본족 & 비빔밥 (Porridge & Rice) Café

본족 & 비빔밥 (Porridge & Rice) Café

Lotte Mapo City Hotel is located within walking distance (about 5-10 minutes) from the apartment we stayed during our time in Seoul. Besides the cafes selling coffee, a couple of shops, eateries/restaurants and a Lotte Supermart located below, there is also a rice café (selling rice and porridge of course). The name of the place, based on the photos that I took, is literally porridge and bibimbap café. It’s a cozy little café that serves up a variety of porridge, bibimbaps, mandos (Korean style dumplings) and other yummilicious foods!
본족 & 비빔밥 (Porridge & Rice) Café
Even the wooden tables are engrave with the cafe's name!
본족 & 비빔밥 (Porridge & Rice) Café
It's not very big, but it is not cramped either. It was bustling with the lunch crowd too!

This was the place we had our bunch on those lazy days before setting off to visit the palaces. The first time that we went, we had porridge. I had the seafood porridge and it was absolutely delicious! The consistency of the porridge is unlike the ones that are in Singapore. It’s not so soft (like the Cantonese type of porridge) and not too cooked (hard) with literal rice grains (like the Teochew porridge). It is somewhat in-between, combining the best of the two above mentioned porridge – not too soft and not too hard. The best part is that the porridge itself is very flavorful, thoroughly having absorbed the essence of the equally generous portion of freshly seasoned seafood.

본족 & 비빔밥 (Porridge & Rice) Café
So many types of porridge!
본족 & 비빔밥 (Porridge & Rice) Café
My delicious seafood porridge! :) It was nice and more flavorful than the porridge DramaQueen had.
본족 & 비빔밥 (Porridge & Rice) Café
DramaQueen's ginseng chicken porridge. It had a really strong taste of ginseng!

Now, I am not really a porridge person; in fact, I hardly ever finish a bowl of porridge completely. However, the Korean porridge has won me over (I think it’s going to be the only porridge I’d eat everything of). The bowl in which the porridge was served in was pretty substantial and I (even) finished the whole thing (which is truly a surprise)! The porridge came with some sides (banchan) like kimchi and a cup of chilled water; both of which are refillable and complimentary.
본족 & 비빔밥 (Porridge & Rice) Café
Cold water and serviettes

The second time was for the bibimbap, which like its porridge counterpart has a generous serving and equally satisfying. An extra egg costs an extra 500 won, which is well worth the price for that something extra. 
 
본족 & 비빔밥 (Porridge & Rice) Café
DramaQueen's bibimbap
본족 & 비빔밥 (Porridge & Rice) Café
And yes, I had seafood again! lol Seafood bibimbap
 
And to top off that meal, we had colorful mandos (which were not too bad, but it not have any “wow” factor to it). Nonetheless, it was a happy meal indeed.

본족 & 비빔밥 (Porridge & Rice) Café
Colorful mandos! They were a little too strong with meat flavor (minimum of seasonings) but over all not too bad.
본족 & 비빔밥 (Porridge & Rice) Café
Cozy homey ambiance

With prices ranges from 7,000 to 15,000 won for porridge and rice, and the quantity (not to mention quality) of the food, it might not seem that cheap but it is definitely worth eating here! So if you happen to be in/around the area, do head down to the basement to try out the porridge(s), they have so many variations of it. It's right next to the Gongdeok subway station too! ^^

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