Before learning about this Korean bowl-styled dish on Food Network’s “Chopped,” I had no idea what deliciousness was contained in this nursery rhyme sounding meal. Now, on cold days, when I’m craving a hearty meal or whenever I see a Korean restaurant, it’s the first image that pops into my mind.
So when we travelled north along I-75 for my wife to visit with an old friend, my thoughts wandered away from my planned hiking adventures and straight to Chopstix on Lee Highway in Northeast Chattanooga.
For the unfamiliar, bibimbap is comprised of assorted vegetables topped over steamed rice. Gochujang sauce, a Korean spicy bean paste sauce, is served on the side. While it can be vegetarian, most choose a favorite protein to include, such as chicken, pork, beef or tofu. The components are usually placed carefully on a plate in their own defined space. Then the dish is covered with a fried egg to add extra flavor and what in-the-know chefs describe as unctuousness.
Meant to Mix
While the initial serving looks like a compartmentalized, it’s meant to be stirred together and eaten in mixed bites to capture all the different textures and flavors together. In fact, the loose translation of the Korean name means mixing cooked rice.
On this visit after some hiking, I chose the bibimbap with chicken. I also selected a side order of spring rolls, a small reward for all that effort expended on my morning hike.
As on all my visits, the service was quick and efficient, and my food delivered promptly. The steaming aroma from the huge bowl of veggies, chicken and rice caused me to over over the dish for a moment, simply enjoying the sensory experience.
A Perfect Bite
I broke the runny yellow egg yolk over the center, then slowly stirred in some of the Gochujang sauce as I mixed the vegetables together for the perfect first bite. When the fork finally reached my mouth, the flavor explosion exceeded the wild expectations my mind had formed during the prolonged wait. I won’t say it was the perfect bite, but I will state without equivocation that it was one of the best first bites I’ve enjoyed while traveling to 47 states and nearly as many countries.
Bibimbap is not a dish meant to be rushed, so I took my time, extending my solo lunch dining experience to over one hour — well over my usual lunch seating time. And though I had arrived near the end of the traditional lunch hour, the restaurant remained relatively busy throughout my stay. That gave me an opportunity to check out the dishes of bulgogi, pho, banh mi and stir-fried noodles being enjoyed with huge smiles by patrons at tables around the dining area.
Tea Time, Too
The restaurant also serves a full array of popular boba tea, the Asian-inspired tea served with tapioca or fruit-flavored pearls. While not my favorite, I noted multiple guests enjoying the milk tea drink.
If you check various online ratings (Google and Yelp, specifically), Chopstix rates highly, and seems to get lots of return visits by regular local customers. I noted, too, on the Google ratings that fellow “local guides” who tend to specialize in their home region gave Chopstix consistently high ratings.
As mentioned, the small family-run restaurant sits on a strip mall outlot along Lee Highway. This once was a major thoroughfare in Northeast Chattanooga before I-75 pulled through-passing traffic away from this local business strip. If you’re in the area, or passing through, it’s worth the short detour off exit 5 at I-75.
GPS: Chopstix Viet Bistro, 6903 Lee Hwy, Chattanooga, TN 37421
I’ll definitely will have to give this place a try, thanks for the tip. Also, next time you’re in our area you need to try Fat Boy’s Roadside Eats. Very interesting food, gonna get out there again today!