Named after the Korean comfort food, Bibimbap on Edinburgh’s Hanover Street delivers food just like its namesake. Fast, filling and full of flavour, it’s an ideal spot for a quick dinner that doesn’t scrimp on quality. With two popular branches in Glasgow, the rainbow of umbrellas that line the ceiling, a wall of green botanica, and glowing neon lights are the calling cards of this now mini-chain. There’s no doubt it’s an aesthetically pleasing place to plant yourself for a short spell as you wolf down a bowl of flavour-packed homely food.

The menu headlines with three different types of bibimbap (a Korean rice bowl usually topped with an egg and as much spicy sauce as you can handle) and KFC (Korean fried chicken) which is crispy and tender with a sweet and spicy dip. Classic bibimbap, topped with marinaded beef and veggies as colourful as the décor, comes sizzling in a stone bowl. There’s a satisfying snap to the al dente vegetables while the fried egg on top is still gooey.

You’re supposed to mix up bibimbap so the flavours and textures meld together; the other half of the menu is dedicated to deopbap, which is meant to be eaten as presented. Spicy pork deopbap carries a punch of spice with still-juicy pork. Those squeamish about raw fish can get a sushi fix from gimbap, seaweed-wrapped rice rolls with cooked fillings such as ground beef, carrot and Korean barbecue sauce. A wide selection of soju-heavy cocktails accompanies the food menu, each more photogenic than the last, and a healthy flurry of takeaway orders keeps things buzzing inside. While it’s not a place to linger for an entire evening, the experience is speedy and delicious, with those cocktails topping it all off. 

Bibimbap, 96 Hanover Street, Edinburgh.