Dubujib means tofu house in Korean, and the restaurant specializes in tofu-based Korean soups. Located in the basement of the Liangmaqiao Grand Summit, it is tucked away in the farthest corner, next to the currently shuttered food court. Don’t let that put you off, it is worth the visit! After all what could be better than Korean comfort food?
Knowing that they are jam-packed daily during weekday lunch hours with lines out their door with hungry foodies who don’t want anything other than Dubujib, we strategically timed our visit at 8pm on a Monday night cause waiting for a table when you’re hungry is the worst.
As soon as we sat down, we had a glance through their 2-page menu that opens like file folder. The menu is very focused, mainly geared around tofu soups and bibimbaps, bulgogi and a couple of signature seafood items. While you really can’t go wrong on the menu – everything we had was excellent and it’s not “hit or miss” like other places. That being said, I’ve still got a solid selection of recommendations based on reflections.
2-Page File Folder Menu
Complimentary Starters
Whatever dish you order, it comes with free-flow sides as is customary in Korean restaurants. Here is a nice introduction to Dubujib as the Some of these are traditional, some less so. The winter melon marinated in lemon and sugar is a nice tweak on a classic and if you need something to balance out a spicy bite, this is your solution!
Ginger Tea (RMB 19)
With the recent summer thunderstorms, we felt a slight cold coming on so we asked for the hot ginger tea to go with our meal. What we got was not really what we were expecting – the ginger tea had too much added sugar and tasted too syrupy. If you go, ask them to go easy on that one.
If you’re feeling in the mood for a beer, you’re in luck as they just happen to carry Kentucky Bourbon ales for RMB 50! Not exactly what you’d expect to see on the drinks menu of a Korean restaurant, but we’ll take it. They’ve also got red and white wines by the glass and bottle, Ethiopian coffee, ade, soju, Makgeolli, Kloud Korean, Korean Plum Liquor and bottles of Korean Sake to order as well!
Dubujib’s Kimchi Stone Pot Bibimbap (RMB 53)
The bibimbap is a solid rendition, and we went for the kimchi version. I like the added tang that you get with kimchi, but there are plenty of other options if the signature Korean fermented cabbage isn’t your thing! But remember here it’s all about the Korean comfort food and bibimbap is the classic dish for that.
Grilled Mackerel (RMB 68)
The mackerel, 20% off on a Monday, is a standout dish! Unless you really hate picking out bones, this is really, really good and a very generous portion at over 500 grams. This is the only dish we couldn’t finish of our meal and were happy to take it home and made for a great lunch the next day!
Marinated Pork Belly Bulgogi (RMB 65)
The pork belly and accompanying sauce came recommended and did not disappoint! Really tender pork with an understated slightly sweet marinade and a dipping sauce that combines ginger and apple work beautifully! I’ve since been back and also ordered the LA Kalbi (tasty short ribs), the beef bulgogi (which came highly recommended and lived up!) and the beef tongue bulgogi as well. Of these all, I would still recommend the pork belly and beef bulgogi.
Seafood Soon Dubu (RMB 53)
The grand finale, this is what people keep coming back for – Dubujib’s signature tofu soups. Bursting with flavors – you can actually choose how spicy you’d like the kitchen to take this boiling broth (choose from plain, mild or spicy). The fact that it was so (temperature) hot when it was served meant that we could only sip very, very slowly (and I still managed to burnmy tongue). But this isn’t a dish you’d want to gulp down anyway – this is one to be appreciated by slowly savoring every last sip.
All in all, Dubujib is a great spot featuring fresh, high-quality ingredients, some interesting alterations that enhance traditional Korean flavors, and a friendly price point! There’s no fuss or anything too fancy schmancy here – just straight up Korean comfort food!
Dubujib Contact Details:
- Address: B111 of The Grand Summit (northeast corner of Liangmaqiao intersection), 19 Dongfang Dong Lu Chaoyang District
- 朝阳区东方东路19号官舍南区B111
- Tel: 8531 5102
- Opening Hours: Daily from 10AM-10PM
About Kristen
Kristen Lum has an accomplished background in PR, communications and events in China. Born and raised in California, Kristen has been based in Beijing since 2006 and is founder of the lifestyle blog called LumDimSum, covering mostly restaurant news and reviews alongside upcoming events around town that relate to Beijing’s muti-faceted, quickly-developing creative industries like art, music, film, health and fitness, fashion, nightlife, charity events, and travel tips.
