Reviewing Seoul SPice: Korean comfort food local to Washington D.C.

Fast casual, but make it Korean bibimbap? Yes, please! We all love an easy, quick, and cost-effective meal on the go, but I never want to sacrifice taste or eat the same thing over and over again. Seoul Spice is a fantastic D.C. fast casual option that honors traditional Korean cuisine while making it accessible to everyone.

Seoul Spice uses family recipes passed down through the generations, which is so special for a fast casual restaurant. I love that the foods are rooted in Korean culture and made with the best whole ingredients.

Their new location opened in Rosslyn, and I had to check it out! The space is very inviting and in an awesome area for anyone who works or lives around there. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by the employees. I had a few questions about the ingredients and how the bowl building process works, and the staff was kind and helped me pick the perfect blend of toppings for my dinner.

As with many other fast-casual spots, you can build your own meal or order one of their signature combinations. I opted to build my bowl this time. You start off with a base and I chose to go with purple rice. I thought this was such a unique base offering, so I couldn’t pass it up! The employees explained that the purple rice was similar in nutritional qualities to that of brown rice and is popular in Korean dishes. The other bases they offer include white rice, noodles, salad, or a Korean-style burrito. I think next time I’ll have to try the Korean-style burrito to find out what that is all about.

For my protein, I chose chicken. Their chicken is locally raised, and it is marinated in their signature sweet and savory kalbi marinade. You can also select beef, spicy pork, or tofu as your protein of choice.

Next, it was time for veggies. They have seven options to choose from and you can add them all. I went for corn, bean sprouts, cucumbers, carrots, and kimchi. You can also add Korean radish and kale slaw. The vegetables all looked so fresh and tasty. I loved being able to add all these colorful veggies to my meal. Because of the vegetable selection and other whole ingredients, I think Seoul Spice is a wonderful place to grab a lighter, healthier bite if you’re looking for a fresh, health-conscious meal.

The last step in bowl creation was sauces and toppings — arguably the best part of any meal. I love adding fun flavors to spice up my dishes! For sauce, you can choose from Korean hot sauce, creamy Sriracha, ginger carrot, or cilantro lime ranch. The toppings available are cilantro, scallions, sesame oil, fire powder, roasted sesame seeds, crispy garlic, egg, and avocado. Some of these toppings are a small upcharge.

Overall, I loved my experience at Seoul Spice. My meal was delicious, and I think the restaurant is very inclusive of diets and allergies. On their website, you can see all their vegan options and toppings organized by allergens. It’s an awesome spot to visit if you have any dietary restrictions. Seoul Spice is a fantastic addition to the D.C. area’s fast casual dining scene. I hope that more people check them out at their new location in Rosslyn to show their support and welcome them to the neighborhood!