Grandma's Bapsang — Restaurant in Fort Lee

My Korean parents are picky when it comes to food, and nowhere does that show up than with their own cuisine. So when they give their mark of approval to a Korean restaurant, I know it must be good.

The name of the restaurant - Halmae Bapsang - translates to Grandma's Food Table, and that's quite literally what you should expect here. The owner is a sweet and fiercely joyful elderly woman who visits each table, sometimes to bring you your order or to wish you a happy meal. Our family ordered from all over the menu, and everything was markedly fresh. The cold noodles - whether in a broth or the spicy mixed version - are refreshing and chewy, while the kalguksu (or hot noodles) are filling and comforting. My mom is a particularly big fan of their dumpling soup, and I had the privilege of watching one of the chefs hand-making a new batch of dumplings. They are packed tight with filling and delicious.

My own go-to order of hot stone bibimbap was spectacular (to note: they also have regular bowls of bibimbap for a few dollars cheaper). It's served with a squeeze bottle of gochujang so you can make it to your own spice level, and served with a bowl of rich ox bone soup. I tend to judge a restaurant's bibimbap by how crunchy the bottom layer of rice can get in the hot stone bowl, and the socarrat achieved here is tremendously charred and crunchy, adding the most amazing texture in this mixed rice dish.

Orders are delivered to the table, but clean-up and retrieving or refilling water glasses are left up to the customers. This serves as a plus for two reasons - one, you don't have to wait on anyone for dining needs, and two, tip is optional. In fact, when my sister attempted to leave a customary 20% tip, the owner waved her away saying, "No, no, that's too much!"

There are just a few tables and chairs, and a pretty small parking lot adjacent to the restaurant (as well as limited paid street parking right out front). Vibes here are small, simple, and cozy - just the way you'd expect it to be at...

Dining at this little eatery is akin to a comparable food experience in the actual land of Korea, which we visited many years ago and loved our culinary adventures. We were going to a show in Englewood and wanted something nice and quick. Knowing that this region is full of Korean restaurants, we chose this place with great reviews. You know a restaurant is authentic when most of the diners are natives of that cuisine. There is a limited menu and the owner (grandma?) takes your order behind the counter, then you sit down and immediately a large jar of kimchi is put on the table. At first we thought it was way too much kimchi for one meal, but as soon as we tasted it - oh how fresh and delicious! - we realized that one could truly finish the whole jar in one sitting! It was the best kimchi we've ever tasted and we simply could not stop eating it! We asked if we could buy some to take home, and grandma said although plenty people had expressed that same wish, she wouldn't be able to keep up with the demand, since she had to make it everyday just to supply the restaurant. I loved her kimchi and her kind manner so much that I didn't even mind when my order got messed up (I had ordered K3 hand made noodles in seafood broth, but got K5 hand made noodles in clam broth). Husband ordered Tofu in seafood broth. The food is just heavenly! I even asked for an extra bowl of rice just so I could keep eating some...

7/4/24 update:

Have been back more than 10 times during the last few months since we move into the neighborhood. The food is consistently delicious and the owners (grandma and husband) and the employees are ALWAYS congenial. They do everything right and strive to make experience a 5 star experience. Careless reviews and questioning others’ reviews are unnecessary and hurtful to business owners who try very hard to make an honest living.

No, I have not been paid and it’s just my honest opinion of a business where they try hard and have excellent products.

Tried for the first time. Not a big KalGukSoo eater but decided to try it at the urging of the sweetest lady. I believe she was the owner. The beef based noodle was the bomb. The self service model was on point and the setup was wallet friendly. The genuine and authentic nature was not just the food but the owner lady who made the experience joyful. Will definitely come back for the food and atmosphere. Highest...