Restaurant Review: Cupbop (Korean BBQ)
REVIEW: CUPBOP (KOREAN BBQ)
Cupbop Korean BBQ is a pseudo-fast-food joint about to open multiple locations throughout Las Vegas.
I saw my first Cupbop at Fort Apache and Charleston on the West Side, last summer. That location has been under construction for quite some time, perhaps a delayed victim of COVID-related labor shortages. Even though the sign has been up and turned on since August, the opening still seems a long time away.
So, when we drove by the original Cupbop location in West Lake Mead (two blocks off of 95), we agreed the wait was long enough and we chanced our first experience with over-the-counter Korean BBQ, fast-food style.
[Note my previous restaurant reviews of sit-down Korean BBQ places which are very different.]
My first impression was, the anchor store seems poorly run. I’ll cut the store some slack given how difficult things are with labor in the service industry right now. However, the counter personnel didn’t seem to know much about what they were selling and serving. A few simple questions elicited blank stares.
The menu is severely limited. I’d love to have seen Bimbimbop, which is a standard Korean dish with rice, vegetables, cabbage, a meat choice, with an egg on top. But this wasn’t offered. Instead, we chose the simplest Korean dish, Bulgogi, which is perhaps the most popular “Americanized” dish, consisting of sliced beef, white rice, cabbage, and rich sauces (which are best served on the side and optional). Priced at around $10 (with tax), the Bulgoki was a relative bargain, especially since it’s so hard to find a decent meal in most fast-food joints. The beef was tender and tasty. I was pleased with the portion size and the taste.
I was much less satisfied with the presentation, however, Yes, the concept of “Cupbop” is exactly what it sounds like — food in a cup. Well, more like a bowl. The trouble is, mixing the right ingredients and textures is impossible with a heaping bowl of food. Yeah, it all ends up in the same place and my stomach won’t know the difference. However, I want to savor the beef with rice, then some cabbage, and even some noodles. I don’t necessarily want every bite to be a full explosion of every single ingredient in the bowl (err, I mean “cup”).
I also take issue with the combination of glass noodles and white rice in every bowl. A choice of either, or served side by side, would have been far better. I don’t understand the concept of eating noodles with rice. I mean, who eats noodles AND rice. It seems this should be one or the other.
The level of spice was an interesting experience. I opted for a 6 and Marieta (who doesn’t like spicy food) opted for a 1. The counter person mixed a few sauces in front of us and was about to toss some brown-looking glue into the bowl when we practically jumped across the counter and did a crosscheck. “On the side, please!” I’ve had way too many good meals ruined with bad sauces or the wrong proportion of spices and sauces. So, ordering the sauces on the side is highly recommended.
I give Cupbop a solid 8 on taste and value, a 3 on presentation, a 2 on service, and a 1 on cleanliness. The store floor looked like it could use a mop and the windows apparently haven’t been hit with a bottle of Windex since the opening. I was also disappointed with the lack of menu variety, including no soup options — which is unfortunate since most Korean soups are really tasty.
Cupbop gets a mixed review from me and an uncertain grade to as whether or not I’ll return again.
