Dolsot Bibimbob at Hoban Korean in Eagan

Bibimbob is one of Korea's most popular dishes - a bowl of rice topped with grilled marinated beef, raw egg, mushrooms and veggies. Hoban in Eagan offers several different versions, including this one - dolsot bibimbob ($10.95). The twist here is that instead of steamed rice, this version is served in a very hot clay pot, so hot that the rice on the bottom of the bowl forms a crunchy crust. This one was a bit skimpy on the beef, but it came with a nice selection of the traditional panchan side dishes, including sesame-flavored bean sprouts and several different varieties of kim chi. This was my first visit to Hoban in several years. This little strip mall eatery was a favorite of mine in the past, and it still seems to rank as one of the best Korean restaurants in the area. There's lots more on the menu I would like to try, including the Seafood Jungol hot pot for two ($29.95), and the Hae Mul Pa Jun, seafood pancakes ($14.95).
Hoban, 1989 Silver Bell Rd., Eagan, 651-688-3447.