Brown Rice

Hard to believe I wrote my original review nearly a decade ago. Allow me a moment to go on a bit of a journey with this update...Brown rice was my lunchtime go-to from the moment I wrote that review until three years ago when I found a new job that took me out of Baltimore. I'd always think about the restaurant and secretly hope I'd see them pop up in Northern Virginia. Their food is simply perfect and the fact that they've remained one of two restaurants in the Marketplace is a testament to the quality and fanbase it's cultivated.Getting excited for spicy squid is something I don't expect many people to understand, but this place was like a second home to me for a long time. For years I drove from Alexandria, VA to Baltimore for my 35k year job with the library and the single regular luxury I afforded myself was my daily culinary jaunt into my first tastes of Korean food. I got to know the owners on a base level, who are sweethearts. And my daily ritual of spicy squid with pickled radishes, cucumbers and kimchi helped dull the edge of an insane commute and a questionable living situation.Anyway...I found myself back in Maryland and decided it was time to revisit my old haunt. I legitimately got a little choked up when they remembered me. We had a brief catch up, I ordered my usual and it was just as amazing as I remembered it being. Honestly I'm getting misty eyed writing this.Sometimes we're lucky enough to find a place that feels like home and people that we can connect with on a level that defies explanations. I'll never know their personal lives and they don't know mine, but they're as much family to me as my blood relatives are. If either of you ever read this review then I want you to know that you made a very difficult period of my life feel a little better. Thank you.It was very nice going home Tl;dr for those who don't want a novel: The food is amazing. The service is top notch. If I had a gun to my head and someone made me pick a final meal...it'd be this. Try the spicy squid

The food is delicious and filled with high quality vegetables and robust seasoning. The service was quick and smooth. This is a great spot to grab a quick bite before going to a concert or meeting up with friends.

This is a Chipotle-style build-your-own-bibimbap-bowl located in the Mt. Vernon Marketplace. I normally frequent the Marketplace with my friends 2x a month though I usually tend not to order food. My friends have ordered from here a ton and after feeling hungry one night, I decided to try.Veggie Bowl w/ fried egg, white rice, kimchi, seaweed, carrots, bean sprouts and beets topped w/ gochuchang paste - 3.5/5, the veggies are fresh and overall the bowl itself was fine, I could see myself ordering this again but I do think they gave me too much white rice (though this might not be an issue for other people) and while I've had better Bibimbap back home, this was the 2nd (and best) I've tried in Baltimore thus far!

Casual and fast, this Korean food vendor is fun. I got a Super Bowl with Jasmine rice and pork. My server was short with me , complaining that I ask too many questions.I guess I'll be back. The food is good and fresh.

I ordered through a food delivery app and I did a build your own bowl. They offer a large portion, however I wished they gave more protein as it was on the smaller end. However, it was good flavor wise. Very customizable with lots of healthy options. It's definitely a good vegetarian option.

** 6 Year Review Update **This place is still amazing !!Great customer service, yummy and fresh options, super fast service, large portions. I always get the Be Bowl w Jasmine Rice w either Chicken or Spicy Pork Belly.And of course healthy veggie options too. I've visited 2 of the other locations of this small chain and they don't compare. Not with customer service or quality. This location is the place to be !!Their customer service and quality is unmatched. Guess they have a customer for another 6 years !!

Tried this place recently and really enjoyed it! It's located in Mt Vernon Marketplace (a wonderful area with a lot of great food options). I do like the explanation of "korean chipotle" where you pick a meal size, pick a protein, grain (or salad) and toppings (number varies on bowl size). I tried the be-bowl with beef bulgolgi, brown rice and five toppings (including shiitake mushrooms, seawood, kale, kimchi). I topped it off with bulgolgi sauce mixed with gochujang sauce. Everything was healthy and tasty and this was the first time I finished the meal (what a perfect portion size for the non-big eaters). Look forward to coming back again!

I haven't been here for awhile, and it is still wonderful! I got a Kalbi short ribs with half rice and half kale salad in a hot stone bowl. It was so delicious, and fresh! I like that you can customize the bowl with 7 vegetables, then add your choice of their sauces. It was really a perfect lunch, in the marketplace and the people at the counter were very nice and helpful. I'll be back soon! :)

This restaurant has been on of my go-to take-out places to get on Grubhub. The packaging is incredibly neat, the food arrives in a very reasonably 25-35 minutes usually, and there is tons of customizability to mix things up since you'll be ordering from this place so often (the food is also reasonably priced). I usually get the 16oz bowl with extra meat as an add on. I find that this combo maximizes on the protein:carb ratio so you get less filler rice and more yummy stuff to eat the rice with. The spicy pork belly and spicy chicken definitely bring the heat so if you can't handle spice, I'd avoid these 2 protein options-- it's not overwhelmingly spicy, but it definitely makes me sweat. The kalbi is delicious-- I wish it came with more since so much of the cut is bone, but I still get it anyways.

Fresh food, great bowls, nutritious and healthy options. Ms. Sue is always pleasant. Very reasonably priced.