Seoul 4 Soul

Dining options, especially for lunch, have been dwindling in downtown Springfield, which is why I was happy to hear that Seoul 4 Soul had recently opened on the second floor above Buzz Bomb Brewing Co. on Adams Street.

Seoul 4 Soul advertises itself as a "Korean fusion bistro with vegan and vegetarian options." It also notes that it is woman, Pacific Islander, Latin, Indigenous, Black and Asian-owned.

I decided to get takeout, but as it turns out, it was evidently attorney day at Seoul 4 Soul. So while I waited for my order to be prepared, I was able to check in with several friends who were dining that day and get their perspectives, all of which were positive. I like it when things work out like that.

Seoul 4 Soul can be accessed through Buzz Bomb or from a separate door off of Adams Street. I have a particular affinity for the space given that my late father-in-law once owned this building, where he operated his law firm. While it's undergone several transformations since we moved down the block to the southeast corner of the Old Capitol Plaza, this is by far my favorite iteration of the space.

While it can be a little dark, there's a good vibe going on. The furniture has an industrial feel, and there's funky art all over the place. Occupancy could be a problem with an influx of visitors, but it appeared that Seoul 4 Soul had about half dine-in business and half takeout the day I visited.

Diners order at a counter toward the back of the space that also serves as a bar. Given its location above a brewery, it was no surprise that there was an impressive list of beers and other options.

If you're trying to nail down a menu online before visiting, it can be a challenge, as there appears to be several menus on various social media sites. As I've said so many times, I wish restaurant owners would make it easier for people to find an accurate menu. That being said, the core menu that's consistent across all platforms includes wings, a variety of bulgogi options, some appetizers and sides.

For the uninitiated, bulgogi consists of thinly sliced beef (or other proteins) marinated in soy, honey, sesame oil, garlic and onion. It's ubiquitous in Korean culture. Although traditionally served over rice, the dish has evolved and been fused with other cuisines and culinary traditions. Hence Seoul 4 Soul's bulgogi tacos, gyros and pizzas in addition to the customary rice bowls. Besides beef, Seoul 4 Soul offers tofu, mushroom, chicken and pork.

Sides and appetizers include Mexican street corn, a variety of hummus and vegetable mandu (Korean dumplings filled with vegetables). As for the wings, there are about a half-dozen options including kimchi dry rub, wasabi tzatziki and the collab (orange whip tea, roasted poblano, golden kiwi and lime).

I went traditional and ordered the lunch-sized bi bim bap rice bowl. It was a generously sized bowl of rice with a healthy serving of beef bulgogi, all topped with a fried egg, carrot, jalapeno, cucumber, mung beans and sauteed spinach. It came with a side of delicious kimchi as well as the requisite gochujang sauce, which is what really made the dish explode with flavor. Gochujang sauce is made from gochujang (a flavored spicy miso paste) and typically combined with soy, garlic, sesame oil, sugar and rice vinegar. It would have been a mundane dish without the kimchi and sauce. I poured all of it on top of the dish, broke the yoke and then mixed everything together in order to get the perfect bite containing all of these elements. It was delightful, and quite large for a lunch portion.

One of my friends got the Korean Reuben, which was the daily special. He advised that he was happy that the staff had talked him into ordering it. It was reported as gigantic in size and came on toasted marble rye. He described his experience as follows: "The corned beef was solid, a mix of larger chunks and pieces more in the pulled form. The kimchi mixed with the sauerkraut was a nice twist, such that the sauerkraut didn't overwhelm the corned beef like some Reubens. The bread did get soggy, as always happens with sauerkraut and Thousand Island (this time mixed with gochujang). The chips were standard, crinkle-cut chips with kimchi spice, which added some tang. House-made lemon limeade was refreshing. I would go with a half sandwich next time, which is available."

The other attorneys and lobbyists that I spoke to likewise gave positive reports and indicated that they would be back. Seoul 4 Soul is definitely worth giving a shot when you're downtown and also qualifies for a destination meal. Make sure to give it a try.