Giwa

You order your food, pay immediately and get called back up when the food is ready. Bus your own tray. The food is very tasty. Vegetarian meals are available- I often get them: I'm not vegetarian but they're less expensive.

I'm a big fan of Giwa's--and especially of their dae ji bulgogi (which is well seasoned, rich, and accompanied by some fantastic carrots). The prices are reasonable, the service is courteous, and the atmosphere is inviting (if very casual). All in all, a great little Korean spot that's at least as good as or even better than the competition (e.g., Pastoral, Tampopo, Han-Wool, Miran).

The dolsot bimimbap and the seafood pancake are very good. The jap chae is just good. The staff ranges from friendly to slightly surly, depending on whom you get. The prices are reasonablethough significantly higher than Tampopo (which is only slightly less good in terms of quality). The atmosphere is very relaxed. A few tables that you bus yourself (despite this, the place is pretty clean). Check it out if you're in the mood for Korean and want to get some bang for your buck.

Well, it's definitely got heat! More so from the hot stone bowl used to serve the BiBimBob than the hot sauce that accompanies it which actually has a sweet background flavor. The initial spice is there, but wears off quickly...not exactly meant for the hot sauce enthusiast. The Kim chi was spicy though but had a weird taste to it, so I couldn't enjoy that. We also tried the vegetable dumplings which were good but slightly over-steamed and fell apart easily. A few reviews said the eggs in their dishes were over-cooked and rubbery but ours were light and fluffy. Over all, the food lacked flavor, especially the BiBimBob (even with the hot sauce) which I was disappointed in because I was expecting flavorful heat. On the other hand, it was a cool experience eating out of the hot stone bowl which kept the food really hot throughout the meal (and I'm a slow eater). It also d the crisp rice crust at the bottom which was a nice contrast to the softer texture of the rest of the dish. They packed in a lot of veggies too which made it a good value for the meal. We went on a Saturday evening and it was totally empty, but regardless unless you really want the hot stone bowl, it's probably not much of a sit-down place.

I was kind of disappointed. I've tried it twice and both times had the same feeling. It's ok, but ultimately, it has a lot of the same problems any fast food will havebland, no individuality, most ingredients are precooked, eggs especially are a little rubbery.

If you are looking for excellent healthy Korean food in a relaxed atmosphere, look no further. Giwa on Sansom is a perfect fit for avid Korean food fans or for newcomers looking to expand their cuisine choices. The Dol Sot Bim Bop served in a hot stone pot is exquisite and does not suffer from the excess oil that plagues most Korean/Chinese restaurants. The mixed vegetables and chicken are succulent and the stone pot heats the rice at the bottom to crispy perfection. Trust me, you will not be disappointed by this dining experience.

Sometimes after school, my friend and I, would contemplate whether we should just go straight home or go eat some Korean food. Most often, we'd go home but the times we do decide on korean food, we go to Giwa :) Giwa's food is inexpensive and very tasty! My personal favorite is the kimchi bokkum bap while my friend's soon du bu. Just always the two of us, we go and always get the same thing. But it doesn't hurt to try out new things, so we tried Kimchi PaJun and that was good too. However, I'm not a fan of the dol sot bibimbap here.. Overall its great, go there.