Decent Korean/Japanese food here, nothing too special.
I've been here several times over the past few years and went here for dinner a couple weeks ago. Like each time I go, it's just okay.
No effort in creating some kind of interesting dining atmosphere. So expect plain and simple looks inside.
Kibu Cafe is a pretty standard Korean Japanese restaurant. Their food is decent, not amazing. As a Korean, I can say that the food is authentic but the atmosphere is really no better than your average cafeteria. For a restaurant that is all self serve (you have to clean up after yourself, put dishes away, etc.) they ask for too much. If I get anything, I usually get the kimchi jjigae (hot kimchi soup).
In the past, I always went up and got another bowl of rice for free but one time I went up there and the lady said it's a dollar extra. I was so confused because I've ALWAYS gotten extra rice with no additional cost and I had mentioned that to her and she said, "well we are supposed to charge you." What? So why wasn't I charged the past ten times? It's only a dollar but little things like that can drive people away.
If you want to be in business, you need to consistent with what you do for your customers.
I just came from Kibu, my second visit in 2 years. Â I don't generally seek out Korean food, but this hit the spot. Â The free soup was fantastic, best egg drop soup ever. Â I asked that my seafood noodle soup be a little less spicy than usual, because I'm nervous about something being too spicy that I can't eat it, but I think they took one look at my white face and decided to leave it out altogether. Â Next time I won't ask them to make it less spicy. Â I should be more adventurous anyway. Â My boyfriend got the kim chi soup and it had sliced hot dogs in it! Â How funny. Â He still liked it fine (I'm not sure I would have - not a hot dog fan). Â
Anyway, the portions are huge, the atmosphere is fine and I like the artwork, and the staff was very nice. Â I will be back to try other dishes!
Let me start by saying, I'm a white guy who likes to eat international food. That said, I cannot speak to authenticity or compare it to "the way my mom makes it". Having said that, I really enjoyed my first experience at Kibu Cafe.
A friend and I went out for dinner one night. I had wanted to try Kibu for a long time. I had the spicy chicken which I ordered extra spicy and he had a type of noodle bowl which looked great. While we waited for our order, there was free, unlimited soup which was delicious and hot tea. The spicy chicken was really delicious. It was in a slightly rich sauce which reminded me vaguely of a spicy Thai curry sauce. It was a massive order which I should not have finished in one sitting, but it was just too good. The meal also included a small side of kimchi and fishcake which was much better than the name may lead you to believe.
I would definitely like to go back to Kibu the next time I'm in the area.
Not many korean restaurants in Indiana but I have to say that this is probably one of the best. Â They have a wide variety of korean food here and it is delicious. Â Place looks kind of crappy but hey you dont come here to look at the interior decorating...Spicy pork dish is the way to go!
Review Source:I'm not really sure what happened. I've been here before, on several occasions, and the food was always decent. Not excellent, but a very respectable, 4-star showing. But not last time.
No, not at all.
The Yang Nyum Chicken ("Spicy & Sweet Chicken") missed the mark on just about every level. Basically, Kibu's Yang Nyum Chicken is what happens when you take soggy and unexceptional chicken wings and smother them in 2 parts honey and 1 part ketchup -- and honestly, I don't know what's worse. There was something spicy in there, too. But aside from being barely detectable, it was also entirely uninteresting. Bland, dry, breaded chicken, swimming in a neon red honey sauce, is just about the absolute worst of Americanized Chinese food -- and Kibu had a more authentic rendition of this culinary embarrassment than just about anywhere I've ever had the misfortune of eating.
The "Bulgolki" was somehow slightly better and much worse at the same time. No, from the taste point of view, the horror of Yang Nyum Chicken would be hard to beat -- and it retains its title, even in the face of Bulgolki's frightful competition. But as what seemed to be little more than boiled meat slathered on a bed of bland vegetables, it might win by putting the competition to sleep. But then again, who has time to sleep, when chewing through the sinuous, gray and tasteless steak takes the better part of the meal?
Most offensive of all, this wasn't Bulgolki -- at least, not of any sort that I or my Korean-born companion had ever experienced. When it came, we were convinced that they'd brought out the wrong dish. But no, the server stubbornly insisted that this was Bulgolki -- just as North Korea insists on calling itself the "Democratic People's Republic" in the face of all evidence, common sense and experience.
I was, for a moment, about to give Kibu 3 stars, in reference to this as a 'moving average' from my previous 4 star experiences. But that presumes that my recent experience was a 2, which it most certainly was not. This was an ugly experience. I'd be ready to forgive and try again, but I'm not sure my Korean Commander-and-Chief will give me permission to cross the 38th Parallel again.
I don't really know why Kibu deserves such high ratings. Coming from Seattle and LA, I've had a lot more delicious and inexpensive Korean food. Kibu is definitely more college-friendly place, but the selection and prices are definitely not! For the quality of food and the level of sophistication of the restaurant, I'd say the dishes are over-priced. Unfortunately, there is only one other Korean restaurant in West Lafayette, so we all just have to deal with it until someone opens up a competition.
Review Source:I'm a few years removed from my days at Purdue. Â Lived in Chicago and currently live in LA, where Korean food is amazing. Â Still, I can't help but salivate at the thought of Kibu. Â Let's be honest, you aren't going to get top notch quality Korean food here. Â But everything there taste's exactly as it should. Â It's strictly traditional Korean food, none of the americanized bullshit. Â Minus the free egg-drop soup of course, that is strictly for you. Â Yes you, American! Â (Although it is equally delicious)
I don't know why I crave this place so much. Â Probably because it was so comforting to me at the time. Home cooked Korean food at a discounted price. Â I think I celebrated a birthday dinner here once. Â For those of you who've been here, that is not classy even by college standards. Â Someone asked what I wanted to eat for my birthday, and I said egg drop soup and bulgogi bowl at Kibu. Â Boiler UP!
Quick, Easy, Cheap, Decent Campus Food.
Also, the location is great. Â It might be a bit far for a walk if you are on the other side of campus but us college students walk anywhere anyways.
I find this place is huge and I see customers here anytime during the day. The food here is decent, better than most places, and no driving required is always a plus. Â I always get JaJa Men here; it is delicious. Â Their bento sets are alright. Â Also, don't forget the self-serving free soup that comes with any meal! Â I thought they should change it up a bit because it is always the same soup but I am not complaining ;)
Anyways, decent food, good prices, easy access from campus. Â I am a fan!
We've started eating here quite often in the past few months. Â I really love eating the Jam Pong, the noodles are delicious, but it is so huge I have never even come close to finishing it. Â I also like the spicy squid (the spicy pork is good too, but it is really fatty and scares me). Â My boyfriend usually gets a chicken teriaky bento box and that is delicious and perfect for those less adventurous.
Oh and the free soup is awesome....I have often wished I could just have it for lunch and not order anything else.
The kimchi soup here good. Â The jar jar mien is also delicious. Â One issue I have with this place is their not so fresh meat. Â The pork in the kimchi soup is basically fat and tendons with some meat hanging off of it. Â I usually avoid 80% of the pork in the soup. Â Also, they have started putting hot dogs in the kimchi soup! Â I did not like this and asked them not to include the hot dogs; a proposal to which they complied happily. Â
Overall, a good place to eat with friends for a decent price.
As much as I like to be suspicious of Korean Japanese places (seriously pick a country or call it fusion!) this place is delicious. The unlimited soup is light until you eat three bowls of it and some of the menu items are very tasty as well. The food pricing is reasonable and its definitely a good place for a casual but mentally and physically satisfying meal.
I strongly suggest the spicy chicken or spicy squid dishes.
Cheap, but good. Most of the dishes are under $10 (I usually get the bulgogi or the dol so bi bim bop, both of which are ~$9). There's a complimentary pot of soup (usually a mixture of cabbage and other veggies in a chicken broth) with bowls next to it for anyone who wants it. Also, every table gets little dishes of fishcakes, kim chee, and such to go with their meal. The only thing is, you have to remember to pick up your dishes off your table and put them away in the dirty dish trays in the back.
Review Source:This is one of the restaurants we frequent often. Â It is always packed with asian people so you know it's gotta be good asian food. Â My favorite things are the spicy pork and the salmon bento box. Â
The best thing about kibu is the FREE SOUP. Â Hahaha...usually by the time our food comes we are full off the soup and free fishcake. Â Then we usually eat a little of our main dish and take the rest home. Â Big portions too.
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