GS25 Hyeja Jipbap Comeback Bassak Bulgogi [Korean Food]

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Today’s GS25 lunch box is one that has made a comeback: the Hyeja Jipbap Comeback Bassak Bulgogi, re-released as part of GS25’s “Comeback” series. Last year, in summer, this bassak bulgogi lunch box returned in the Hyeja-style comeback series and sold 350,000 units within a month of its relaunch. Now it is back again, renewed as part of the Hyeja Jipbap lineup. “Hyeja” is Korean slang for generous, great-value portions, “jipbap” means a home-cooked meal, and “bassak” describes meat grilled until it turns crisp. The full Korean name is Hyeja Jipbap Doraon Bassak Bulgogi, and “doraon” means “returned.” In this review I’ll call it Comeback Bassak Bulgogi for short. If the Hyeja October Lunch Box I reviewed recently was a spread of 13 side dishes, this one leads with charcoal-flavored bassak bulgogi and adds egg donkatsu and japchae for a six-dish lineup. Let’s see what’s inside.

Table of Contents

📋 At a Glance

Product: Hyeja Jipbap Comeback Bassak Bulgogi (Korean name: Hyeja Jipbap Doraon Bassak Bulgogi)
Brand: GS25 convenience store lunch box (Comeback series, Hyeja Jipbap full-change renewal line)
Price: 5,600 won
Weight and calories: 442 g · 732 kcal
Saving tip: pre-order on the Uridongne GS (“Our Neighborhood GS”) app and stack partner card or carrier discounts for a lower price
Main components: 6 dishes: charcoal-flavored soy bassak bulgogi (Korean pork hind leg), egg donkatsu, japchae, stir-fried mushrooms, seasoned vegetables, and an orange-tinted stir-fried side
Verdict: ★4.0 — a hearty meat lunch box with charcoal-flavored soy bulgogi, egg donkatsu and japchae; the vegetable sides are a little thin.

Comeback Bassak Bulgogi Lunch Box: Price and Highlights

Lately, popular Hyeja lunch boxes from the past have been returning one after another as reissues. My memory is hazy, but I’m told plenty of people think of bassak bulgogi when they hear “Hyeja lunch box,” which is why this one was released. GS25 brought it back as a new line while giving Hyeja Jipbap a full-change renewal, so the price and lineup have shifted a little. The price is 5,600 won.

GS25 Hyeja Jipbap Comeback Bassak Bulgogi lunch box

Pre-ordering on the Uridongne GS app and stacking partner card or carrier discounts brings the price down further, so frequent buyers may want to make use of pre-orders. Ha. The box weighs 442 g and carries 732 kcal. Considering that it holds bassak bulgogi, a cutlet and japchae, the price seems reasonable for a convenience store lunch box.

Nutrition label showing 442 g and 732 kcal

Ready-to-eat food label showing 5,600 won and 442 g

What’s in the Box

Let’s check the lineup. Lift the lid and you will see white rice spread across the top of a red container, with the side-dish compartments neatly divided below. With so many compartments, the generous feel of a Hyeja lunch box comes through from the very first look.

Corner of the lunch box with japchae and donkatsu

Charcoal-Flavored Soy Bassak Bulgogi

The main, bassak bulgogi (soy-marinated grilled meat), is seasoned with soy sauce, given a charcoal flavor and grilled until crisp. The meat is spread thin before grilling, so it looks darker than ordinary bulgogi, and its scorched, crisp edges are the signature. As for the pork, it is reportedly Korean hind leg.

Egg donkatsu and bulgogi topped with scallions

Egg Donkatsu and Japchae

The second star is the egg donkatsu (a pork cutlet in an egg coating). Golden-fried pieces come already cut into bite-size portions. With a cutlet added to a bulgogi lunch box, the meat dishes feel doubled. The japchae (stir-fried glass noodles with vegetables) also takes up a generous compartment at the bottom. Glass noodles mixed with vegetables should make a pairing just like a holiday table when eaten with the bassak bulgogi.

Compartments with japchae and seasoned vegetables

Orange stir-fried side next to the donkatsu and bulgogi

Mushrooms and Other Sides

Beyond those, side dishes such as stir-fried mushrooms, seasoned vegetables and an orange-tinted stir-fried side sit in their own compartments. Their job is to reset the palate between the meat dishes. Overall, it is a lunch box built around charcoal-flavored soy bassak bulgogi, with a cutlet and japchae alongside and side dishes to round it out. Think of it as the generous feel of the old Hyeja lunch box with a renewed side-dish lineup.

Front of the Hyeja lunch box seaweed package

Taste Test: Bassak Bulgogi, Egg Donkatsu and Sides

Time to dig in. After microwaving it and lifting the lid, the sweet smell of the soy seasoning rose together with a faint charcoal aroma. With bassak bulgogi, that smell really is half the appeal.

Bulgogi with scallion topping and chopsticks

Starting with the Bassak Bulgogi

I started with the bassak bulgogi. The sweet and salty soy seasoning had soaked well into the meat, and the faint charcoal flavor made it much richer than plain bulgogi. Over white rice it was a true “rice thief,” the kind of dish that keeps you reaching for more rice. The meat portion is fairly generous, so even piled over rice it lasted to the end. However, if you don’t care for sweet bulgogi, it might taste a little sweet.

A piece of bassak bulgogi held with chopsticks

Egg Donkatsu

The egg-coated cutlet leans soft and savory rather than crunchy. Its coating inevitably turns a little soggy after reheating. Still, alternating it with the sweet-and-salty bulgogi worked well enough. Dabbing a little bulgogi sauce on the cutlet gives it a different flavor. Switching between the two mains was fun.

Japchae and Side Dishes

The japchae noodles stayed chewy and had not gone mushy. It is mild and gently sweet, so it worked as a soft resting spot between the strongly seasoned bulgogi. Past the halfway point, the side dishes pull their weight. The stir-fried mushrooms and seasoned vegetables cleaned my palate now and then. Even with so many meat dishes, I never tired of the box before the end.

Final Verdict: A Hearty Meat Box with Charcoal-Flavored Bulgogi

Personally, I felt fans of the old bassak bulgogi lunch box will be glad to see it again. However, the mains are mostly meat, so it may fall a little short for anyone wanting plenty of vegetables. The bassak bulgogi, with its sweet soy seasoning and faint charcoal flavor, does a solid job as a rice thief. The cutlet and japchae alongside make the meal hearty. Still, with a meat-focused lineup, the vegetable sides may leave you wanting a bit more. I’d recommend it to people who missed the old Hyeja bassak bulgogi lunch box. It also suits people who want bulgogi and a cutlet in one meal, and people looking for a filling meat lunch box. If you are curious about Korean convenience store lunch boxes, this 5,600-won box is a handy start. It brings bulgogi, a cutlet and japchae together in a single meal.

Donkatsu, egg and bulgogi with chopsticks

Seaweed package with the lunch box container in the background

For GS25’s series of returning Hyeja lunch boxes and the Bassak Bulgogi box’s sales in its first month, see the (Korean source) Dailian report on GS25’s Comeback Hyeja lunch box series.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much is GS25’s Hyeja Jipbap Comeback Bassak Bulgogi?

It costs 5,600 won. The box weighs 442 g with 732 kcal. It holds charcoal-flavored soy bassak bulgogi, egg donkatsu, japchae and side dishes, six dishes in all.

Q. Does the Comeback Bassak Bulgogi lunch box taste good?

Personally, I felt fans of the old bassak bulgogi lunch box would be glad to see it back. The sweet soy seasoning and faint charcoal flavor made the bulgogi a real rice thief. The cutlet and japchae made the meal hearty. If you dislike sweet bulgogi or want plenty of vegetable sides, though, it may feel a little lacking.

Q. Is there a way to buy the Comeback Bassak Bulgogi for less?

Yes. Pre-order on the Uridongne GS app and stack partner card or carrier discounts to bring the price down. Frequent buyers may want to make use of pre-orders.

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