Top Bop - Hazel Dell (WA) — Restaurant in Vancouver

I was a traveler in my youth, a wanderer right down to my toes. My passport had so many stamps in it that they had to add extensions.

The thing about traveling is that it opens your eyes and your heart to possibilities, it gets right under your skin and transforms something essential about who you are. Traveling shows you not only the wholly different aspects of the world, but the subtle intricacies of the human family.

And this is the first point, deep within each culture there is something universal, a river of purity, an unswerving sense of recognition. That subtle and common base is kindness and care, expressed in so many ways across the planet from the mountains of Tibet to the forests of South America.

It rises from mothers with their children, from the caring for strangers, to the generosity of spirit. This magical aspect of the world often shows itself in the making and sharing of good food. From the enjoyment of well prepared meals to the act of feeding strangers.

So on to the actual review. First off I had a long talk with the owner and felt the genuine care and respect he holds for his customers, could feel the excitement and pride in his establishments. He was welcoming and attentive, kind in his approach, and sincere in his goals.

The food itself was surprising, it came in a plastic container which I found to be a little impersonal, but when I opened it I was greeted by a bowl of bright colors and inviting variety. I mean it looked perfect, like one of those wax meals in Asian restaurant windows that look better than life. I would say it was a harmonious little offering, and suddenly I could see picking this up on the run or bringing it home to the family. It had its own little unique character.

I had the Spicy Pork Bop and opted to stay safe and asked for medium heat. It was great, although I might bump it up a bit next time. My choice of toppings were pickled red onions and edamame with a side of egg rolls.

I feel like I could live on the pickles and edamame. The pickled onions were fresh and crisp, exactly as they should be, and the edamame were bright and fresh and probably the best I’ve ever had. Which is saying something considering I lived in Japan for 6 years. The spicy pork was sweet, savory and tender and the rice sticky enough to support the offerings in a solid and coherent manner.

The whole thing felt like a perfect well thought out puzzle, with each aspect balanced and enhancing the whole.

This is approachable food. It’s something that you can recognize as if it were a familiar friend. Not all food is like that, so many things feel unfamiliar and strange, one feels hesitant and unsure, no matter how good it turns out to be. This is a friendly bowl, served by friendly owners who believe in what they are doing.

I look forward to watching their future here. I believe they will fit into the community not only as a a spot for good food, but as a part of the life here. I welcome them, just as they...

WOW! That is the only word I could start with, and I will explain why.

I recently learned that Top Bop originally started in Alaska, where it is already quite popular. It finally opened its first Washington state location a few months ago.

This new location is in Vancouver, Washington. It is a bit of a drive from the Seattle area but much closer if you are coming from Portland. Still, no matter where you're coming from, it's absolutely worth the trip!

Top Bop is located in the Hazel Dell area of Vancouver, in a modern and well-kept building with plenty of free parking. The interior is very clean and welcoming, with interesting artwork on the walls. There are two self-service kiosks where you can browse the full menu with pictures and place your order without needing to talk to a staff member. It might feel unfamiliar at first, but once you try it, you will see how simple and convenient it is. I personally enjoy using the kiosk because it clearly shows all the customization options and makes the ordering process smooth and easy.

Okay, let’s talk about the food. As you can see from the photos I took, Top Bop uses a build-your-own-bowl format. It is similar to how Chipotle works. You start by picking your protein. Then you choose two free toppings. Next, you select your desired spice level for the sauce. Finally, you can add optional extras to your bowl.

As a poke lover, I chose poke for my protein. They offer both salmon and tuna. I could not decide which one to go with, so the friendly staff allowed me to do half salmon and half tuna. Perfect! My friend almost chose the Beef Bop (because, let’s be honest, you can’t go wrong with Korean bulgogi), but ended up getting the Shrimp Katsu Bop instead. Let’s save the Beef Bop for next time.

Once we placed our orders, it took about 7 minutes for the food to be ready. Everything is made fresh to order and fully customizable. The portion size was very generous. One bowl could easily be enough for both lunch and dinner.

Now back to the WOW. The taste was outstanding. I got the poke bowl with two free toppings for only fourteen dollars. That is incredibly rare in today’s market. The bowl was packed with fresh salmon and tuna. I could really taste the quality and quantity of the fish. I chose calamari salad and seaweed salad for my toppings, and they paired perfectly with the poke. The signature sauce at Top Bop is another highlight. I selected Level 3, as recommended, and it elevated the entire bowl to the next level.

I also tried a couple of bites of the Shrimp Katsu. It was crispy and flavorful.

From the menu variety, to the prices, to the taste, Top Bop truly delivers on every level. It is my number one pick for a restaurant this year so far. I genuinely hope they open a location in Seattle or Bellevue soon so I can visit more often. I will definitely come back soon to try the Beef Bop, Spicy Pork Bop, and of course, another...

Mmm Bop...Top Bop...

Yes, I really did start this review with a Hanson reference. It seemed at least a little appropriate for Hanguk (Korean) cuisine, right?

I regret nothing!

All jokes aside, this place is awesome! I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I walked in, but thankfully, the guy at the counter explained the whole schtick, which basically boils down to the same four steps shown on the menu board above:

1. Pick your protein (+ rice, either white or fried w/ veggies)
2. Pick your toppings (up to 2, by default)
3. Pick your spice level
4. Pick your add-ons (optional), plus any beverages, etc

Being the heat-seeker that I am, I ordered the Fire Spicy Chicken, Level 5, with kimchi and pickled onions; for the rest of the family, I ordered them each a Beef Bop with the same toppings, but only Level 1, since most of them can't keep up with me (except my wife...I'm so proud of her! sniff). Within five minutes(!), all four bowls were bagged up and ready to go!

Unbagging and distributing them back home, none of us were prepared for how large these bowls are! None of us could finish the whole thing; instead, half of each was packed away in the fridge, saved for a future lunch, or midnight snack, but none of us were disappointed in our respective dishes - they were well received all around the table, even among the pickiest of the kids. In short, nobody threw in the towel because they weren't enjoying it; there was simply too much good stuff to scarf down, in a single go!

As for the restaurant itself, the interior feels like if you put a Jimmy John's in the middle of a (clean!) inter-city alleyway: intentional "graffiti" tag artwork adorns the walls, while K-Pop stars sing and dance in the background. The theme doesn't match the cuisine, but I didn't come here for the décor. Most of the time, I would take my order to go, anyway. Additionally, the parking lot sucks, big time: both entry and exit are connected only to Hwy 99, and even though it looks like there should be another on NE 88th, there is not. Be prepared to turn around if you try to get out that way!

Having been to both Korea and Japan, a good beef bowl place is not that difficult to find. In America, it's a very different story. I've been looking for a place like Top Bop for a long time, and I'm so very glad I finally found one. And even if you have a beef with beef, there are plenty of other protein options (chicken, pork, shrimp, seafood, etc) to...