-2746
- Nearest Transit:
-
1 Av (L)
3 Av (L)
Astor Pl (4, 6, 6X)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Karin G. said: "Well, there are so many places I like in Koreatown, but this was a real treat. We were happy to be the only non-Asians in the place at the time, so we felt sure it met with the in-the-know seal of approval. I had a dried fish and…" read more »
45 reviews for Bibim-Bar
Review Highlights
"Hot stone bibimbap is SO good, I can't get enough of the..."
(in 6 reviews)
"spicy pork, bulgogi, flying fish roe."
(in 3 reviews)
"Excellent ramen and pork buns."
(in 13 reviews)
Loading...
45 reviews in English
-
Review from Rachael L.
Westfield, NJ
1/22/2012
This restaurant is in East Village which makes it a great location if you want to go out in this area following dinner. We had a large group so we got and order of pork Goyza, Shrimp Goyza, Shumai, and a Seafood pancake for appetizers. I really enjoyed the seafood pancake, and if I go back, I will definitely order this dish again. Not only was this large enough to share among our group of six but the seafood that was inside the pancake was fresh and the pieces of squid were very tender/delicious! I wasn't the biggest fan of the Shumai (8 per order) because they were tiny and kind of bland. However, I did enjoy both types of Goyza.
For entrees I had the marinated Beef Ribeye Dolsot Bibim Bap which was great! The rice was crispy and the beef and veggies were very flavorful! One of my friends ordered the spicy pork Bulgogi which she said was EXTREMELY spicy. Another person got marinated short ribs which looked good but looked like there were a lot of bones, and another person got the marinated beef ribeye which was delicious!
As for the ambiance, the decor is ok, and they have a TV at the bar the plays k-pop the entire night. I didn't mind it, but I know some of the people in our group didn't really enjoy the music. Also, it was a little drafty where we were sitting due to the large glass windows in the back of the restaurant.
Regarding service, we at when it wasn't that busy, but there was only one waitress. She was very nice, but a little slow with everything. At the same time, I know that I'm a little impatient so maybe for most people she would have been a good waitress? Either way, despite the service, I really enjoyed eating here.
Service (B), Food (A-), Overall (B+) -
Review from David J.
New York, NY
1/8/2012
I have been meaning to come here for about a year, mainly because I thought the name was clever. We went as a party of 2 at 8:00 on a Saturday night, and the place was completely empty except for the woman who worked there! She was very happy to see us, said yes of course, they were open, and we should please sit down. We proceeded to have a delicious meal in complete privacy. Not a single customer walked in during our entire dinner.
We ordered a bottle of the ginseng rice wine (bek se ju), which we had never tasted before. It has a pleasing bittersweet taste that reminded me a little of Campari, but sweeter.
For an appetizer we ordered sweet potato noodles cooked with meat and veg's, and the waitress seemed sincerely enthused. She said it was really tasty, and she was right. We had never had that dish before, but we both really liked it.
There was a big-screen TV behind the bar, blasting videos of truly vapid Korean pop music. She turned the music down at our request.
The main courses were bibimbop, one in a stone bowl with beef, the other spicy pork in a regular bowl. We enjoyed everything we ate. If the reader is wondering, neither I nor my dinner companion are Korean, and we have never been to Korea. I can't say if it's authentic or not, but I know that we liked it. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I hope that when we go back, the place is more crowded! -
Review from Linh N.
1/6/2012 3 photos
Not a bad place at all, although you're going to need to know where this is to actually be able to find it and eat at. Bibim-Bar is located behind a ramen restaurant, the front is the usual ramen bar but when you walk to the back, it's a whole new vibe. Chic and modern with dim lights and a big screen TV with Korean songs playing in the background.
The night was slow, not a lot of people know about this place hence the lack of customers. The waitress was attentive and served my boyfriend and I quite well. We had the Teok-Bokee, rice cake in spicy sauce; Japchae, stir-fried sweet potato noodles with vegetables and beef; and Marinated Beef Rib Eye Dolsot Bibim Bap, assorted vegetables over steamed rice in a hot stone pot. All the dishes were delicious and filling.
This is definitely one of those whole in the wall places that you need to find and search for, it's worth a visit. The Japchae was my favorite of all and the big flat screen just made the meal more worthwhile. -
Review from Jim C.
New York, NY
1/3/2012
Bi Bim Bap @ Bi Bim Bar. What else is there to order? I've had the spicy pork bulgogi and seafood pancake here as well, very tasty. Friendly service, never a wait. Hot and delicious. Great to walk off the street into this hidden east village gem. A slick move for something romantic without being heavy handed, too. Nice little bar to eat at.
-
Review from samantha s.
New York, NY
11/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not too much to say here. Fantastic service. Great food. Decent prices. We had our food in our faces in less then 10 minutes. Super hot though, i burnt my mouth (as usual with soup) but thats not their fault.
They do not have much for munchies, though i dont think a place like this normally would.
Id definitely go back on cold days. -
Review from Lili K.
8/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very cute name ('n slightly witty) and friendly servers, but the ramen was just plain terrible.
I asked them if they could make it spicy, but they did not. The soup base tasted like it was from mee yuk guk (the seaweed type soup), which gave it a fishy smell and taste (ick). The pork was hard, the half egg was good, but other than that...the ramen was below average. -
Review from Jeff T.
Washington, DC
5/29/2011
It's fun reading super passionate Koreans complaining viciously about how the food here doesn't meet their exact specifications. Since I'm Chinese, I don't really have any vivid memories of mama's bibimbap or the nightmarkets of Seoul, so I found the place to be quite good.
Service was super prompt and polite. We received our banchan immediately with free refills on the ones we wanted more of. Kimchi jeon was flavorful and crispy on the edges. Ribeye bibimbap was portioned well, egg was cooked perfectly, and it was altogether very satisfying.
Ok, so I may have added an extra half star because I love the name so much. I'm a sucker for food puns. -
Review from Eva C.
East Village, Manhattan, NY
10/26/2011
So disappointing. A very far cry from authentic Korean. Side dishes were pitiful. Pancake was undercooked.
-
Review from Jinsoo L.
New York, NY
1/23/2011
You can't fool me. I'm korean. I know good bi bim bop when I eat it and this isn't it. Here are the list of random thoughts about bi bim bar:
1. Lack of ingredients: throwing some spouts and spinach and cheap bul gogi doesn't make it bi bim bop. It sounds like a meal that I eat when i have no money and those are the only things left in my fridge
2. Egg: Good bi bim bop has sunny side eggs. Not overly fried eggs that doesn't even look like a professional made it.
3. Rice: Too much damn rice.
4. Thuck Bok yee: tastes like thuck and ggo choo jaang. Did a 5 year old make this?
Just had a thought... The food here tastes like what you get a Woorijip in ktown. except getting thuck bok yee and 2 bi bim bops doesn't cost $35.
If you want good korean food, goto Boka.. -
Review from Caleb K.
Manhattan, NY
4/17/2011
Food was alright (quality for the most part matches the price), but the service was great. It may have been the fact we were one of two tables in the back and there was only one server, but that one server was prompt and definitely on her A-game. I never once had to ask her for more water, she always made sure there was a filled jug available on the table. I also went with the group of 5 and we each paid with credit card (I always feel guilty doing that but I have a horrible habit of not carrying enough cash). There were no "minimum charges" for credit card and she politely accepted our tedious method of payment.
I ordered the spicy ramen with a pork bun on the side. The ramen was decent, but definitely not as good at ippudo or toto. The pork bun hit the spot, and I would definitely order it again.
All in all I would not recommend going to great lengths to come to this place. However if you are with a few buddies and just want a chill place for some ramen, this place fits the bill. -
Review from Pearl H.
Long Island City, NY
8/31/2010
I love Bibim Bar! It's like this korean gem in the midst of the EV madness!
we used to have to trek out to Flushing or Koreatown (blech) to get our bibimbap or bulgogi cravings satiated, however! Right around the corner, and kind of obscurly located behind the Japanese noodle place, is BiBim Bar! Wahooo!
We always get the bulgogi, which sits juicily on a nice bed of greens, and dolsot bibim bap (hot stone mixed rice) usually get it with beef or pork. It's moderately priced, considering most Koreanfood places in Manhattan are ridiculously overpriced.
The service is sometimes questionable, but maybe that's because we stop in late on a off day, or maybe not, I don't know. It's usually friendly but sometimes we feel like we're interrupting the owners/workers from hanging out....
We love getting our food with the ban chon (side dishes) and a bottle of Chamisil soju or Bek Se Ju and just hang out and eat.
The space is cool, it's dim and clean. They have a back area with a sky light (almost like a greenhouse) it's just a long section with a big table that is probably used during the day I assume.
The inside area we sit at consists of a walled couch with I think like 10-12 tables. We sit at the bar, right in front of the alcohol! Haha! It's like this granite top counter space/bar. It's very cute. And I like sitting on the stool chairs, so I can swing my legs as I gorge on yummy korean food :)
Prices again, are moderate, I think we usually spend about $30/pp but that's also cause we drink bottle or two of soju and beer.
This place is a gem, check it out! They are open pretty late night too! ENjoy! :) -
Review from Ginn C.
New York, NY
5/14/2010
Sometimes, it's really hard to be Korean-American.
Especially if you are a Yelper.
I am somewhat proud of being Korean, which means that sometimes I feel that I should not be giving Korean businesses a bad rating. Perhaps it is because of my upbringing.
My mom used to say that I should, "always support Korean families and allow their businesses thrive no matter what," which made sense because Michigan has smaller communities of Koreans and networking was kind of important.
But I am also an American, which means that I believe in freedom (of speech), liberty, justice, and the right to bear arms.
(Weapon of choice: potato gun fueled by hairspray.)
Anyways, the point of all this is, the food was not great here. If at any time while eating I start to think, "man, I'm a bad cook and I could have made this at home better," I know that I am not a fan of their food.
I started off with some BBQ pork and BBQ beef buns, which was a lot like drinking a bottle of cheap barbecue sauce. I consider any food terrible if I can't get a handle of what it actually would taste like, because it is over smothered with some strong sauce.
The bibimbop wasn't too horrible, and it was nice that it came in a sizzling stone bowl, but it sure was lacking; the picture of the bibimbop on the menu had more ingredients than the ingredients that were in my dish, which was also very anticlimactic. Same goes for the Soontobu stew.
The service was alright for only one person waiting the tables, and it was a crowded day. But the interior of this place is very clean and nice in their presentation. I really liked their wood and rope wall decor, and the glass ceilings.
But oh, what a heartbreak. Considering that I know what good Korean food is, I had a hard time accepting what I was given to me, and I know that they can do better. -
Review from Athena C.
This Bar restaurant is hidden behind Ramen Setagaya so you might have walked by many times without even realizing it.
This Korean restaurant is intimate and not crowded. The waitress was friendly and quick. We ordered bibimbop and soontobu for dinner.
Food is decent. It is not the best tofu stew I have but It is alright. Bibimbop here was flavorful and has plenty of toppings.
I think this is pretty good in East Village but of course not as good as BCD or Kun Kip in Ktown.
They do have a full bar serving alcohol. -
Review from Michael D.
Jackson Heights, NY
6/30/2009
Bad bibim-bop, bad.
_____ -
Review from Briana M.
7/22/2009
Wah wah wah, poor babies can't get the Ultimate Bibim-bap....
I suggest you go somewhere other than the back of a ramen shop to find it.
ANYWAY.....
I thought this place was great, and I am pretty picky when it comes to Korean. Maybe I went in not expecting much, but sometimes you benefit from that. Since I started yelping I realized what a horrible food snob I am, and am trying to change my ways.
Anyway, Bibim-Bar clearly put a lot of effort into their space. They're going for a modern look, but it's kind of trendy, to the point that its tacky now and I feel like I'm in one of the lounges I would frequent in college. The fact that its pretty much always empty makes it a pretty intimate place to eat.
We ordered the Japchae appetizer ($6) and the dolset bimbim-bap (beef, $12). We also decided on a small, $12.00 bottle of soju. I figured this was more of a novelty spot where we wouldn't get much in the way of banchan, so the complimentary plate of kimchi was a welcome surprise, along with some meh miso soup. i don't know what kind of kimchi a previous reviewer got, but ours was zesty, spicy and perfectly crunchy.
When the japchae arrived we were very pleasantly surprised. Japchae isn't usually served in the largest portion, but this "appetizer" was enough to fill me up- and it was delicious! The bibim-bop was nothing to scream about, but it was more than edible and tasted very earthy. The crust from the bottom added an interesting texture and the hot sauce, while nothing impressive, made it a bit more interesting.
The piece de resistance was definitely the complimentary Yuzu Sojutini that the adorable waitresses served us. After that we were definitely a little more than tipsy. I thank them for making what would have been a drizzly, unpleasant commute a rosy faced pilgrimage back to the crib to...have fun. ;-)
Our bill came to about $32.00, which I think was a total steal. I recommend this place to anyone who wants to down the soju and get some decent Korean eats while they're at it!Listed in: LADIES NIGHT
-
Review from Craig L.
Queens, NY
Updated - 4/24/2011
I have to state that about 6 months ago or so, I stopped going to Bibim-bar. All the neat things that made it unique and awesome are kind of gone. They stopped giving us bronze chopsticks (the first time I went and they didn't, I asked and they gave them.. after that though, the waitresses didn't know what I was talking about). The bibimbap itself changed, and it seemed to taste not as.. unique, I guess? I wish I could put my finger on it, but I can't.
Also: there were white dudes working there, and they were getting loud and fratty with some of the customers at the bar. And I was in a frat.
It's fine.. I just miss the old bibimbar.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/13/2010
Bibim-Bar might be my favorite restaurant. It's hidden in the back of Ramen Setagaya and I've never… Read more »
-
-
Review from Hideki K.
3/11/2009
Bibim-Bar is a hidden Bibim Bap Restaurant in the nook behind the 1st Ave Setagaya Ramen.
The Squab and I both ordered our own spicy pork bibim baps to-go. Too bad the stone pot (dolsot) bibim baps are unavailable for take-out, for obvious reasons. I'll try a dolsot bibim bap next time.
As for the spicy pork bibim bap, I felt there was not enough pork (about 5 small strips). The veggie ingredients tasted fresh, but all in all, the bibim bap tasted subpar.
I went on Wed night last week and the place was eerily empty. Empty to the point where I felt bad for the workers. You could feel the current economic downturn severely affecting this new Korean specialty restaurant's busy-ness. An even more obvious sign were two leaks that had sprung from the ceiling. The only remedy for this were two plastic buckets placed under them to catch the water.
They did have a 1,500 year old Buddha statue on hand though. This place will need some luck. Ramen Setagaya in front was packed wall-to-wall while Bibim-Bar only had 1 dine-in customer inside. This is pretty sad because most of Bibim-Bar's offerings are under $10. -
Review from Renee C.
New York, NY
4/29/2009
Me: "Hi, excuse me, what's considered mountain vegetables?"
Cute Waitress: "Oh, Ummmm... wewl I dooonNOooo, Dey arw awwll Kowean Vegetables...hhehheh..(puts her cute hand over her mouth)."
Me:"OMG you are soo cute! It's OK thanks for trying!"
I'm NOT mocking her, she was literally so CUTE when she answered my question, I wanted to smuggle her out in my pocket after dinner!
3 of us shared 3 stonepot bibimbaps..spicy pork, bulgogi, flying fish roe...
A little disappointed that they only give you a miso soup and a little wedge of kimchi to start when I was expecting at least a few from a Korean place.
Portions were a little small and the seasonings a little lacking, but I enjoyed the crispy rice from the stone pot and loved their CUTE teacups! Their citron tea was really good! -
Review from Allison M.
Neptune City, NJ
2/20/2011
Had dinner here last night with a group of people. Great place for a large table. Excellent ramen and pork buns! The service is great and the atmosphere is clean and sophisticated. All this, and their prices are VERY reasonable. Definitely worth a trip if Momofuku is full.
-
Review from Tammy t.
San Francisco, CA
5/11/2009
The sign out side say: "Best bibimbap in New York"
I am not so sure about that. Don't get me wrong it wasn't bad but it was not the best.
It's kind of hard to find, it's in the back of a ramen place.
It's a very nice place with natural light.
I order the Tofu bibimbap it was good. they give only 2 side dishes and very little miso soup.
I wanted some hot sauce to make it spice but the waitress said they were out of hot sauce??? weird...
with the bill they give you a buy 9 get one free bibimbap card... not sure i would want to eat there 9 more time -
Review from Kei Ling W.
New York, NY
8/27/2010
I looked up this place online since I wanted to do Korean food but did not want to head up to 32nd Street in order to get some.
The restaurant is in the back of Ramen Setagaya but it looks like they might be owned by the same owners.
The restaurant is very modern and chic, however, because of the small space, the restaurant gave off a very homey and comforting atmosphere. It is also very nice that they have an "outdoor" seating, which is outdoor but also protected by a light overhead covering.
The staff here are very very nice. They are very very accommodating. I really like the service. They were attentative but not to a point where they are constantly hovering over you while you eat.
The food was okay. For the Soon Don Boh (Tofu soup), it was not as good as the one from Seoul Garden in Ktown. The dolsot bimibop was actually really good and had a bit of a twist from the authentic Korean kind. The pandan was also very unique because it had marinaded eggplants (which I really loved). I would go back again just for the bimibop and also because of the location (I don't want to always have to go to 32nd St for bimibop). -
Review from Taiyo O.
5/7/2009 4 photos
I went for lunch today. My friend was waiting for me outside and puzzling....
"Do you want to try..?"
"Ramen?" I said.
"No!"
We were standing at Ramen Setagaya. We had to look hard to find their entrance. The clear glass doors of Setagaya and Bibim-Bar door next to it did not help to find the entrance. The glass panel of walls from Setagaya did not help either. Once entered, it opened up and welcome light came down from the sky light. We sat at the corner of the bar where natural light was glowing and the dark leather-like barstool has nice foam cushioning. I fet comfortable.
I asked for Citron tea that Renee C. recommended. Tea cup was very cute. It has a lit (see my photo). Initially I thought it was too sweet but I really enjoyed the sliced bitter-sweet lemon peels at the end. Then, I thought I could make this easy with lemon marmalade and add hot water! It might come out like it. I would definitely try. I did also like my charming waiter. I spoke what I knew of Korean and she taught me some Korean.
We had Bulgogi Bibimbop in the very hot stone pot. The square cut small Daikon and few sliced red cabbage soup(?) was light and delicate. I loved it! Their version Kimichi was light and fresh....healthy...? There were boxes of sprouts were growing behind me. The Kimichi was not spicy nor garlicky unfortunately. Their approach maybe simply healthy Americanized Korean(?). Even their version of Gochujang (chili pepper paste) was not traditional hot sauce. It was too mild for my liking and didn't even help mixing with other ingredients. It was definitely lacking salt for me. But if you are healthy conscious, this might be the place (choose veggie Bibimbop instead). I liked the raw egg mixing into the sizzling hot pot with other ingredients but the rice didn't stuck to the bowl and crisp up on the bottom and feeling of missing the texture that should coming from a hot stone pot...... -
Review from Mohammad R.
New York, NY
5/23/2010 5 photos
A little hide out in the East Village.
The place was so quiet and peaceful, I'd like to keep it that way.
So I wont tell more...
Except maybe the food was OK. -
Review from Phannie P.
Milwaukee, WI
12/20/2009
As I'm not a huge fan of Ramen Setagaya, I didn't find it hard to pass up when I breezed past it to try out Bibim-Bar.
The space is nicely decorated and modern. Simple clean lines and I think the place would be pretty cool at night if it turned into more of a bar/lounge.
I decided to try out this place on a rainy day and was craving some Korean food. I thought, "If this place is called Bibim-bar, their Bibimbap should be pretty good!"
Well it wasn't all that great...at all.
I really wanted to like this place, since it didn't seem to get as much attention as Setagaya. (I go for the underdogs.) But I just couldn't get over my disappointment with the dish.
The server was nice and friendly, but it took FOREVER to get my food-- and I was 1 of 2 customers in the whole place!
So overall, this is a witty-less and lackluster review because this place zapped any cleverness I had in my bibimbap-craving brain with their lackluster BBB. -
Review from Jen L.
New York, NY
4/29/2009
I like this place!!! However, no one was there. Not a great location since it's hard to find.
I had the kimchi bibim bap (stone pot) and loved it. It was flavorful and tasty and good and hot and the portion size was good.
The app was ok. Some pan fried cake mix. Nothing to rave about.
The service is very nice and attentive (I love that she was always refilling my water glass without my having to ask) but it was probably easier because no one else was there.
The price is a bit pricey for a place that gives a smaller portion size and no side dishes (pan chan).
I would definitely go back. I liked it a lot and I love bibim pap! -
Review from lauren r.
Astoria, NY
2/20/2011
I went into BiBim Bar with the intention of shaking up my palate and trying something out-of-the-norm, but left feeling comforted by the warm and inviting flavors of bi bim bop. I'm struggling to understand how this place has a 3 star average. Maybe I'm not familiar enough with Korean food to detect a lack of authenticity, but the bottom line is that the food is really frickin' good. You get a lot for the price, the atmosphere is cool, and the server I had was friendly and attentive. I got the bi bim bop with pork and my girlfriend got the same but with beef. Wowie is the only word that comes to mind when attempting to describe the mix of rice, meat, veggies and egg that came out sizzling in a clay pot. Although I liked the beef better, both dishes were great, and so were the included appetizers. As a bonus, we got free sake with their "recession special." Yum, I'll be back.
-
Review from Ajay J.
New York, NY
4/24/2011
Above average. Not as good as some places in K-town, but still satisfying.
-
Review from Melissa V.
Bedford-Stuyvesant, NY
2/18/2011
Since when was bibimbap proportions 80% rice, 10% veggies and 10% meat? Since going to Bibim-bar, thats when. Also, when I order a dish with brown rice and you bring me it with white and then give me attitude and tell me that I didn't order that, screw you. I guess I'd be bitter too if I had to work in such a subpar restaurant. Lucky you bitter betty that you and your coworker share tips, otherwise you would have been getting nada from this patron.
-
Review from John S.
Brooklyn, NY
9/16/2009
The food is good! The service has been a problem for me except that one time we were the only people in the place.
The next time I went there were only people at two tables, and one of us finally had to stand up walk across the room and tap the waitress on the shoulder in order to get her attention. She either knew the people at the other table or was hitting it off with them in a big way and she chatted happilly with them for what seemed like 10 minutes or more with her back to us, not once even turning her head to see if someone, oh, had been sitting there with empty dishes for what seemed like 10 minutes and now would like their check so they could go. She was very apologetic about this, though.
The time I came before it was crowded and they brought food for my date but none to me until I pointed that out to them.
The food: I like it a lot. I'm no expert in Korean food, but I enjoy the hot stone bibimbap here a lot, and it's fairly inexpensive. That's another reason the service isn't really that much of a star-remover in my rating--this isn't really fine dining (though the decor and lighting make a pretty good atmosphere). It's kind of party, kind of hearty, and I will be back. -
Review from Emi T.
Glenmont, NY
3/19/2009 2 photos
Bibim-Bar's location made it a little difficult to find. When I went inside, the atmosphere was clean and relaxing but the restaurant was empty (a total contrast to the grimy but packed Setagaya Ramen in front). Only one other person showed up, but I was nearly finished by then. As I had previously mentioned, I don't like empty. Empty isn't fun.
I ordered the bulgogi bibimbap with brown rice. Since I had never had a stone pot bibimbap before, I decided to go with that option. It came with an appetizer of boring miso soup (which I didn't drink to save room for the bibimbap) and a bowl of radish and carrot kimchi which was floating in a bright pink liquid. Seriously, look at my photo. The funky color didn't affect the taste; it was just regular kimchi.
When the waitress brought my bibimbap she warned me that it was extremely hot. She was beyond right. That bibimbap scalded my tongue like it had never been scalded before, and the searing burn continued even after I had left the restaurant. The intense heat left me unable to taste anything, save for the kimchi and the bulgogi. I wish there was more bulgogi; it was good and there wasn't enough of it.
The brown rice was actually red rice; being heated in the stone pot toasted it and made it crispy on the bottom, which created an interesting texture. The vegetables were fresh; I wish I could have tasted them.
I will give this place one more chance. Next time I'm going for the regular bibimbap. I'm not going to pay extra to sustain oral injuries. -
Review from Allison h.
New York, NY
12/6/2010
Well priced, some interesting appetizer options, but I've had way better. We both got the bimimbap and there was hardly any meat in the dish. We shared the sweet potato noodles which were by far the highlight of the meal. I love that happy hour lasts till 8pm......or maybe its always 50% off, just like those 50% off sushi places that give me the creeps. Cool wall art made of rope handles. Won't be back, but for a one time stop by its fine/maybe worth a try.
-
Review from Stefan D.
New York, NY
1/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Spicy pork bibimbap which was good even without a stone pot and it burned the rice a bit giving some crunch. Still the perfect meal for a cold day, and living around the corner makes it worth not having to go all the way to k-town.
-
Review from Paul Charles L.
New York, NY
3/27/2009
Food is good, decor is nice, prices are good, services was good.
Ya, just walk through the front door and ignore the stares from the chefs of the other restaurant. It is quite big in back, not a small place, seats over 50 I'd guess.
They have a covered patio like seating area in the way back.
Bar stools too, about a dozen, plenty of room all along the restaurant. -
Review from Dan B.
New York, NY
9/17/2010
Incredible. Get the beef dolsot bibim bop. So delicious.
-
Review from Maggie D.
Seattle, WA
10/22/2010
2.5 stars from 5/2/10
Vague menu in a terrible hard-to-read font, loud bad music and weird service was somewhat made up for with pretty tasty food all round. -
Review from Jo K.
New York, NY
7/7/2009
I think this place is too authentic for everyone. But as a Korean, I loooove this place. I can pretty much eat here everyday. They're menu is a very traditional menu of the various bibimbaps found around different regions of Korea. I especially liked the spicy octopus bbb and the raw meat bbb, and to my dismay those two were taken off the menu last time I ate there. Haha, no surprise- i guess everyone wants bulgogi.. The portions are perfect, price is decent, and very authentic Korean food- what's not to like? However, sadly i know this place isn't doing too well with the "authentic-ness" and I overheard the owner talking about adding some bulgogi wraps.. ugh... and the bastardization begins...
-
Review from Kira M.
Los Angeles, CA
12/31/2009
BibimBar would be a dream come true for me, a bibimbap fanatic, so I was very disappointed when it fell far short of my expectations. The varieties listed on the menu are deceptively promising. I kept it simple by choosing the bulgogi option. The dish apeared and tasted normal at first, but got progressively drier as time went on. The closer I got to the bottom of the bowl, the more frequently I had to take long drags of water from my glass. I l-o-v-e eating sand.
Listed in: An Ode to Things Korean
-
Review from Cynthia Y.
Briarwood, NY
6/18/2011
the food isn't tasty. I never will go to the place again.
-
Review from Stella K.
New York, NY
10/22/2009
I have yet to find a Korean place in the East Village that satisfies me. Bibim Bar is ok in that respect. They have pretty good prices especially during lunch time. It's not the best bibim bap but its not terrible. The food is ok, service is a little non-existent. It's a good atmosphere if you need a relatively quiet environment to talk and want to generally be left alone. If you want good Korean food an acceptable price you really have to go to Flushing Queens or find a Korean Mom. Sorry.
-
Review from W D.
New York, NY
11/7/2009
Great food, atmosphere and price--love this place! and the people working there are SO nice. its a lovely space, and its unfortunate that not more people know about it or go there. i hope they survive! The last restaurant they had there -- Wafu Pasta -- was also great. not sure why people are not catching on...
Unlike other reviewers, i don't find the portions small. Also, its a tapas bar, not a restaurant, which means they are not going to give you a bunch of small side dishes free, since they sell them---tapas! so don't go there for trad midtown style restaurant experience. but DO go there!
