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Discovering the Best Jeonju Bibimbap: Hankook House vs. Sungmidang – A Local’s Honest Review

Jeonju Bibimbap is not just a regional specialty; it’s a national icon of Korean cuisine. But where can you find the absolute best Jeonju Bibimbap? Today, we’re diving deep to find out! As someone who hails from Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, I’ve lived away from my hometown since the age of 19, spending years in Seoul and elsewhere. Living outside of Jeonju, the one question I’ve constantly faced when people learn about my origin is, “Oh, Jeonju? Is Jeonju Bibimbap delicious?” It’s become synonymous with Jeonju itself. Even before the Hanok Village became a major tourist attraction, that was the go-to question.

Interestingly, despite being from Jeonju, I’ve actually eaten authentic, traditional Jeonju Bibimbap very few times in my life. Most of my bibimbap experiences were casual meals from local diners or 김밥천국 (Kimbap Cheonguk), never the famous, expensive, traditional Jeonju Bibimbap. So, when asked about Jeonju Bibimbap’s taste, my honest answer has always been that I hadn’t really experienced the “real” deal.

Now, Jeonju is a top domestic travel destination, following Jeju Island and Busan. Many acquaintances visit Jeonju and inevitably ask me, “Where’s the best bibimbap?” So, after countless inquiries, I decided to finally answer this question properly. Jeonju boasts numerous bibimbap restaurants, but two stand out as the most renowned:

Hankook House (한국집)

Hankook House is a true veteran, boasting a 70-year history, making it the oldest Jeonju Bibimbap restaurant. It has even been recognized by the Michelin Guide, solidifying its status as a Korean culinary landmark.

Sungmidang (성미당)

Sungmidang is famous as the “Presidential Restaurant,” rumored to have been visited by multiple South Korean presidents. It has also been featured on 백종원의 3대 천왕 (Baek Jong-won’s Top 3 Chef King) and various other media outlets.

I ventured to both Hankook House and Sungmidang to finally taste and compare these legendary Jeonju Bibimbap establishments.

Hankook House Review

At Hankook House, the Yukhoe Bibimbap (Beef Tartare Bibimbap) is priced at ₩13,000, and the traditional Bibimbap at ₩11,000. Honestly, spending over ₩10,000 for bibimbap felt a bit steep. The side dishes were standard Korean fare, including corn. I ordered both the Yukhoe Bibimbap and traditional Bibimbap to thoroughly compare them.

One crucial element of bibimbap is the gochujang (Korean chili paste). I wondered if the gochujang in traditional Jeonju Bibimbap would be different. Surprisingly, it tasted like regular gochujang. Whether homemade or not, the flavor was just ordinary.

The overall taste of the bibimbap was… ordinary. It wasn’t bad, of course, it tasted like bibimbap. But it was just a standard, typical bibimbap flavor. The Yukhoe Bibimbap was slightly better, having a subtle edge, but the difference was minimal.

Sungmidang Review

Moving on to Sungmidang, the Yukhoe Bibimbap cost ₩14,000, and the traditional Bibimbap was ₩12,000 – ₩1,000 more expensive than Hankook House for each. What surprised me was the sheer volume of bibimbap served, almost like a 삼계탕 (Samgyetang, Ginseng Chicken Soup) portion! Despite the temptation of Samgyetang, I stuck to my mission and ordered both types of bibimbap. The side dishes were more abundant and of better quality compared to Hankook House, justifying the slightly higher price.

I tasted the gochujang at Sungmidang as well, and it was also just ordinary gochujang, similar to Hankook House. However, Sungmidang’s bibimbap had some noticeable differences from Hankook House. Hankook House used shredded egg garnish, while Sungmidang used a raw egg yolk. Also, Hankook House used plain white rice, while Sungmidang’s rice was already mixed with gochujang before being served.

The taste? Again, it was simply bibimbap flavor. I couldn’t discern any significant difference in taste. It was just standard bibimbap. Both Hankook House and Sungmidang used quality ingredients, but ultimately, they tasted like the bibimbap everyone knows.

The Verdict: Best Jeonju Bibimbap?

Honestly, the bibimbap at both restaurants tasted very similar. The gochujang was almost identical, and the slight differences in ingredients didn’t drastically change the overall flavor. If forced to choose the “best” between the two, I would lean towards Hankook House, mainly because it offered a slightly more generous amount of ingredients and was ₩2,000 cheaper.

But here’s the real conclusion: the best bibimbap is often homemade. Bibimbap is essentially mixing various side dishes with rice and gochujang. Why travel all the way to Jeonju and spend ₩14,000 for something you can easily make at home?

I even demonstrated making my own bibimbap at home using readily available ingredients like 열무김치 (Yeolmu Kimchi, young radish kimchi), assorted vegetables, and a fried egg. With some gochujang and sesame oil, it was incredibly delicious – and arguably better than the restaurant versions!

So, to answer the age-old question, “Is Jeonju Bibimbap delicious?” Yes, bibimbap is delicious. But the “best” Jeonju Bibimbap might just be the one you make yourself, tailored to your own taste. And frankly, after this experience, I probably won’t be paying for Jeonju Bibimbap at a restaurant again. Homemade is where it’s at!

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