Korean BBQ is Korea's unique method of grilling beef, pork, duck and other types of meat (and I mean pretty much any type of meat to include intestines) at the diner's table on gas or charcoal grills. It has gained popularity internationally and is most likely available in every major city worldwide.
The price of meat can vary drastically from as low as $10 per serving to as high as $70-80 per serving based on the type and quality of meat. Most Koreans prefer the affordable 삼겹살 (sam-gyup-sal) also known as pork belly. The price for sam-gyup-sal doesn't vary too much from restaurant to restaurant regardless of quality. Totally different story when you're dealing with beef. The first thing that Koreans want to know about their beef is the country of origin. It has to be Korean (referred to as hanwoo). Next, it's grade. In America, you have Select, Choice, then Prime:
In Korea, there are three grades (1, 2, 3) and another three grades that differentiate level 1 grades to 1, 1+, and 1++.
1++ is obviously your prized meat and a serving will typically cost anywhere from $70-80. 벽제갈비 (Byeokje Galbi) and 삼원가든 (Samwon Garden) are two very popular and well-known restaurants in Seoul that serve 1++ hanwoo. I was disappointed with Samwon Garden but Byeokje Galbi did not disappoint.
벽제갈비 (Byeokje Galbi)
삼원가든 (Samwon Garden)
일품생고기 (Il-Poom Sang-Gogi) is a hidden gem located underneath the railroad tracks of Oksu Station. I ran across a random post on a foodie blog about a year ago and finally made it last night in celebration of my father-in-law's birthday. My father-in-law is a man who loves soju so he prefers these kind of restaurants than some fancy wine and dine restaurant. My kind of guy ha.
Pretty much a hole in the wall.
I'll spare myself the time and not translate every cut on the menu but basically the left side of the menu is beef and the right top half of the menu is pork. You can certainly tell by the price. I requested four servings of the best cut they had. Sometimes, you just leave it to the butcher to do the picking.
Piece of lard to grease up the grill.
The usual set up.
This restaurant only serves cow that are less than 34 months in maturity and have not given birth.
Four servings. Look at the marbling!
The owner referred to this cut as the "VIP Cut."
But this was the real VIP cut. This is 살치살 (Chuck Flap Tail). Not a popular cut in the states but known to be a very highly marbled cut of meat.
Ribeye. Amazing marbling on this cut as well.
The marbling is great and all but four servings of it was too much fattiness. I wanted to try the sam-gyup-sal but that would be even more fat so we went with a leaner cut of 갈매기살 (Pork Skirt).
About $40 per serving for such amazing cuts of beef was well worth the cost. Will have to come back and try the sam-gyup-sal as well next time.
Happy Birthday!
옥수동 일품생고기 (Oksu-dong Ill-Poom Sang-Gogi)
성동구 옥수동 384 (Seongdong-gu, Oksu-dong 384)
02-2295-6566