– Korean BBQ Food Guide: Top 4 Places to Eat Korean Barbecue – BBQ Restaurants Must Try in Seoul –
Because everyone agrees that Korean barbecues is the most wanted food, we summarize the 4 best Korean BBQ restaurants in Seoul that local recommends, and you should try these when you travel to Seoul, Korea. But as you can see, there are so many Korean barbecued foods out there, which ones are the best? Don’t worry, we’re here to help answer your confusion, haha… Here are our recommendations: 4 of the best places to eat Korean barbecues in Seoul, and yes, we’re willing to come back again soon, anytime! Hope you enjoy this and don’t forget to share this article to your friends and family! Make them happy too…
1. Wangbijib Myeongdong 왕비집 명동본점
If you happen to be in the Myeongdong area, you could consider heading to Wangbijib Myeongdong for a delicious Korean BBQ meal that usually comes in 1 set. The building may look like a cosmetic shop, but the restaurant is just above the Beautiplex shop (see my picture below for reference). Just like in other restaurants in Korea, we’re not allowed to buy one dish for two people. Therefore, we ordered a Package for 2 persons consisting of 150gram of Premium Korean Beef Tenderloin + 150gram of Premium Korean Beef Sirloin + Noodle or soup for each person. For this package, we spent 84,000 Won (equal to IDR 1,000,000,-) in total, pricey? Yes, it was very expensive, but we’re pleased with the quality of their grilled beef.
In my experience, they are very generous, because the set meal comes with rice, Naeng-myeon (cold and chewy noodles, served in sweet, sour, salty, spicy, beefy broth), and fermented beancurd soup. We also got the free-flow Banchan/side dishes (radish, kimchi, red lettuce, steamed bean sprouts, lotus, and others). Even though the Sundubu Jjigae soup only contains tofu and potatoes, the soup tastes good. And for noodles, we ordered Clear soup noodles served with dried seaweed. Overall, the food was too much for both of us, but we finally finished it all, haha… The service was fast, and the grilled beef (they cooked it right in front of us) was so tender, juicy, and fresh. Worth a visit! 
Wangbijib Myeongdong 왕비집 명동본점
26 Myeongdong 8ga-gil, Chungmuro 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul (from Myeongdong Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), take Exit 9)
Opening Hour: 11.30AM – 11PM
Phone: +82 2-3789-1945
2. Palsaik Samgyupsal
As recommended by others, we decided to visit Palsaik Samgyupsal on our trip to Seoul in October 2018. Palsaik Samgyeopsal is known as one of the best Korean BBQ restaurants in Seoul that locals recommend, and they are famous for their pork belly dishes! Why? They serve pork belly with eight different flavors: ginseng, wine, pine leaves, garlic, herb, curry, miso paste, and red pepper. This is very unique!
We visited the Sinchon branch, and the restaurant was full house! There are four options for the set menu, and we chose the set menu Palsaik 500g for Couple which costs 41,000 Won (equal to IDR 492K). This set consists of four flavors of pork belly (300gram) in flavors: wine, herb, garlic, and gochujang paste + beef top blade 150gram + cheese for roasting. Personally, this set is good for 3 persons because when we order a set menu, we’re allowed to choose 1 free Shabu Shabu (steamboat): either Seafood with Duenjang soup (soybean paste stew), Clams soup, or Kimchi spicy stew served with meat pork. Generous serving and reasonable price, what a great experience! We also get unlimited leaves/vegetables to wrap the meat and eat them the way Korean people do too! 
As you can see, the meat is rolled up individually on small plates with the name corresponding to each flavor, and the servers helped to cook for us to make sure the meat is fully cooked and ready to eat. How nice! Each flavor gave a unique taste to the pork belly meat; it’s all well marinated, juicy, and delicious! We’re pleased with our 1st experience and finally returned to the restaurant a few weeks ago on my trip to Seoul with my mom in law on Nov 14, 2019. During this 2nd visit, we ordered a different set menu: Palsaik 600g Meal for 37,000 Won (equal to IDR 444K) and satisfied with everything. We started with ginseng flavor because the taste was mild, because after the 4th flavor, the taste gets heavier. And unlike in other korean restaurants, they’re very friendly to tourists! They also gave us a free BEER to celebrate mom in law’s birthday that night. Kamshaaamida!
And then, we returned to Palsaik Samgyeopsal for the 3rd visit on November 20, 2019 before returning to Jakarta! Ha-ha… This is definitely one of the best BBQ pork experiences in Seoul. The variety of seasoning flavors for the meat and the hot soup blends well, and it’s great value for the set meal!
Eight Colors Of Samgyeopsal (Palsaik Samgyupsal) 팔색삼겹살 창천점
27 Yonsei-ro 4-gil, Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening Hour: 11:00AM – 24:00
Phone: +82 2-313-0183
3. Mapo Sutbul Galbi 마포숯불갈비
If you’re around Gangnam and have more budget, you might consider visiting Mapo Sutbul Galbi. I heard hundreds of Korean celebrities visited this restaurant, but that night, we only saw a few customers inside the restaurant. Our first impression was not so happy because the waiter (this ajjuma) was impatient and urged us to order something immediately. Because this restaurant is famous for its marinated meat, either Pork or Beef, so we decided to order Grilled Marinated Pork Ribs (17,000 Won, equal to IDR 205K) and Grilled Pork Belly (13,000 Won, equal to IDR 156K). The grilled pork belly was tender but tasteless, you gotta dip them to the Gochujang sauce or 기름장 Gireumjang (sesame oil, salt, & pepper dip). If you come here, I highly recommend you order their marinated pork ribs; so tasty, juicy, and full of flavor! The good thing is, the waitress cooked the meat to perfection and showed us which dips to use. We also got some side dishes, which included spicy marinated raw crab (Yangnyeom gejang 양념게장). I still remember it was very cold that night; 7degree that night but feels like 0 degrees. So, we ordered Short Ribs Soup (15,000 Won, equal to IDR 180K) and it’s a perfect choice!
Mapo Sutbul Galbi 마포숯불갈비
232 Dosan-daero, Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening Hour: 24 Hours
Phone: +82 2-516-1522
4. Kang Ho-dong Baekjeong 삼존빌딩
Kang Ho-dong Baekjeong is a must-try restaurant for all Korean BBQ lovers who happen to be in the Myeongdong area! Kang ho-dong actually refers to the name of the famous host and comedian in Korea, who is also known as one of the top Korean traditional wrestlers. He owns this restaurant, and they are famous for serving the best Korean BBQ flavors with a variety of meat choices, including beef, pork, galbi, bacon, and other Korean dishes. The price starts from 13,900 won for Premium Beef, and 12,900 won for Premium Pork. They also have side dishes such as Kimchi Soup with rice starting from 6,000 won. Because we came with some friends, they recommend choosing a package from the combo menu. Finally, we decided to try their Special Combo (61,900won = IDR 744K) and Combo 1 (35,900won = IDR 432K). This restaurant like a hidden gem to me and full of locals that night. The quality of the meat is good; all well marinated, and so tender! I also like their banchan, which includes sweet potato, cheese, and eggs on the side of the grill pan. My favorite meats so far: Boned Rib Beef, Pork Belly, and the Neck of pork. If you go to Myeong Dong, this is surely one of the must-try restaurants!
Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong 삼존빌딩
3-3 Myeongdong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
Opening Hour: 11.30AM – 2AM
Phone: +82 2-777-6780
5. Saemaeul Sikdang Hongik
Saemaeul is one of the best places to eat Korean BBQ that I have visited. Saemaeul Restaurant is also a popular chain restaurant in Seoul owned by the famous Korean chef, Baek Jong-won, who even the main host of the SBS’s cooking television series: Baek Jong-won’s Top 3 Chef King, Baek Jong-won’s Food Truck, and currently Baek Jong-won’s Alley Restaurant. Wow! I still remember the temperature dropped to minus 3 degrees; it was the coldest night of our stay in Seoul, that’s why we decided to visit Saemaeul Sikdang near Hongik University, filled with locals who were enjoying BBQ meat there.
The side dishes and water had been placed on the table, so all we had to do was order. On the menu, they have a package set for two people and three people, but we chose from the ala carte menu. Yeoltan Bulgogi (typical menu ₩9,000, equivalent to Rp 108 thousand / portion) turned out to be our favorite, not Hangjeongsal (pig’s back neck, ₩9,000, equivalent to Rp 108 thousand / portion). Yeoltan Bulgogi is thinly sliced pork marinated in a special spicy and delicious chef’s sauce, very flavorful, and tender! Also, we like Yangnyeom Gui (₩10,000, equivalent to Rp. 120 thousand / portion), thick pork meat, seasoned well, chewy, and very delicious! Not to forget, Sogeum Gui (₩10,000, equivalent to Rp. 120 thousand / portion – seasoned with delicious sweet green onions) is also our favorite! Even though we had to cook it ourselves, we enjoyed this moment, and we liked the sliced pork, so delicious! The servers are very helpful and friendly, highly recommend this place!
Saemaeul Sikdang Hongik
331-18 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Opening Hour: 11.30AM – 2AM
Phone: +82 2-777-6780
I’m still compiling the full itinerary for your reference, meanwhile here’s some stories of our fun experience of our SOUTH KOREA trip October – November 2017
and from our recent trip to Seoul 13 November 2019 – 1 December 2019 as follow:
~ [KOREA] Instagramable Hanok-theme Cafe Must Visit in Seoul
~ [KOREA] 2D Cartoon Instagramable Cafe Must Visit in Seoul
~ [KOREA] JEJU Island 3 Days Itinerary Guide – Best Places to Eat & Top Attractions
~ [KOREA] Ihwa-Dong Mural Village in Seoul, Famous K-Drama Filming Location
~ [KOREA] Playful Raccoons and Welsh Corgi at Blind Alley Cafe, Seoul
~ [KOREA] Mr Holmes Bakehouse, The Famous Cruffin in SEOUL
~ [KOREA] Cuteness Overload at Line Friends Store & Cafe Flagship Store at Garosugil, Seoul
~ [KOREA] Autumn at Nami Island (NAMISEOM) Travel Guide
~ [KOREA] Kakao Friends Biggest Store & Ryan Cafe at Gangnam, Seoul
~ [KOREA] Rent Korean Traditional Dress Hanboknam and Explore Gyeongbokgung
~ [KOREA] Food Guide – Top 15 Food Must Try in Seoul
~ [KOREA] Things To Do in Gamcheon Culture Village, Busan
~ [KOREA] Oryukdo Skywalk Busan, Walking in The Sky (오륙도 스카이워크)
~ [KOREA] Street Food You Should Try at BIFF Square Busan
~ [KOREA] Busan Complete Itinerary & Guide – Top Things to Do & Best Places to Eat
Follow my Insta Stories to see the live updates: Myfunfoodiary
or FIND ME here:
