Visit Date: Fall 2025 | Location: 72 Gerrard St W, Toronto, ON M5G 1J5 (Near Toronto General Hospital, IKEA, and Eaton Centre)
Occasionally, the restaurants with the greatest food are the ones that nearly go unnoticed as you pass by. I boarded the TTC Bus number 19 traveling down Bay Street when I almost did not notice Bom Bibimbap, and truly speaking, if I had not been paying close attention to Google Maps, I would have definitely missed the restaurant as I passed by in downtown Toronto.
Lucky for me, as I was paying attention, since this small specialist restaurant is doing the right thing by specializing in only one dish instead of serving a variety of other dishes.
First Impressions: Small Space, Big Focus
Entering Bom Bibimbap, one of the things that immediately stands out is that the size of this place is quite small. This immediately gives you a clue about what they are focusing on. If you are planning on coming with a huge group of people in mind, you may want to make sure that you either come as soon as they are open or try to come in during off-peak hours. Simply to be safe. If you are planning on coming in with two to four other people in mind, you’ll be okay.
The small footprint isn’t a weakness either; there’s obviously a point to that. If a restaurant has a small dining area and a specific menu to complement that area’s capacity, then there’s a good chance that restaurant values perfection over quantity.
The Concept: Bibimbap Specialists (And Nothing Else)
As the restaurant name boldly states, this place serves bibimbap – specifically hot stone rice bowls, alongside some appetisers. That’s it. No huge Korean BBQ menu, no endless banchan (complimentary side dishes) covering your table, no dozens of options where you spend 20 minutes just trying to decide what to order.
If you’re expecting the typical Korean restaurant experience with complimentary side dishes automatically appearing, adjust those expectations now. Bom Bibimbap doesn’t follow that model. It’s quite unusual for a Korean spot, but they offer appetisers that can be added for an additional cost if you want more than just your main bowl.
At first, this might feel strange if you’re used to traditional Korean dining. But here’s the thing: this focused approach actually works in their favour. They’re not trying to be everything to everyone – they’re mastering one specialty dish and giving you legitimate customization within that framework.
The Menu: Bibimbap Variations Done Right
With bibimbap as their specialty, the restaurants provide distinct variations of their main protein choices, which include grilled chicken, spicy pork, grilled salmon, and additional alternatives depending on one’s preference.
It’s a truly great approach. Some people have dietary restrictions, some people are vegetarian, and then some people are people like me who would simply rather have the salmon in a hot stone bowl because, you know, why not? It’s the adaptability of their specialty offerings that provides a great option without overburdening the restaurant.
It’s smart menu design – depth rather than breadth, customization within constraints.
The Service: When Focus Creates Excellence
This restaurant’s service must be called out because, clearly, when a restaurant doesn’t have to spread itself too thin, this is the result. Being smaller and having only one dish to focus on allows the staff to devote time to paying attention to customers as opposed to handling many separate dishes in a huge dining hall.
Our water glasses were filled regularly without us having to ask any of them to come over. They checked in regularly on us to make sure we were satisfied with our foods. This is the type of service which comes across as genuinely heartfelt as opposed to just memorized.
One of the problems with trying to be a restaurant with many options is that service may suffer. Focusing on what they do well means they can deliver what customers want in terms of hospitality. Bom Bibimbap clearly understands this trade-off.
The Food: Hot, Crispy, Delicious (But Smaller Than Expected)
Our Order:
- Vege Dumplings: $8.50
- Grilled Chicken Bibimbap: $19.00
- Grilled Salmon Bibimbap: $19.50
The dumplings arrived perfectly crispy – that satisfying crunch when you bite through the wrapper that tells you they were fried properly and recently. Not soggy, not sitting around waiting, just executed well.
Then came the bibimbap bowls, and here’s where things got impressive. These hot stone bowls arrived really hot and stayed hot throughout our entire meal. Meanwhile, it only took a few minutes for our rice to crisp up against the stone making this crunchy texture is the nurungji portion of bibimbap that only enthusiasts seek out. You either belong to this group or not; either way, it’s what differentiates a hot stone bibimbap experience and makes it so special.
Both the grilled chicken option and the grilled salmon option were overall very good. The taste was balanced, the meats were cooked well, and even the vegetables retained their crunch instead of turning soggy.
The Portion Reality Check
Here’s my honest assessment: each bibimbap bowl was noticeably smaller than I expected compared to typical Korean restaurant portions. The quality was absolutely there, everything tasted great and was prepared skillfully. However, the portion-to-price ratio makes this feel slightly more expensive than I’d ideally prefer, especially at $19-$19.50 per bowl in an already pricey downtown location.
This isn’t a dealbreaker, but it’s worth knowing before you go. If you have a bigger appetite or you are expecting massive Korean restaurant portions, then you may want to add in an appetizer or just prepare yourself for still bring at least a little hungry afterward.
The food is delicious enough to make me accept the smaller portions, but I’m also aware I’m paying downtown specialty pricing for downtown specialty quality.
The Price Consideration: Reasonable for Downtown, But…
At $19-$19.50 for bibimbap bowls and $8.50 for dumplings, the pricing feels reasonable and competitive given downtown Toronto inflation and location costs. You’re near Toronto General Hospital, IKEA, and Eaton Centre – this isn’t suburban Markham pricing territory.
Nevertheless, “reasonably priced for downtown” is not necessarily an aspect that screams “great value for money.” This simply means that you will pay for what you are being given: quality instead of quantity. This is not an issue if you don’t mind this aspect; Bom Bibimbap is actually a great place for you. Perhaps if you are searching for the most value for money in regards to quantity, you may be left slightly disappointed.
Would I Return?
Absolutely! That would be especially true if I’m already in the area and in the mood for bibimbap. This would be the type of restaurant where it would be ideal in certain situations:
Perfect For:
- Winter cravings: Being faced with cold temperatures and the need for warm, comforting cuisine
- Eating alone or with a smaller group of people: If there’s only 2-4 of you and you all agree that you’d like to try a variety of foods
- Bibimbap enthusiasts: When you specifically want well-executed hot stone rice bowls rather than generic Korean food
- Downtown convenience: When you’re near Toronto General, doing IKEA runs, or shopping at Eaton Centre and need a quality meal nearby
Less Ideal For:
- Large groups without reservations
- People with huge appetites expecting massive portions
- Anyone seeking traditional Korean restaurant experience with complimentary banchan
- Budget-conscious diners prioritising quantity over quality
The Bottom Line: Specialisation Done Right
Bom Bibimbap succeeds precisely because it recognizes its limitations and operates within them. What would otherwise be a claustrophobic space becomes a concentrated area, a limited selection becomes a specialised menu, and the absence of free sides becomes a deliberate decision rather than a penny-pinching measure.
It is very evident that the service, hot bowl delivery, rice development, and protein choice are all methods of the team caring about the bibimbap experience rather than any other.
Are the portions smaller than ideal? Yes. Is the price slightly higher than I’d prefer? Also yes. But the quality execution, excellent service, and genuine specialisation make this worth visiting when you’re craving exactly what they’re offering.
My Recommendation?
Visit during off-peak weekday hours if possible, especially if you’re with more than two people. Order confidently knowing the food will arrive hot and stay hot. Add an appetiser if you have a bigger appetite. And embrace the focused menu rather than wishing for something they’re not trying to be.
Sometimes the best restaurants aren’t trying to do everything – they’re just doing one thing exceptionally well. Bom Bibimbap falls squarely into that category.
Have you tried Bom Bibimbap or other specialised Korean spots in downtown Toronto? What’s your take on restaurants that focus on one signature dish versus offering massive menus? Drop your experiences below, I am always curious about hidden gems near major downtown landmarks!
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