Street Eats: Soothe the Soul With This Bowl of Bibimbap Near Chaoyang Hospital

You can’t possibly go wrong with bibimbap. The Korean self-contained meal usually consists of some variation of rice and vegetables with a gooey soft-boiled egg, all served in a burning-hot stone pot. It's also a dish that's popular in Northeast China, and one that I grew up eating, gradually coming to realize its immense power as a comfort food and its ability to heal any range of ailments outside of the established provisions of medicine.

Now fully grown but still occasionally on the search for the comforts of home, I head to the small outlet of So Joy Bibimbap directly opposite of Beer Mania, north of Chaoyang Hospital. The menu features about a dozen kinds of bibimbap (RMB 18-35) and for an extra RMB 5, can be bolstered with a soup and a side dish of pickles. There are also eight types of jjigae (Korean-style stew, RMB 20-25) that come with a bowl of rice. Go large for RMB 88 and share a hot pot-esque dinner among friends.

During a recent visit, the signature bibimbap (RMB 28) hit the spot, its sizzling hot stone bowl instantly soothing my ails. In it, a layer of rice was topped with pork belly, slices of beef, shredded carrot, zucchini, bean sprouts, a fluffy egg, and a sprinkling of seaweed. It’s not a neat or pretty dish, especially after we squeezed a dollop of gochujang (chili pepper paste) on top but who cares about aesthetics when the grub is this good? If we have to poke a hole in the proceedings, it's that the bottom of the bowl didn’t have enough oil, leaving some of the rice burnt, instead of forming a requisite crunchy layer.

We'd also recommend the kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew, RMB 20), although it takes a little longer to cook. This one's for the spice lovers among you, making us sweat with satisfaction courtesy of the scallions, onions, diced tofu, pork, and assorted vegetables that are packed into the bowl.

The small eatery is extremely popular and busy during lunchtime, but the turnover is fast. Sure, it’s not as fancy as Bibigo, but there is a little seating area outside where you can be entertained listening to fellow patrons talk about their jobs, their experience at the nearby hospital, among other stories as you savor your hearty bowl of bibimbap and watch life go by.

So Joy Bibimbap
Daily 10am-10pm. Opposite Beer Mania, Nansanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (133 1113 4870)
大悦石锅拌饭：朝阳区南三里屯路欧月酒吧对面

More stories by this author here.

Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
Instagram: @flyingfigure

Photos: Tracy Wang