At the end of the year, when I returned to Sapporo for the New Year, my friend R, who has been living in Korea for a long time, recommended a restaurant where you can enjoy delicious Korean cuisine. It's called "Korean Bibimbap Specialty Store Ai." The red sign says "Korean Bibimbap Specialty Store, Traditional Home Cooking." Since there is a Korean consulate nearby, you can enjoy delicious Korean cuisine here. The atmosphere of the restaurant may seem intimidating at first, with a strong deep smell emanating from inside. But once you enter, you can experience the neighborly love of the Korean owner while enjoying tasty Korean dishes. The owner is a Korean man who is a Christian, so he probably welcomes customers with a Christian spirit of neighborly love. The restaurant is divided into three sections, with table seating near the entrance, a table in front of the counter, and four tables in the back. The owner, Mr. Chon, is known for being very friendly and talkative, especially towards women. The walls display everyday Korean conversation phrases for Japanese people to learn. The lunch menu offers a Bibimbap set for 680 yen, with options for stone pot, grilled meat, eggplant, or daikon. I ordered the stone pot Bibimbap, which is highly recommended for first-timers. The owner also suggested the most popular set, which includes Bibimbap and Chapchae, but I had already tried that on my previous visit. The owner, Mr. Chon, took my order to the kitchen, where his wife or someone else was preparing the dishes. The stone pot Bibimbap set came with kimchi, Korean seaweed, and soup. The owner mixed the Bibimbap roughly and then I further mixed it to create crispy rice at the bottom of the pot. It was delicious, not too spicy, and served with side dishes like radish kimchi and Korean roasted seaweed. The owner also brought a complimentary dish called Namul, which turned out to be zucchini, known as "Korean pumpkin" in Korean. He also offered me Chamisul, a Korean liquor, to celebrate the New Year. It was a great dining experience with the warm hospitality of Mr. Chon.

A Korean restaurant in its 26th year of business. The lunch sets are very affordable, as shown in the photos. The interior of the restaurant is filled with various items, giving it a cozy and personal feel. The stone bibimbap and chijimi are the most popular dishes. The bibimbap has 13 different ingredients, making it very satisfying. Be careful of burning your hands and tongue. The chijimi is crispy, and eating it with seaweed enhances the flavor. The highlight of this restaurant is definitely the Korean owner, who talks a lot without even being asked. From how to eat delicious bibimbap to personal stories. His slightly inappropriate jokes are like a spice that you have to mix with gochujang and swallow.

I visited the restaurant around 1 pm on a weekday after the New Year. John greeted me warmly and was very friendly, chatting with various customers. I tried the Half & Half A set, which includes Bibimbap and Kimchi Pancake, the most popular dish. It was delicious. The prices are very affordable, and I also want to try the Japchae next time. I was a bit hesitant to dine alone as a woman, but when I went, there were three other solo diners. I definitely want to go back.

A Korean restaurant that has been around for over 20 years. The interior, like the exterior, has a lot of history, with posters of Korean stars and simple Korean language lessons. The owner, known as John in Sapporo (maybe by himself?), is very chatty. Some may find it off-putting, but I found it friendly. I ordered the lunch menu's Half & Half Set (890 yen) with the A set: Bibimbap and Jeon (3 types). First, the Jeon arrived. It was thick with flour and nothing special. John carefully taught me how to mix the Bibimbap, adding miso soup to the bottom of the pot and sticking the rice to the sides to create a crispy layer. The soup was miso soup. When I tried the hot Bibimbap, the default seasoning was quite simple, but adding the separate seasoning (Gochujang?) really enhanced the flavor. The side dishes included pickled vegetables, Korean seaweed, and garlic cucumbers. Overall, the taste and portion size were decent, with good value for money. I enjoyed the conversation with John and would like to try it at night as well.

On a certain weekday, I visited a bibimbap specialty restaurant located in Chuo-ku, North 5th Street, West 13th Street, which I had been passing by but never had the chance to visit. The interior of the restaurant is narrow like a typical izakaya, with tables separated by back-to-back screens towards the back. The atmosphere is pleasant with a nice breeze coming in through the open door. There is no background music, only the loud voice of the friendly owner can be heard. From the menu, I chose the "Half & Half Stone Bibimbap (890 yen)" and asked for the owner's recommendation of "Chijimi". The dishes were served promptly. Before I could take a picture, the owner quickly mixed the bibimbap with a spoon. The stone bibimbap was delicious, with perfectly crispy rice and various ingredients such as carrots and spinach. The chijimi had a homemade feel, with visible carrots and onions, and was served with a tangy sauce. The side dishes included cucumber namul with sesame oil, Korean seaweed, tangy and salty kaktugi, and a shrimp miso soup. The owner, who was working alone that day, was friendly and sometimes spoke in a mix of broken Japanese and strong Hokkaido dialect. It was a unique experience, and I recommend visiting this restaurant. Thank you for the meal.

I had been interested in this restaurant for a while. I checked if they were open and visited. The restaurant has been in business for 23 years and has a lively atmosphere. The owner is very energetic, kind, and fun. The recommended dish is bibimbap, so I ordered bibimbap and jeon. It tasted like authentic Korean food. It was really delicious.

Bibimbap specialty store! Inside the cheerful and lively Sajangnim, there are many cutouts of the store and Sajangnim's interviews displayed everywhere. The menu mainly focuses on dinner items, so for lunch, you order from the menu posted on the wall. The B set for 890 yen, which includes stone bibimbap and chapchae, is highly recommended. Customers keep coming in and the stone bibimbap is vigorously promoted. The hot stone is filled with bibimbap and then flipped over, mixed well, and the ingredients and rice are nicely browned using the wall. The more you mix, the more delicious it becomes. The soup, chapchae, and side dishes are also delicious. For a palate cleanser, there are Korean seaweed, kimchi, and bell peppers. It was not too heavy, just the right amount. It was delicious. I would like to come back to eat again. Thank you for the meal.

I had bibimbap and it was delicious. The restaurant was lively and full of energy. Thank you for the meal.

This is the Sangen District. We visited with Team D. This time, due to various circumstances, we had a meal without alcohol. We were interested in this restaurant and decided to go right away. As soon as we sat down, the owner, John-sama (self-proclaimed John-sama, a mysterious owner), greeted us with high energy and started talking to us. He completely set the pace. We placed our orders. First, I had Korean-style ginger tea as I had a cold. The ladies had pear juice and brown rice juice (laughs). A mysterious toast with strange drinks! The ginger tea was hot, sweet, and full of ginger. It was delicious and warmed me up. We ate more dishes, but for some reason, only this photo was taken. We had chapchae, assorted kimchi, seolleongtang, stone pot bibimbap, jeon, and, not in the photo, tteokbokki and phe. The food was surprisingly delicious. It was faithful to the basics and I think it's one of the best Korean dishes I've ever had. I love Korean food and have been to many restaurants, but this one is really delicious. I tried various unique drinks! I really liked the brown rice juice. The pomegranate juice was out of stock (laughs). The taste is definitely great. But, John-sama was a bit of a problem. I can't write about it here, but it might be better not to bring women along! You'll definitely have a good time, but please be careful. Next time, I will revisit with just men. Thank you for the meal. 1185

I couldn't help but be curious and couldn't stand it. After a night shift, something unpleasant happened at work! It's payday too! I walked in the blizzard and it turned out to be farther than I thought... slightly regretful (；´Д｀) There are reviews here and there, but they are all old. I must go and update the latest information! The interior of the shop, with its seasoned atmosphere, was a bit shady with only one female staff member. Since the reviews are old, the lunch menu has been changed (since May of this year). It's a Bibimbap specialty shop, so you can choose between a Bibimbap set or a half & half set with Bibimbap. I like Jeon (Korean pancake), so I decided on the A set. I've hardly ever eaten Bibimbap, but I was intrigued by the Bibimbap with my favorite "eggplant", but when I heard that it comes in a regular bowl instead of a stone pot, I chose the stone pot after all. BoA's music is playing in the store, and there are posters of Korean stars displayed, but I only know Yon-sama. First, the Jeon was brought out. The dough itself had a flavor and was delicious, with a taste of octopus-like seafood. I want to drink beer. The sizzling hot stone pot Bibimbap with a generous volume was served. Kimchi, namul, and Korean seaweed come with it. For me, these are just side dishes, but do I mix them with Bibimbap or are they like Japanese pickles? The kimchi was sour and to my liking. The volume was not like a half portion at all. I talked to the female staff after the meal. The famous owner may be here next month, she said. The grand menu is still old, so there are some items that were not popular or cannot be offered now due to cost performance. They also serve alcohol during the day, so the evening drinking set is available anytime! Ah! I should have had a drink! I plan to go again soon.

"There is an amazing Korean restaurant." One day, I heard that the owner of the restaurant is very fond of girls. He doesn't pay as much attention to guys, but when the restaurant isn't busy, he will shower you with attention to the point where you just want to be left alone. Intrigued by this, I decided to visit the restaurant with some male friends for protection. The conclusion: it exceeded my imagination!! The welcome at the entrance was over the top, with handshakes and hugs being the norm. According to other reviews, some people even get kissed, but we were spared that. The guys also got a lot of attention, and the owner even brought chairs and beer to our table and drank with us!! It was fun, but also a bit tiring... When we tried to order various dishes, the owner, who insisted on being called "John-sama" (he said to call him that), offered to bring out a lot of dishes for a set price if we just asked for it. For 2000 yen per person excluding drinks, he brought out a variety of dishes, including Namul, Kimchi, Japchae, Jeon, Pork Belly, Tteokbokki, Seafood Stew, Gimbap, and Samgyetang. The food was delicious, but the owner's personality was so strong that it overshadowed the food memories. I wonder if there are regular customers at this restaurant? I seriously thought about it. We went on a Saturday night, but the place was not crowded. However, there seemed to be some regulars. I hope those with courage will give it a try. Bon appétit!

I visited this restaurant for lunch because it looked interesting based on the reviews I read. The exterior and interior are decorated in Korean colors, and Korean music is playing inside. I was warmly welcomed by John and shown to a spacious table. Since I hadn't had chijimi in a while, I ordered that. The previous customer seemed to be having stone pot bibimbap. While waiting for the food, John engaged in conversation with me, which was quite entertaining. Along with the chijimi, I was served kimchi and dipping sauce as a bonus. The large plate was filled with plenty of chijimi, including lots of my favorite, carrots, so I ended up eating it all quickly. I was praised for eating fast, which made me feel a bit embarrassed (laughs). I thought it was nice to be able to enjoy a meal while listening to Korean music.

Thursday, July 24, 2008. I visited this restaurant for the first time after work. It was around 6 pm and I was the only customer there. The owner, who goes by the name "John," greeted me with high energy. Normally, I have a hard time deciding on a menu, but this time I quickly ordered the stone pot bibimbap. I like to enjoy the presentation of the food, but when the stone pot bibimbap was brought to the table, it was already mixed by "John." This kind of took away from the experience for me. The taste was okay. I also got some complimentary kimchi and soup. However, I decided in my heart that I won't come here alone next time.

A popular Korean restaurant where you can enjoy dishes such as stone bibimbap, noodles, soup, and various side dishes. The highlight of the restaurant is the charismatic owner, Mr. John, a former consulate employee, who greets you warmly. He is talkative and may even overshadow the delicious food. I recommend trying the savory chijimi with Korean seaweed, cold noodles with rich soup, and liver sashimi. The stone bibimbap, beautifully presented with plenty of ingredients, is mixed by Mr. John as soon as it arrives at your table. The secret to its deliciousness lies in the bulgogi sauce drizzled on top. Be sure to mix it well and enjoy the tasty crispy rice at the bottom. They also offer a variety of affordable lunch specials that change daily. Stone bibimbap set: 800 yen, Cold noodles: 750 yen, Chijimi: 750 yen, Liver sashimi: 750 yen.

I wanted to try bibimbap that wasn't stone-grilled, so I visited this place I always passed by on my commute. The grilled meat bibimbap was delicious. It cost 850 yen. I also had a side of kimchi assortment, but the Chinese cabbage kimchi was a bit sweet, similar to the ones commonly sold in Japan, which I didn't prefer. In Korea, kimchi is usually not sweet, and I personally prefer that.

I visited the popular Korean home cooking restaurant, Mana, where the female staff greeted me with enthusiasm. I ordered bibimbap, japchae, kimchi pancake, kimchi assortment, and yukgaejang soup. Suddenly, a man on a bicycle burst into the quiet restaurant, welcoming me in Korean. The atmosphere was lively and entertaining, with the man preparing the food in the kitchen. The kimchi assortment was delicious, with five different types of kimchi. The kimchi pancake was full of ingredients and had a fluffy texture. The japchae was a bit bland, but enjoyable. The bibimbap was generous in portion and mixing it with gochujang made it even tastier. The yukgaejang soup had a mild spiciness and a rich beef flavor. The man in the kitchen interacted with us in a lively manner, adding to the fun atmosphere of the restaurant. Overall, it was a great experience with delicious Korean home cooking.

On a Saturday afternoon, I really wanted to eat Korean food, so I searched on my navigation system and visited this place for the first time. I was unsure where to park my car, but the owner, Mr. Jong, came out right away and kindly showed me where to park. Mr. Jong was incredibly cheerful and talkative! He recommended some dishes from the menu and would make interesting comments every time he came to the table. I ordered the stone pot bibimbap and cold noodles, and he suggested adding either pancake or japchae. I ended up ordering the pancake as well. The food arrived quickly and it was all delicious!

The name of the restaurant is "Mana" and it is known for its delicious food, but the most famous thing here is the owner, Mr. John! The atmosphere is very lively and he is always engaging in conversation with customers. It might be perfect for those who enjoy chatting, but maybe not ideal for a date. I personally thought the Korean pancake (chijimi) was delicious, truly authentic taste. Enjoying chijimi and bibimbap with makgeolli while chatting with the fun owner... that's the kind of vibe you can expect at this restaurant. It's not too far from Sawayama Station.