1251 First Street, SE Photo Credit: No Kings Collective
From a press release:
“The Navy Yard neighborhood is about to get a lot tastier with the opening of SEOULSPICE, a fast-casual restaurant specializing in Korean comfort food. Owner Eric Shin is pleased to announce the opening of his seventh SEOULSPICE location on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at 1251 First Street, SE, 20003, in the heart of Navy Yard. Known for healthy Korean comfort food and open daily, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., SEOULSPICE is 100% gluten-free and features rice bowls, gimbap burritos (Korritos), japchae noodle bowls, and salads. The menu features original recipes from the Shin family, highlighting the authentic and vibrant flavors of Korean cuisine.
As a special treat, SEOULSPICE will give away one complimentary entrée bowl to each in-store customer who visits the new Navy Yard location on Tuesday, June 20, between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. (while supplies last).
This special giveaway excludes ordering an extra protein, “The Egg” and Avocado toppings when building one’s order from the menu, https://www.seoulspice.com/our_food/, and there is no purchase necessary. Customers must be physically present to order and participate in this offering.
The son of Korean restaurateurs who settled in Atlanta, Eric Shin developed a special knack for entrepreneurship and a great love for food early. Inspired by his parents’ venture, he opened his flagship location in the NoMa neighborhood of Washington, D.C. in 2016 and expanded with additional locations in Tenleytown and College Park, Maryland the following year. The fourth location opened in the Westfield Montgomery Mall in Spring 2021 followed by a fifth location in Penn Quarter in Fall 2021. In February 2022, SEOULSPICE opened its sixth location in the Rosslyn neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia.
SEOULSPICE Navy Yard will provide another welcome option for those visiting this industrial Capitol Riverfront. Situated between Chipotle and RASA, this new 2,409-square-foot space boasts 92 seats and is SEOULSPICE’s largest location to date. The store’s design displays the vibrancy of Korean food and culture with a special mural by Peter Chang, a fellow Korean American and co-owner of the DC-based creative agency No Kings Collective.
“No Kings Collective created the mural for our very first store in 2016. Now, seven years later, as we prepare to open our seventh store, we wanted to reconnect with NKC to bring that synergy to future locations in DC and beyond. Peter and his team have created a bold mural that incorporates the traditional colors of Korean Hanbok and homage to the Nats!”
At SEOULSPICE, the menu features made-to-order Korean favorites, such as Rice Bowls (Bibimbap), featuring perfectly cooked sushi-grade white or purple rice; Korritos (Gimbap), an original Korean-style burrito wrapped in roasted seaweed with options of white or purple rice; Noodles (Japchae), gluten-free and made from sweet potato starch, tossed with carrots and kale in a sesame-ginger-soy marinade; or Salad Bowls (Sangchu), consisting of hearty kale and iceberg lettuce. These bases are enhanced with four protein options: Beef (Bulgogi), thinly sliced ribeye marinated in a sweet and savory kalbi marinade; Chicken (Dak), marinated in a flavorful garlic-soy-ginger marinade; Spicy Pork (Jeyuk Gui), thinly sliced and marinated in a delightful sweet and spicy chili marinade; or Tofu (Dubu), which is organic and made from non-GMO beans, braised and caramelized in a garlic-soy-ginger marinade. Diners can then add a selection of fresh vegetables, including corn, cucumber, carrots, Korean radish, bean sprouts, kale slaw, and house-made vegan kimchi. SEOULSPICE offers four gourmet sauces made in-house – Korean Hot Sauce, Creamy Sriracha, Ginger-Carrot, and Cilantro-Lime Ranch – plus fresh herbs and toppings which include cilantro, scallions, roasted sesame seeds, crispy garlic, sesame oil, fire powder, “The” Egg, and avocado.
As a crucial part of Eric’s vision, SEOULSPICE is committed to creating delicious meals with ingredients that are raised and sourced responsibly. All food items are gluten-free, catering to multiple dietary needs and offering a healthy and flavorful alternative to other fast-casual dining choices. Prices for these customizable meals range from $6 to $12.99.”