Located in the beating heart of Mill Road is Bibimbap House, a small independent Korean restaurant famed for its Bibimbap dishes.

Bibimbap is a popular Korean dish that has been around for centuries and is centered predominantly around a bowl of rice. The word stands for “mixing” due to the concoction of different dishes that come alongside it. This makes it a balanced, convenient, and a great all-in-one meal that is entirely customisable.

Bibimbap House has been going for as long as I can remember. I recall walking past all the way back in 2012 and very little has changed since then. Clearly, they have a winning formula, as to last this long in a turbulent and highly competitive Cambridge restaurant scene must mean they are doing something right. It was a crime that I have not visited yet, so tonight I set out to end this injustice once and for all!

The restaurant is small and minimalist, with very little interior decorating. It is a place of practicality and optimised to make use of the minimal space inside. All-in-all, it is pleasant enough, with a great view of Mill Road, making it perfect for people watching while chowing down!

The menu isn’t huge but you come here for Bibimbap and Bibimbap only. You can buy a few little extras, such as ttokpokki rice cakes, kimchi (obviously!) and kimbab’s but that’s about it.

There are 7 Bibimbap choices available, including 4 done in Bulgogi style (marinated grilled meat), a few fish options, and one japcha style (like a stir fry). 

All Bibimbap dishes come with two side dishes and a soup and hover around the £16-18 mark. These can all be made large for £4 extra.

Bean curd pockets

We started off with some small bits to keep us going until the Bibimbap arrived. The bean curd pockets are small bite sized pieces of tofu with rice, that come with the option of either vegetables or tuna. I enjoyed the crispy skin and the blank canvas of rice in the middle, making them perfect for dipping in the different sauces available. They come in a selection of 4 but this works out well as they are quite large and filling.

Kimbabs

Kimbab is a type of Korean sushi and is served with either tuna or vegetables. It was presented as a long roll that has been chopped up into smaller bite sizes pieces. Crispy onion is garnished on top, adding a satisfying crunch that is further complimented by the roe that popped as you bite in. I was not overly keen on the tuna myself (as a personal preference) but it was an overall tasty dish that was also filling.

Bibimbap

The Bibimbap was brought out on a tray with a selection of smaller dishes surrounding a hot pot of rice with an egg, carrots, greens and bean sprouts.

The Bulgogi style pork was absolutely incredible. This plate could have been 3ft deep and I would have still asked for more. It was unimaginably soft and tender with a spicy flavour that really brought my taste buds to life. Marvellous!

My guest had the beef, which didn’t look as exciting as the spicy pork but I was told it was delicious. You could tell by looking at it that the beef was also very tender and soft – a trick they seem to have entirely mastered at Bibimbap House. The gochujang sauce (the thick red paste on the left above) is made from chillies and was perfect for thinking up or adding a savoury yet spicy flavour to the dish.

Bibimbap is a really fun dish that you can really make your own. The customisable nature of the dish means that you can mix everything together in the pot, eat each dish separately, or experiment with the sauces served alongside it. You can have it spicy or mild and it comes with a wide variety of vegetables. It is presented a little differently too, adding a novelty factor to your meal.

Conclusion

I had a blast at Bibimbap and cannot wait to return. It was such an unusual yet unanimously pleasant experience. Their skills at tenderising meat was something else and everything came out in a punctual manner, making this a great dish for a meal with friends or food something quick to eat on the go.

I won’t wait so long to visit again, that’s for sure!