Maybe it was because you were supposed to stir all the ingredients together for the flavors to blend, which I did not do, or maybe because I did not find it appealing to pour raw egg over the mixture. I could not understand why one of my buddies was just crazy about it and why it was the first item she always looked for at any restaurant.
But last Friday noon, my buddy Eric dared me to try one variation of the bibimbap at Seoul One restaurant in Garapan — the “dolsot” bibimbap or bibimbap served in a “stone pot.” I was not that excited about a second encounter with a bibimbap, but my apprehensions evaporated the minute the food staff served two sizzling pots on our table.
The stone pots were so hot, turning the rice at the bottom into a crispy, golden brown color. The tantalizing aroma as you stir all the ingredients together adds to the anticipation of a satisfying meal. Our orders came with six side dishes of mushrooms, potatoes, scrambled egg, kimchi, and more in dainty servings. I hate to admit that I almost finished everything in my dish.
It did not require any effort to convince my out-to-eat buddies to pay Seoul One a visit on Saturday evening and off we went at past 9 p.m.
The place was almost deserted as it was past the regular dinner time. We picked out a table by the glass windows and were treated to a view of what Garapan has to offer at night
I ordered the $12 stone pot rice with raw beef and hesitated when it was served. I did not fancy eating raw beef but just wanted to test how hot the pot was. In a few minutes, my bibimbap was perfect to eat — sizzling hot, all flavors blended and every strip of the tender beef cooked just how I liked it.
One of my buddies ordered the $7 spicy pork and kimchi stew with a serving of rice which was served bubbling hot in a small pot so that he had to wait for sometime before he can dig into it. My other companion ordered the stone pot rice mixed with vegetables for $8. We dug into our food with gusto, pausing every now and then to fan our tongues or whistle as the spicy flavors nipped at our taste buds.
Other options in the hot pot rice menu at Seoul One Restaurant are the beef oxtail soup, rice mixed with vegetables, soy bean stew with rice, chicken with ginseng, rice garlic soup, and beef rib soup, all from $7 to $12.
Seoul One Restaurant also serves roast meat such as beef short ribs, sirloin, beef tongues, sliced pork belly or bulgogi (Korea traditional roast beef), fish and assorted seafood which you can grill or barbeque at your table, all for $15 per order.
Check out the restaurant’s sumptuous hot pot stews, raw fish delights, popular Korean dishes, rice and noodle dishes, and more — mostly within your $7-$15 budget range. Seoul One also serves a long list of drinks and beverages, beers, Soju, whisky and wines.
Seoul One is located on the second floor of Sushi Restaurant across from GIG Discotheque. They are open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. All major credit cards are accepted. For reservations, call 233-1900 or 233-7776.
