FoodListSeoul

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.

Published Sep 5, 2026Updated Sep 16, 20264 min read

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A street of Korean restaurants and shops with signs

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. For thirty years it has made its own frozen, thin-sliced pork belly and grilled it on a stone plate, and pork neck is on the menu too.

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.

Opening hours and holiday closures

These are the hours given in the Seoul Tourism Organization listings.

Byeokje Galbi 11:30–22:00
Hongneung Galbijip 11:30–21:30, closed for Seollal and Chuseok
Yeokjeon Hoegwan weekdays 11:00–22:00 with a 15:00–17:00 break, closed for Seollal and Chuseok — weekend hours are not listed.
Hanilkwan 11:30–21:30, closed for Seollal and Chuseok
Samcheonpo Sikdang 12:00–23:00 — no closing day or current prices are listed.

Hours change, so check the restaurant's latest notice or a map app on the day. For Byeokje Galbi and Samcheonpo Sikdang, which list no closing day, and for Yeokjeon Hoegwan at the weekend, a phone call before setting out is the safe check.

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.

Getting there, and what to do if it is closed

These are the five road addresses. Put the address into a map app to find the nearest subway station and the walking route.

Byeokje Galbi 1-4 Yangjae-daero 71-gil, Songpa-gu
Hongneung Galbijip 85 Jegi-ro, Dongdaemun-gu
Yeokjeon Hoegwan 47 Tojeong-ro 37-gil, Mapo-gu (Yeomni-dong)
Hanilkwan 14 Apgujeong-ro 38-gil, Gangnam-gu (Sinsa-dong)
Samcheonpo Sikdang 1052 Hancheon-ro, Gangbuk-gu

The five are in different districts, so if you arrive to find one closed there is no other house on this list a short walk away. Settle a fallback before you set out. Hongneung Galbijip, Yeokjeon Hoegwan and Hanilkwan all close for Seollal and Chuseok, so over those holidays phone Byeokje Galbi or Samcheonpo Sikdang, which list no holiday closure, to confirm they are open. Yeokjeon Hoegwan shuts from 15:00 to 17:00 on weekdays; if you are in Mapo then, wait for the evening service or move the meal to another day.

Places to visit with your meal

In this list

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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