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Phew! After a brief flurry of Tasteem reviews a couple of weeks ago, I took a little break from Tasteeming... however, I have a still growing list of places that I'm eating out at... I just wanted to try out the different formats of the contests!

Anyway, this week, I had a student unexpectedly cancel their lesson at the last moment.. which meant that I had time to get some dinner before the rest of the evening was consumed by teaching!

I was trying to think of a place that was relatively fast that I hadn't visited for Tasteem already, and I remembered this little Korean place called Mr Bap (Bap is the Korean word for rice) that had been recommended to me by a Korean friend and colleague.

The Space

The place is cute and small... in the winter and colder months it is actually quite nice, as the whole place is filled with the smells and warmth of cooking food! As always, when I'm looking for this restaurant, it was very easy to miss... it has a very narrow shopfront that isn't so obvious and tucked away from the main street in a very short shopping arcade. It is also surrounded by much larger restaurants and bars, so it is all too easy to walk past it... even if you are looking for it!

Everything is bright and light coloured... it is a pretty cheerful looking place that seems to be a family run business. There are also lots of Korean focussed magazines and literature on the walls for you to pass the time while your food is cooking.

Seating is narrow and cosy, but I have never found it too close. There are limited tables (pretty much what you see in the photo), so you will want to book ahead if you have a larger group.

The Menu

The menu is quite cute... proudly proclaiming that the food is made with love, time and attention!... and possibly fresh ingredients as well!

There is a nice selection of pretty traditional Korean dishes. Interestingly enough, it appears that the restaurant is catering more to the expat crowd, with the menu being mostly in English and Korean with no Dutch... although, that might also be because I don't look stereotypically Dutch...

Anyway, that means it is an easy spot for a tourist to drop by to find something to eat from a menu that easy to read!

Also included in the pamphlet menu is a selection of drinks... most notably the Korean specials. The soft (cold) drinks are really quite interesting... I've been trying them out one at a time, each time that I visit!

The hot teas are also quite interesting as well, with a selection of rice and corn teas... I haven't tried those yet (I have at other restaurants, but not here!).

The Food

Well... it's a Korean place.. so BiBimBab it is! Always the staple that I order at every Korean place! There is something very comforting about rice with a mix of toppings... and I do love the chili sauce that gets mixed through as well! I always feel bad that I have to mix it all up though... ruining the look of the dish!

Unfortunately, it doesn't come in a hot bowl, and so I missed the crunchiness of the rice that sticks to the bottom of the bowl... but I guess that makes for an easier kitchen clean up!

The toppings were really very good... definitely fresh tasting and a nice variety.... not sure if I could taste the time, love and attention... but I'm sure they were there in abundance! Jokes aside, it was very well presented and tasty as well!

The Experience

I really love this place... it is one of my regular places to drop by if I am in the mood for rice. However, this time I was lucky and there was pretty much no-one here... given that it is just a man and wife manning the kitchen... don't expect fast service if the restaurant is busy. Things take time and they don't hurry! Great if you have the time... less good if you don't!

The service is friendly and the food is great... so on the essential fronts, this is definitely a restaurant that I love coming back to!

Like I said before, space is limited... so book a table if you are expecting more than two people! Last thing to mention is that it is CASH only... no PIN (credit/debit cards).