Bibimbap is a traditional Korean dish served in a heated stone bowl.
Steamed rice is topped with sliced beef, sautéed vegetables and chili pepper paste (gochujang), fermented soy bean paste (doenjang) or soy sauce, and a raw or fried egg added.
Korean food lovers know that once the bibimbap is set before them, they should mix the toppings, making sure the runny yolk coats the rice and the other ingredients.
Last month, The Relish Group that brought in Wee Nam Kee, Osaka Osho, and Kumori bakeshop opened its own dining concept that gives a new spin to bibimbap.
Rock & Seoul on the ground floor of The Block at SM North Edsa is a midsize restaurant that offers bibimbap in several variants served on sizzling hot plates.
Managing partner Linfred Yap said they originally “wanted a Korean restaurant that catered to the younger market and gave a Hard Rock Café vibe.”
To achieve the vintage rock look, a ledge lining one of the walls is filled with music memorabilia—long-playing records, a boom box, amplifiers, and electric guitars.
“It just snowballed from there,” he said.
Guests can mix their own bibimbap by choosing four vegetables from the menu and one protein (beef, pork or chicken).
15 variants
If they want to take the guesswork out of the equation, they can choose from 15 variants, all priced under P300.
“At Rock & Seoul, we welcome customization,” said Louie Ngo, another partner. “Guests can personalize their orders. It’s similar to Juju Eats and Project Pie where guests can choose what goes into their salads and wraps or on top of their pizzas.”
Some of the 15 “Signature Baps” include Rock & Seoul’s Classic Original Bibimbap, juicy Beef Bulgogi Bibimbap and crispy Korean Fried Chicken Bibimbap.
There are “healthier” alternatives like Mixed Seafood Bibimbap and Vegetarian Tofu Bibimbap.
Fancy a fusion of cultures? Rock & Seoul has a Mexican Taco Bibimbap with lettuce, cheese, chips and ground meat; an American Breakfast Bibimbap with bacon, hash brown and hamburger patty; and a Persian Shawarma Bibimbap with tender beef slices and a creamy cilantro sauce.
Each of these is served with fried egg and a pat of spicy kimchi butter.
You might be better off sticking to the original or Beef Bulgogi variants, however, as the American Breakfast Bibimbap was dry and uninspired while the Korean Fried Chicken lacked spice.
The menu also lists other Korean favorites like Chap Chae, Spicy Silken Tofu Stew and Pajeon (Korean pancake).
Rock & Seoul is located across the supermarket at The Block at SM City North Edsa.