Five Seoul Korean Barbecue Restaurants: Hanwoo, Galbi, Bulgogi and Pork Belly
Five Korean barbecue restaurants across Seoul, from aged hanwoo and galbi to bassak bulgogi and thin-sliced pork belly. Choose one that fits your preferred dish and the neighbourhood you plan to visit.
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A meal described as Korean barbecue can take several forms. Some restaurants bring ribs for you to grill at the table, while others serve bassak bulgogi cooked in the kitchen or a complete Korean table setting with side dishes.
This is not a route through five restaurants. Use it to choose one place by the meat you want and the part of Seoul you plan to visit.
Start with the dish you want
- Choose Byeokje Galbi for aged hanwoo without a marinade. Its sirloin and ribs are a good fit when the flavour of the beef itself matters most.
- Try Hongneung Galbijip if you want a choice between fresh and marinated galbi. Bulgogi is also available, making it easier to choose by cut and level of seasoning.
- Pick Yeokjeon Hoegwan for bassak bulgogi without a long meal at a tabletop grill. The marinated beef is cooked until little moisture remains.
- Choose Hanilkwan for a Korean table setting with side dishes. Opened in 1939, the restaurant serves options built around bulgogi and grilled ribs.
- Look at Samcheonpo Sikdang for a casual pork meal. Thin-sliced pork belly and neck are cooked on a stone plate.
Check the ordering unit before comparing prices
Korean barbecue restaurants do not all price their menus by the same unit. Byeokje Galbi prices its meat by weight, while Hanilkwan’s 49,000-won grilled-rib lunch set is priced per person. Other menus may be priced per plate, set meal, or table setting, so do not compare the numbers without checking the unit.
Before booking or placing your order, check:
- how many grams or portions the listed price covers
- whether the first order has a minimum number of portions
- how an individual set differs from an à la carte dish
- whether the meat is grilled at the table or arrives cooked
If Korean barbecue ordering is unfamiliar, read the guide to ordering Korean barbecue before you go.
Check the latest hours on the day you visit
Public holidays, Seollal and Chuseok may affect normal opening hours. A restaurant may also have a break time or a separate last-order time. Start with the information on the place card, then check the restaurant's latest notice on the day if the meal is important to your plans.
For places such as Samcheonpo Sikdang, where the latest price or closing day is not clearly published, confirm directly before making a special journey.
Choose one that fits your neighbourhood
Pair Byeokje Galbi with a day around Olympic Park in Songpa, or Hongneung Galbijip with Gyeongdong Market and Dongdaemun-gu. Yeokjeon Hoegwan fits a Mapo or Gyeongui Line Forest Park itinerary, while Hanilkwan is the convenient choice around Apgujeong. Samcheonpo Sikdang makes more sense when you are already visiting Gangbuk-gu or Dream Forest.
Rather than crossing Seoul to visit several restaurants, choose one near the places you already plan to see and allow time for the meal.
Places to visit with your meal
Apgujeong Rodeo Street
An easy neighbourhood pairing with Hanilkwan in Apgujeong.
Olympic Park
A natural stop on the same Songpa itinerary as Byeokje Galbi.
Gyeongdong Market
A traditional market to explore on the day you visit Hongneung Galbijip.
Majang Meat Market
A livestock market worth visiting if you want to learn more about the cuts used in Seoul's meat restaurants.
In this list
- Seoul
Byeokje Galbi
A good choice when you want aged hanwoo served without a marinade. Check how many grams make one order and whether there is a minimum order before deciding how much to buy.
- Signature order
- Aged hanwoo sirloin and ribs
- Meat and cooking style
- Beef · mostly unmarinated
- Check before ordering
- Weight unit and minimum order
- Best paired with
- Songpa-gu · Olympic Park
11:30–22:00Open year-round
See details
- Seoul
Hongneung Galbijip
Choose between unmarinated and marinated beef ribs, with bulgogi also on the menu. It works well for dinner after visiting Gyeongdong Market or spending the day in Dongdaemun-gu.
- Signature order
- Fresh galbi, marinated galbi and bulgogi
- Meat and cooking style
- Beef · marinated or unmarinated
- Check before ordering
- Ordering unit for each dish
- Best paired with
- Dongdaemun-gu · Gyeongdong Market
11:30–21:30Seollal · Chuseok
See details
- Seoul
Yeokjeon Hoegwan
The signature dish is bassak bulgogi, marinated beef cooked until little moisture remains. Check whether you want an individual set or a dish intended for sharing.
- Signature order
- Bassak bulgogi
- Meat and cooking style
- Beef · marinated and grilled dry
- Check before ordering
- Set meal or shared dish
- Best paired with
- Mapo-gu · Gyeongui Line Forest Park
Mon~Fri 11:00–22:00 (closed 15:00–17:00)Seollal · Chuseok
See details
- Seoul
Hanilkwan Apgujeong
Bulgogi and grilled ribs are served as Korean table settings with side dishes. It suits travellers looking for an organised meal in Apgujeong and anyone who wants to try several dishes at a relaxed pace.
- Signature order
- Bulgogi and grilled-rib table settings
- Meat and cooking style
- Beef · marinated
- Check before ordering
- Table-setting contents and party size
- Best paired with
- Apgujeong · Rodeo Street
11:30–21:30Seollal · Chuseok
See details
- Seoul
Samcheonpo Sikdang
Thin slices of pork belly and neck are grilled on a stone plate. Consider it for a more casual pork meal, and confirm the latest prices and closing days before visiting.
- Signature order
- Thin-sliced pork belly and neck
- Meat and cooking style
- Pork · grilled on a stone plate
- Check before ordering
- Latest price and closing day
- Best paired with
- Gangbuk-gu · Dream Forest
12:00–23:00Not published by the operator
See details
Frequently asked questions
Which restaurant is easiest for a first-time visitor?
Start with Hanilkwan if you want a Korean table setting, or Yeokjeon Hoegwan if an individual meal looks easier. Byeokje Galbi and Hongneung Galbijip better suit diners who want to choose specific cuts. Check the current minimum order and party-size rules before visiting.
Can I visit alone?
Look first at individual sets at Yeokjeon Hoegwan or the table-setting options at Hanilkwan. Korean barbecue restaurants may require a minimum order of two portions for some dishes, so solo diners should ask about the minimum before booking or travelling across the city.
How should I choose between beef and pork?
Choose Byeokje Galbi for aged hanwoo, Hongneung Galbijip for fresh or marinated ribs, Yeokjeon Hoegwan for bassak bulgogi, and Hanilkwan for a full Korean table setting. Samcheonpo Sikdang is the option for thin-sliced pork cooked on a stone plate.
How should I compare menu prices?
Meat may be priced by weight, by the plate, as an individual set or as a full table setting. Do not compare the headline numbers without checking the portion, ordering unit and minimum order. Use the restaurant's latest menu because prices can change.
Can I visit all five in one day?
It is not recommended. The restaurants are spread across Songpa, Dongdaemun, Mapo, Gangnam and Gangbuk. Choose one near that day's sightseeing plans instead of crossing Seoul for several meals.
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Last verified:
Official sources
- Seoul Tourism Organization — Byeokje Galbi's hanwoo ribs, ageing method and visitor information
- Seoul Tourism Organization — Hongneung Galbijip's signature dishes and visitor information
- Seoul Tourism Organization — Yeokjeon Hoegwan's bassak bulgogi and visitor information
- Seoul Tourism Organization — Hanilkwan's history and visitor information
- Seoul Tourism Organization — Samcheonpo Sikdang's thin-sliced pork and visitor information
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