BB Bowl

I personally love BB bowl, fully knowing that it’s not the best Korean food out there but that’s the point. It’s a quick, fast-​food option. Like a Chipotle for bibimbap. I’m sure you’ve never heard that before lol.
But I honestly dig the concept. Like Sizzling Stone in Milpitas (unless that closed) and all the poké bowl places that have been popping up, you get to choose what kind of meat and toppings go in your bowl, it’s bibimbap with extra customization. You can also choose extra toppings at extra cost. The flavors are good and the ingredients taste fresh and healthy. What’s not to love?
My favorite is the bulgogi bowl with extra egg strips! It’s about time we had a choose-​your-​own option in the East Bay.
My only regret is that they do not have a dolsot option for the bibimbap. I like my rice a little crispy and even Sizzling Stone offers that, but this is more of a healthy joint so I understand the exclusion but still, a girl can dream :(. It is also a little pricey, at around $ 10 – 13 a bowl.
Other snacks like kimbap and the banchan aren’t that good, so just stick to the bowls.
The store is clean, inviting and the menu straightforward with not too many options to overwhelm you: it’s the perfect spot for a quick lunch. The only bad thing is their location. It’s located in a slow plaza and can be hard to find and won’t catch your eye from the road.
I really hope it does well and stays open because we need more customization options like this for a quick lunch or healthy meal, after being inundated by the same stuff over and over.
I have craved this for lunch more than a few times now. I think I’m going to get some right now! Not joking :).

People are so critical it can be irritating. I feel like I’m more of a realist in my Unilocal review. If something isn’t my taste, but they did a good job I’m not going to write a shitty review. I can be accountable for my palate and not crucify restaurants like a «crazy Unilocal internet gangster». Don’t get me wrong. I’ve left earnest low star reviews, but it was because something repeatedly or seriously was off.
Ok, so on to BB Bowl. Delicious, clean. They keep the place up. This is like a small business Korean take on chipotle. Don’t be so serious people. It’s healthy Korean/​American fast food. It’s fantastic. I just wish all these Unilocal whiners could read between the lines and rate business within their category and tier. Figure it out, its not that hard.
Back to BB Bowl yet again. This is also a fantastic gluten free option which is important to me. Sauces are on point and the kimchi is a wonder side. I add it to my bulgogi bowl. Come check this place out, totally worth it.
Sorry for all the rants. I happened to notice some idiotic Unilocal in their feed. Had to intervene.

What a disappointment. Ordered seafood bibimbap and chicken tofu soup today. The bibimbap had a few small shrimp and calamari rings, and it was cold. I asked them to heat it up, they took it for a few minutes and then brought me a lukewarm bowl. Not good. The tofu soup was sizzling but the dish was too salty. If you want real Korean food look elsewhere.

Nice concept for bi bim bap which is essentially Korean rice bowls. A lot of rice, lots of vegetables and some meat. You can choose which meats and plays on the Chipotle fast casual but does not quite reach the level. It does look plentiful but they give lots of rice and veggies. Meat seems sparce for the price. You essentially pay between $ 10-​$ 13 depending on meat. I got the poki bowl which is spicy tuna. The poki seemed to be siracha mixed with tuna. If I was near I would eat there again but not regularly, too pricey. What also takes this down from being a hit is kimchi does cost extra which in a real Korean place it would be included amongst other side dishes. But also real bi bim bap would have a fried egg. You pay $ 1 extra. So the fact that you are paying for the bowl then pay extra for the kimchi and egg makes it too pricy for a fast casual place.

The Kimchee bowl is not only visually appealing and well presented, but tastes even better than it amazingly appears!
Would absolutely recommend!

Wanted to try bbbowl soon after it was open. Yesterday, I finally tried the picture-​perfect
Bulgogi Bowl and it was quite a disappointment. The bowl was very small and it was sweet and salty with very thin cut meat spreading over the rice. I won’t be coming to this place in the near future.

This is a great joint! My co-​worker took me here for lunch one day, and since then, I’ve come here at least twice a week during my lunch break. The bibimbap here is really delicious. It’s not an authentic bibimbap bowl; however, it has a twist to it that makes you come back for more. You can order beef, tofu, chicken, salmon, or tuna with it. I’ve also tried the kimchee bowl, which is just as good… and spicy! Not only does this place have yummy food, but the staff here are incredibly nice and friendly. They greet you with a smile, and if you are a regular, they certainly remember you and make your experience just as good as the first. I definitely recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a fun twist to Korean food :)

Came here for lunch with my brother. Place was empty (at least before we came) and really clean.
I ordered kimchi beef bowl and seafood soft tofu soup. My brother ordered Bulgogi bowl and ramen with dumplings.
I loved my brothers Bulgogi bowl the sauce was bomb even though he thinks that the sauce was too strong and overpowering the beef and rice. Seafood soft tofu soup was seafoody but the broth was too watery so I didn’t really get the thick authentic spicy (Korean broth) vibe from it. I hope they’ll work on that. Not a fan of their kimchi beef bowl just because I’m not a chapje girl ;-P.
So for 4 dishes and 2 drinks the price was around 45 $.
I’m all for local small family oriented businesses so hope they’ll keep up.

The husband and I finally made our way to BB Bowl. There was a variety of items to choose from, but I went with the Kimichi Bowl with Beef ($ 7.99) and the hubby ordered the spicy tuna bowl ($ 12.99).
Spicy Tuna Bowl: we’re both from Hawaii so we know what a «poke bowl» should taste like (let’s be honest, that’s what this really is). The portions were pretty good (spicy tuna to rice ratio), and there was also a bed of fresh veggies under the tuna so that was a nice surprise. I really enjoyed the kick you get after each bite, it wasn’t too spicy but spicy enough. There was also a hint of lemon juice which is nice because it masks the fishy taste you sometimes get when eating raw tuna.
Kimchi Bowl with Beef: The sunny side up egg was a little over done. I usually don’t like a runny yolk but in this case, it was necessary. The Kimchi was spicy and tasty, as well as the beef. What was a nice surprise was the japchae hidden under the egg, beef and kimchi.
The husband and I will definitely will be back to try the other items on their menu.

This place really surprised me. A Korean place in a strip mall? I was expecting bland Americanized food. But given the lack of Korean on the island, I eventually got so desperate that I gave it a chance.
The kimchi bowl and the tofu soup were both very tasty. What struck me was the ripeness of the kimchi and the depth of the soup’s flavor.
The service was also fantastic. They even let me buy a carton of kimchi to take home.

So, I’m basically in love with this place. My boyfriend and I come here almost all the time. There are times when we come about 3 days a week. Haha. I had to control myself because I feel kind of embarrassed because they see me all the time! XD
Anyways, on to the review!
We’ve tried their Bulgogi Bowl, Rainbow Beef Bowl, Kimbap, Mandu, and Tteokbokki! I think the food is very good here and the portion looks small at first but once you start eating you’ll see how there is actually a lot! We end up ordering a lot all the time because we don’t want to leave without Tteokbokki, one of the rice bowls or the Mandu, so we end up getting them all. Lol.
My ultimate favorite is the Tteokbokki! It’s vey delicious to me and not too spicy for my taste! It’s sweet-​ish and is very good with Mozzarella cheese! I have made tteokbokki at home a lot of times and I just can’t make mine taste like theirs!
I noticed they’ve added a few dishes to their menu lately and I have yet to try those! And I don’t know if they have Kimchi Fried Rice yet or if they will ever add it to the menu but I’m hopeful!
I recommend this place to anyone and make sure to try the Tteokbokki with cheese! :)

Serving instant ramen in a Bay Area restaurant should be a crime. You people have no shame.
The ramen is very similar to mama ramen instant noodles in both soup base and noodle texture. I actually like that brand which is why this gets two stars.
Not a huge fan of yojimbo but I will go there next time instead.

I got the bibimbap twice now and though all the ingredients are fresh and serving size is pleantiful, I’m used to eating pretty authentic korean cuisine and I’d have to say this falls a bit short on taste.
Really healthy portions and great customer service though!

Time: 12:21pm/60°F cloudy
Purpose: The last time I came here was two days before their grand opening. I’ve waited and waited for a call, no call, nothing. Let’s get to the point, they forgot me and pursue another agent.
Ambiance: Located in Alameda Bridgeside Shopping Center complex. This place is just Korean fast food nothing fancy-​smancy about it. About 30+ seater with a 24′-inch flat screen angle view. Color schemes are orange, gray and white with couple of pictures here and there. Counter set up all standard stuff premade food in warmers. Four panel overhead menu board with to-​go containers stack up and a counter. Inner back reveals storage room, emergency door and unisex restroom.
Staff: Three girls about early late 30s really friendly greeted me right away with smiles. I ask what’s new from last last time I was here? Sadly, she didn’t remember me, but I did remember her. After some hehehaha, it became apparent she did recall me being there before. I didn’t go any further knowing they have another rep on hand already. Why waste my breath? Its ok, no hard feelings! Sigh!
Cleanliness: Grade A, place is clean for fast food standards. Only complain here are the squeezable sauce bottles. The tips had dry sauce with some making its way slowly near neckline of bottle. Self help utensil organizer had forks in knives section and vice versa.
Eats/​Drinks: BB japchae bowl $ 7.95. I had a choice of rice or clear silver noodle at no extra charge. Took the latter. Mixed veggies were definitely fresh however, the chicken seems old with grayish coloring. Chicken pieces were in cubes measuring about 0.5’x0.5′-inch. It was hidden bottom of bowl with handful of noodle covering it. Flavor was kinda bland too. Went ahead with sauce bottles in an attempt to bring it back more commensurable to enjoy. Meh, what I just did was added more sodium to my food in liquid paste form. Now, if sauce didn’t work, I doubt kimchee would help. Didn’t drink anything, as their selection was weak, water only. End up liking the silver noodle and nothing else. Next time just buy a side glob of silver noodle and entertain it myself at home. This way I can experiment and explore different pairings of taste.
Products/​Services: Soft tofu soup, BB soondubu, bibimbap/​mixed rice bowls, rice curry bowl, mandu, kimbap, dukbokki, ramen, japchae, bulgogi, sides, assorted cold drinks. Extra toppings $ 1.50. Baby booster chairs. Takes plastic. Free Wi-​Fi (password: bbbowl1234).
Punch Lines: Pleasing flavors, average prices, drool-​worthy, easy night out, imaginable toppings, laid back, calm vibe, kitschy décor, zippy service, nothing out of the ordinary, casual and delicious, kept its standards, satisfactory, kid friendly, ample parking spaces, shared business complex, various specialty shops, service station, AC Transit end of line stop.
Tradeoffs: Not authentic Korean food, but at least you don’t have to shell out more just to get a taste of Korean food cravings.
Final Thoughts: I find the experience here quite good. Though not top notch, but enough to put a side your carvings. These types of places just makes you cringed afterwards. It’s somewhat sad to see workers so nice, but food so average. Where do you draw the line? You can’t, their friendly demeanor makes you overlooked the food. Rolling out with 3.5 stars can’t muster more than that.

Just when I was going to shave some of my eating out $$… Comes along BB Bowl! I partook in the Beef Bowl. Lot’s of flavorful beef with a plethora of veggies and steamed rice. The person behind the counter sprinkled some nuts and a sauce of some sort across the top to finish it off. After a couple of bites (needed more of an umph) I tried the hot sauce on the table. Just a drop at first, but wow! That stuff brought out some great flavors! I drizzled it like no tomorrow!
Basic set up:
Walk in
Order
They give you a bunch of this and that, and voila! A great bowl at a decent price.

My first time in a korean restaurant thats been setup like a fast food joint where they make your dish in front of you like Chipotle. There aren’t many korean places in Alameda and this one is just okay, not great, not horrible and other than the bim bi bap, they have other selections on the menu like tofu soup and other items. The sauce that they have tables for you to add to your dish did taste a bit watered down so no matter how much you add it still tastes the same.
I went not expecting too much and if you approach it in that way, you’ll more or less walk away satisfied. The portion size is not too big but if you want to satisfy that craving for korean and don’t have much time nor want to drive far then you can hit this place up.

Disclaimer: if authenticity is your jam and you’re not willing to cut corners for the sake of a cheap/​quick bite, I recommend checking out the Korean options in Oakland or Santa Clara rather than here. BUT if you’re open-​minded, looking to save a buck, AND are trying to eat healthy… read on!
What I appreciate about BB Bowl is its self-​awareness. I was pleasantly surprised when I Googled the place during my 2^nd visit to test my assumption that it was a chain. Nope! Just the brainchild of an Alameda resident hoping to insert «bi bim bap» into the local lexicon.
The Korean American owners are 100% intentional of their assembly-​line approach to Korean food, carefully constructing their Chipotle-​like enterprise so that the mainstream might begin to enjoy some of the cuisine’s offerings besides the famous (and pricey) K BBQ.
Personally, I’m always on the hunt for inexpensive, healthy lunches. So BB Bowl’s $ 7 – 8 dollar «Rainbow Rice Bowls,» customizable bi bim bap that do not skimp on the fresh veggies, are my new favorite thing.
It also doesn’t hurt that the employees here are really nice, it’s super easy to park (location is a not very busy shopping center), and the inside of the restaurant is like the cutest/​cleanest fast food joint I’ve ever stepped in.
Yay.

We had been wanting to try this place and discovered they are open on Sundays now. We ordered the beef bibimbap (beef rainbow bowl) and chicken ramen. Portions were hearty and tasty. The bibimbap has a dried egg rather than fried egg and the ramen had the fried egg. Noodles for ramen came in a package so I don’t think they were fresh noodles

Dear BB Bowl,
It’s odd. On one hand I had high hopes for you, as Alameda is really lacking any Korean options. On the other hand, I had very low expectations as any korean «fast food» joint tends to be pretty subpar.
I went and immediately was craving dukbokee. But it looked a bit old, sitting out there, the sauce become a glazed cover… I thought about asking for a fresh batch, but felt bad so… I order the soodoobu, my friend the bimbimbap.
It wasn’t bad. An ok option if someone is craving korean and doesn’t want to drive a few miles to one of the good korean places in oakland. It really is. I would pick this over a sandwich or chinese food or any other quick meals you can grab in alameda.
But. I find the prices a bit to high for the amount we received. Let’s be real here, bibimbap is a very low cost item. Soodoobu is also pretty easily made. I understand, that is what makes this kind of business possible, so nothing against that, but for the prices listed, I wish you would have given heaping portions.
But again, if one is craving some simple quick korean food, you are not bad at all. I just hope you choose to be more generous in your quantity. Glad you are in town and have given all of us Alamedans a new option.
perhaps I will visit you again,

If you’re reading this and you’re one of the OG’s that remember buying a big package of kimbap from Woori market back in the day, then keep reading.
I fell into a slight depression because I discovered their kimbap right before they closed down. I love kimbap and I also love nothing more than good food in my own backyard. Well now I found it! Some decently priced kimbap and its more than enough to hold your appetite for $ 5. Everything except the carrots were perfectly seasoned. And good lord I ordered it to go and sat down for less than 5 minutes and I was on my way. I also got the mandu, very small and flimsy but the filling had good flavor and you could tell its handmade. I’m excited to come back and try some dubbokki
I also couldn’t pass up a bottled tea called Argo tea. If you understand this movie reference then I suggest you try this place out. But if you don’t, then Argofuck yourself. (Please laugh, that was funny)